Physics prizes – in the plural!
22 April 2026
In an exciting moment for Physics at Hertford, two of our tutors have been recognised in this year’s Fundamental Physics Breakthrough Prize.
‘A leading light in supernova cosmology’
Maria Vincenzi, Associate Professor of Astrophysics, is a co-recipient of the New Horizons Prize – an extraordinary achievement.
The New Horizons in Physics Prize, awarded annually by the Breakthrough Prize Foundation, recognises exceptional early-career achievements. Professor Vincenzi shares the $100,000 prize with five colleagues for contributions to measuring the expansion and composition of the Universe using two of cosmology’s most powerful tools: the cosmic microwave background (CMB) and Type Ia supernovae. The award recognises her work in building and analysing some of the largest supernova datasets in modern cosmology.
‘I’m very grateful for this prize, and it is also quite humbling to receive this recognition,’ said Professor Vincenzi. ‘The analyses I’ve had the privilege to work on are truly a team effort, made possible by the dedication, passion and support of many people. I’ve learned so much from my mentors and collaborators over the past years, and I look forward to what is yet to come.’
‘A huge collective effort’
Meanwhile, Hertford lecturer Samuel Henry is one of three Oxford physicists recognised by the 2026 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics for their work with the Fermilab collaboration, alongside the Muon g-2 collaborations at CERN and Brookhaven National Laboratory.
This award recognises the collaborations’ multi-decade, ground-breaking contributions to the measurement of the muon’s anomalous magnetic moment that have pushed the boundaries of experimental precision and ignited a new era in the quest for physics beyond the Standard Model.
Dr Henry explains: ‘We started a programme to develop a new magnetometer to calibrate the magnetic sensors in the apparatus as the experiment requires a super-precise measurement of the magnetic field. The high-precision absolute magnetometer utilises nuclear spin-polarised Helium-3 gas to measure magnetic fields offering extremely high sensitivity and accuracy particularly in high-field environments. This work was completed by our American collaborators, and used to cross-check the measurement which is key to the result.’
We congratulate both Maria and Sam on their well-deserved awards!