The University of California has made history, with its faculty and alumni securing five Nobel Prizes in a single week, spanning the fields of medicine, physics, and chemistry. This unprecedented achievement sets a record for the most Nobel awards won by one institution in such a short period.
The laureates include Frederick Ramsdell for medicine, whose work shed light on immune system regulation, and, in physics, John Clarke, Michel Devoret, and John Martinis for breakthroughs in quantum computing. Omar Yaghi claimed the chemistry prize for his pioneering development of metal-organic frameworks with applications in carbon capture and water harvesting.
With these recognitions, the UC system’s Nobel count rises to a total of 75 since the 1930s. University officials highlighted the vital role of federal research funding in enabling these advances. However, they cautioned that recent cuts and grant suspensions could threaten future scientific progress unless support is renewed.
