Nobel Prize in Physics 2021 Winners: Syukuro Manabe, Klaus Hasselmann, and Giorgio Parisi
US-Japanese scientist Syukuro Manabe, Klaus Hasselmann of Germany, and Giorgio Parisi of Italy on Tuesday won the Nobel Physics Prize for climate models and the understanding of physical systems, the jury said.
Manabe and Hasselmann share one half of the prize for their research on climate models, while Parisi won the other half for his work on the interplay of disorder and fluctuations in physical systems.
“Syukuro Manabe and Klaus Hasselmann laid the foundation of our knowledge of the Earth’s climate and how humanity influences it,” the Nobel Committee said.
“Giorgio Parisi is rewarded for his revolutionary contributions to the theory of disordered materials and random processes,” it added.
For the past two years, the Swedish Royal Academy of Sciences has honoured findings in the field of astronomy, leading watchers to speculate it was due for a change of field.
“The discoveries being recognised this year demonstrate that our knowledge about the climate rests on a solid scientific foundation, based on a rigorous analysis of observations,” Thors Hans Hansson, chair of the Nobel Committee for Physics said.
In 2019, James Peebles of Canada and the US was given the award for discoveries explaining the universe’s evolution after the Big Bang, together with Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz of Switzerland for the first discovery of an exoplanet.
This was followed in 2020 with a focus on black holes, with Britain’s Roger Penrose, Germany’s Reinhard Genzel and Andrea Ghez of the US being honoured.
The Nobel season continues on Wednesday with the award for chemistry, followed by the much-anticipated prizes for literature on Thursday and peace on Friday before the economics prize winds things up on Monday, October 11.
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Frogs around the world are being severely impacted by the chytrid fungus, which has led to population declines in over 500 species and the presumed extinction of approximately 90 species. This invasive pathogen is disrupting ecosystems and causing significant biodiversity loss. Innovative methods to combat this threat have emerged, focusing on providing frogs with heated environments to resist infection. This approach, which is both affordable and adaptable, has shown promise in addressing the devastating effects of chytrid on amphibian populations.
Fighting the Fungus with Heat
According to a study published in Nature, chytrid infections intensify in colder months. Researchers have developed “frog saunas,” small heated structures that allow amphibians to elevate their body temperature, helping them fight off the infection. The fungus, unable to survive high temperatures, can be eliminated when frogs spend time in these saunas. In experiments conducted in both controlled and outdoor environments, infected frogs that used these heated enclosures were found to clear the infection significantly faster than those kept in colder conditions.
Natural Immunity and Resistance
As reported by The Conversation, frogs cured through heat treatment developed increased resistance to future chytrid infections. Laboratory trials demonstrated that frogs previously exposed to controlled heating were far less likely to succumb to reinfections. When implemented in outdoor trials, frogs instinctively utilised the saunas to elevate their body temperatures, effectively reducing infection rates and mortality.
Broader Applications of Frog Saunas
The initiative, being deployed at Sydney Olympic Park, focuses on preserving one of the largest populations of green and golden bell frogs. The structures, made with easily sourced materials, offer a practical solution for conservationists and the public alike. Efforts are underway to expand the use of saunas to protect other endangered species.
Conservationists encourage individuals to contribute by building backyard saunas or participating in citizen science projects, which can help track and protect local frog populations. With widespread adoption, this approach may play a crucial role in reducing the chytrid fungus’s impact on global amphibian biodiversity.
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Japan is set to adopt a new energy strategy aimed at addressing increasing electricity demand while pursuing its decarbonisation goals. A government-backed panel of experts has supported plans to maximise nuclear power and expand renewable energy sources, targeting up to 50% renewable energy by 2040. Nuclear energy is expected to make up 20 percent of the country’s energy supply, reversing earlier phase-out policies following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster. These measures are being proposed to ensure energy security and meet net-zero emissions targets by 2050.
Key Objectives Outlined in the Draft Policy
As reported in pbs.org, according to the Industry Ministry’s proposed energy policy, renewables will become Japan’s primary power source, with an ambitious goal of reaching 40–50 percent of the energy mix by 2040. At the same time, nuclear energy will be leveraged to provide stable and low-carbon electricity. The plan includes restarting idled reactors that comply with updated safety regulations and building next-generation reactors at decommissioned sites.
To accommodate the rising energy needs of data centers and semiconductor factories, coal usage will be significantly reduced, and investment in advanced solar technologies and portable solutions is being encouraged. However, concerns about the feasibility of these targets have been raised by experts due to the slow progress of reactor restarts and regulatory approvals.
Challenges in Meeting Nuclear Targets
As reported by pbs.org, experts said that restarting all 33 operational reactors in Japan, a requirement to meet the proposed nuclear energy targets, will be a significant challenge. Industry Minister Yoji Muto stated during the panel review that achieving decarbonised energy security is essential for the country’s economic growth. However, critics have pointed out that the draft policy lacks clear timelines for phasing out fossil fuels and heavily depends on successful cost reductions in renewable energy development.
The plan, which will be reviewed by the Cabinet in March after public consultation, represents Japan’s dual approach of relying on nuclear power and renewables to meet its growing energy needs and decarbonisation commitments.
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