The Nobel-winning breakthrough that turned light into a remote control for the brain, allowing scientists to switch neurons on and off

Optogenetics, a groundbreaking technique, enables researchers to control specific neurons using light, providing insights into brain functions. The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann, and Georg Nagel for this transformative discovery. Their work originated from the study of light-sensitive proteins in green algae, which led to applying these proteins in neuroscience.