The Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics 2025 has been awarded to the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) experiments, recognizing their transformative impact on our understanding of the universe. This prestigious international award celebrates cutting-edge scientific achievements and, in this edition, highlights the crucial role of experiments such as ATLAS, which have led fundamental discoveries in particle physics. The award represents not only recognition of the collective efforts of thousands of scientists and engineers from around the world, but also validation of CERN's collaborative and visionary approach to exploring the most basic building blocks of matter.
Among the most outstanding achievements of ATLAS is its decisive contribution to the discovery of the Higgs boson in 2012, in collaboration with the CMS experiment. This discovery revolutionized modern physics by confirming a key part of the Standard Model, and ushered in a new era in the search for phenomena beyond the Standard Model. The award underscores how ATLAS continues to be an essential tool for investigating fundamental particle properties, searching for signs of dark matter and exploring additional dimensions of space-time. Thus, the recognition of the Breakthrough Prize reaffirms the relevance of basic science and the potential of the LHC to continue opening new frontiers in human knowledge.
The recognition of the Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics 2025 to the LHC experiments, and in particular to the ATLAS experiment at CERN, highlights the pioneering work carried out in international collaboration, where the participation of researchers from the Chilean Millennium Institute SAPHIR also stands out. The contribution of this Chilean team in ATLAS not only demonstrates the high scientific level of its researchers, but also the active insertion of national science in global frontier projects. Their participation in software development, data analysis, and in fundamental aspects of the detector, has been key to the progress of such relevant discoveries as the Higgs boson and the continuous search for new physics.
This prestigious award reinforces the idea that science of excellence and global impact is being done in Chile. The fact that Chilean researchers are part of a team awarded with one of the most important prizes in fundamental physics is a source of national pride and evidence of the value of investing in science, technology and training of advanced human capital. In a context where international collaboration and shared knowledge are essential, the active presence of the Millennium Institute SAPHIR in ATLAS demonstrates that from the south of the world a direct contribution is made to the advancement of universal knowledge, positioning Chile as a relevant actor in frontier science.
The mission of the Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics 2025 is to recognize exceptional scientific achievements that have transformed our understanding of the universe, celebrating the individual and collective talents of those who dedicate their lives to expanding the frontiers of knowledge. By honoring scientists as true heroes of our society, this award seeks to make their work visible and awaken public admiration for science, while inspiring new generations to pursue scientific careers with vocation and passion. In addition, the Breakthrough Prize stands as a global and apolitical initiative, committed to the idea that science should be a common good, accessible and oriented to the benefit of all humanity, without borders or distinctions.