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KAVLI pRIZE Science on all scales How do you determine who does the each neurone is ‘connected’ to a thousand are indistinguishable from local stars, best scientific research? For Fred Kavli — others, and there are 100 billion such and indeed, from their odd radio signals, physicist, entrepreneur, philanthropist — neurones to coordinate. The circuitry is they were considered to be ‘quasi-stellar’ the answer is clear: the most important mind-boggling, but nonetheless, research objects in our Galaxy only fifty years science is that which benefits has come a long way. Pasko Rakic of ago. However, Maarten Schmidt of humanity. Established Yale University, Thomas Jessell Caltech worked out that the spectrum in 2000, the Kavli of Columbia University and of the quasar 3C273 only made sense Foundation Sten Grillner of the Karolinska if it was moving away at 47,000 km s−1 focuses on a few Institute were awarded due to the expansion of the Universe. frontier areas of the neuroscience prize Consequently, it must be emitting 1012 research that “for discoveries on the times more energy than the Sun. The Kavli himself developmental and source of that power was eventually believes will functional identified by Donald Lynden–Bell of make the largest logic of Cambridge, building on the hypothesis impact on our neuronal of Edwin Salpeter and Yakov Zeldovich quality of life. The that quasars are powered by a central Foundation funds black hole. Lynden–Bell explained that endowed chairs as well the luminosity arose from frictional as fifteen research institutes heating in the accretion disc surrounding at top universities. And on 28 May a black hole. He also predicted that 2008, the first recipients of the Kavli most massive galaxies harbour black prizes in astrophysics, nanoscience and holes, which has been verified. neuroscience were announced. Schmidt and Lynden–Bell share On the smallest scale, the nanoscience the astrophysics prize for prize went to Louis E. Brus of Columbia having “dramatically expanded University and Sumio Iijima of Meijo the scale of the observable University “for their large impact in circuits”. Universe [that has] led to our the development of the nanoscience Rakic’s work present view of the violent field of the zero and one-dimensional on neuronal Universe in which massive nanostructures in physics, chemistry development FOUNDATION KAVLI black holes play a key role”. and biology”. Brus was working with and Jessell’s The three biennial prizes, colloidal suspensions of semiconductor studies of neural jointly administered by the particles when he noticed that the optical circuitry have led to a Norwegian Academy of Science and properties depended on their size and framework for describing the Letters, Norwegian Ministry of Education shape. These ‘quantum dots’ behave as assembly of neural circuits within the brain. and Research, and the Kavli Foundation, artificial atoms with both fundamental Combined with the work of Grillner, mainly each consists of a scroll, a medal and and applied implications. Similarly, carbon on the subtleties of motor coordination of US$ 1 million. On 9 September 2008, the nanotubes exhibit interesting physics nerve cells, we have a clearer understanding seven winners will collect their awards at and are useful for applications owing of the relationship between the structure the inaugural ceremony in Oslo, Norway. to their extraordinary strength. For his and behaviour of the networks within the As public outreach is an important aspect contribution to nanotube research, Iijima central nervous system. of the Kavli prizes, the activities will shares the nanoscience prize. Finally, at distances of billions of include public-awareness lectures as well Further up the length scale is a single light-years from Earth are quasars. as scientific symposia. nerve cell, or neurone. In the human brain, Through a small optical telescope, they May Chiao 514 nature physics | VOL 4 | JULY 2008 | www.nature.com/naturephysics © 2008 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved. .