Two Russian scientists win Nobel Prize in physics

Two Russian scientists win Nobel Prize in physics

Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Discovery of atom-thin material considered a boon

Russian-born scientists Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov shared the Nobel Prize in physics for "groundbreaking experiments" involving an atom-thin material that has the potential to play a large role in electronics.

Two Russian scientists win Nobel Prize in physics Nobelphysicswinner_AndreGeim

Nobel physics winner Andre Geim said that while he was surprised by the announcement he planned to go back to work as usual this week. He said he wasn't among the Nobel Prize winners who 'stop doing anything for the rest of their life.'

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences heralded Geim and Novoselov, both linked to universities in Britain, for experiments with graphene, a flake of carbon that is only one atom thick.

Research involving graphene could lead to the development of new material and "the manufacture of innovative electronics," the citation read.

"Since it is practically transparent and a good conductor, graphene is suitable for producing transparent touch screens, light panels and maybe even solar cells," the academy said.

The 51-year-old Geim is a Dutch national while 36-year-old Novoselov holds British and Russian citizenship. Both are natives of Russia and started their physic careers there.

In a telephone interview with reporters in Stockholm, Geim said that while he was surprised by the announcement he planned to go back to work as usual this week. He said he wasn't among the Nobel Prize winners who "stop doing anything for the rest of their life." Geim is a physics professor at the University of Manchester.

Geim received the prestigious Korber European Science Award last year for his discovery of two-dimensional crystals made of carbon atoms, particularly grapheme.

The 2010 Nobel Prize announcements started this week with the medicine award going to British researcher Robert Edwards for work that led to the first test tube baby, an achievement that helped bring four million infants into the world - that also posed challenging new questions about human reproduction.

The awards for chemistry, literature and peace prize on Friday will be announced shortly.