Atanu Nath wins 2026 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics, first from Northeast India
Assistant Professor of Physics Atanu Nath has been awarded the 2026 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics, becoming the first scientist from Northeast India to receive the honor, Assam Education Minister Ranoj Pegu said on social media on Thursday night.
Nath was recognized for his contributions to the Muon g-2 experiment conducted at CERN, Brookhaven National Laboratory, and Fermilab, a program that advances understanding of the fundamental laws of nature. He shares the award with 376 scientists worldwide, including around 11 Indians.
Hailing from Lalabazar in Assam’s Hailakandi district, Nath was part of the large international collaboration that measured a key muon property with high precision. The measurement serves as a sensitive test for potential new physics beyond the Standard Model.
The Breakthrough Prize, often called the Oscars of Science, honors outstanding achievements in fundamental physics, life sciences, and mathematics. Receiving the prize places Nath alongside a global cohort recognized for landmark contributions to their fields.
The Muon g-2 experiment examines how a muon’s spin behaves in a magnetic field, looking for deviations from predictions of the Standard Model of particle physics. A muon is an unstable, fundamental subatomic particle—essentially a heavier cousin of the electron—about 207 times more massive, with a negative charge (or a positive charge for anti-muons).
Beyond fundamental research, muons are used to image dense structures such as volcanoes, pyramids, and nuclear reactors, and to identify contraband or nuclear materials in cargo containers; they are also studied in accelerators to search for physics that departs from the Standard Model.
Nath’s recognition marks a significant milestone for the scientific landscape of India’s northeastern region, which has historically been underrepresented in global research recognition.