Four children were killed in Pryluky following a Russian strike
In Pryluky, Chernihiv Oblast, 18 people, including four children, were killed as a result of a Russian missile strike on a residential building. Three of the boys who died—Oleksandr, Kyrylo, and Serhiy—were only one year old; another child, Maksym, was eight.
American scientist Karl Daisero didn’t even hear the call from the Nobel Committee at first. Representatives of the prize called him to inform him of his win, but at that moment, the Stanford University professor had already gone to bed. The call came in at 12:27 a.m. Prior to that, Daisero, who often works well past midnight, had been reviewing scientific papers and corresponding with students. Afterward, he decided to get some rest.
The phone rang only once, and a few seconds after the missed call, it rang again on his wife Michelle Monge’s phone. “Can I speak with Karl?” the caller asked. That’s how Daisero learned he had been awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Later, the scientist admitted that the news had literally stunned him. “I was very surprised. For about 30 seconds, I lost the ability to form words,” Daisero said.
His wife, according to the scientist, reacted much more calmly. Karl Daisero, 54, shared the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel. The scientists were recognized for discoveries that laid the foundation for the development of optogenetics.
This method makes it possible to use light to control the activity of individual nerve cells in a living brain. In effect, the researchers developed a way to selectively turn specific neurons on or off and observe how this affects brain function. Daisero is a professor of bioengineering, psychiatry, and behavioral sciences at Stanford University. He also works at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
One of his major scientific achievements was the development of a method that allows light-sensitive microbial proteins—opsins—to be introduced into mammalian brain cells. Afterward, the activity of individual nerve cells can be controlled using light. Daisero himself noted that he is particularly pleased to share the prize with Hegemann and Nagel. According to him, their research collectively traces the entire history of optogenetics—from the first experiments with algae to complex studies of the brain.
For Daisero, this work has more than just fundamental scientific significance. He also works as a psychiatrist and speaks of the potential to use this knowledge to better understand mental disorders. “I am a physician-scientist. I’m a psychiatrist. I care deeply about my patients with autism and depression. The hope this offers is important to me,” he said.
At the same time, the scientist emphasized that he is not only interested in the practical applications of his discoveries. For him, it is equally important to understand exactly how the human brain works. “It’s important for me to understand this amazing organ—the brain—how it works, how it processes information, and how it creates everything that makes us human,” added Daisero. After the award was announced, he couldn’t fall asleep. For several hours, the scientist took congratulatory calls and spoke with journalists. “I never really got any real sleep,” he said about an hour after the award was announced.
Around 3:30 a.m., a photographer and a videographer from the Associated Press arrived at Daisero’s home in Stanford. Halloween decorations were set up outside the house, and only one light was on inside. At first, the photographer even thought the journalists might have come to the wrong address. Michelle Monge opened the door for them. She also works at Stanford University and is a pediatric neuro-oncologist.
At that moment, her husband was sitting on the couch, still fielding numerous calls following the announcement of the prize. Monge stayed by his side during the late-night interviews and even made coffee for university staff who had joined the celebration. “I’m so happy. I know I’m biased, but he really has changed neuroscience—and, in fact, several other fields as well. I’m very proud of him,” she said.
After several hours of conversations and interviews, Daisero asked for a short break. His children were due to wake up around 6:30 a.m., and he needed to pack their lunches before school. Even after such big news, the family tried to get back to their usual morning routine.
When one of the Stanford representatives suggested that the nighttime commotion near the house might have disturbed the neighbors, Michelle Monge replied that they live in a neighborhood for university faculty. “There are a lot of Nobel laureates in this neighborhood,” she joked. The head of state wrote about this on Facebook.
As a reminder, at least two people were killed in Kyiv as a result of the nighttime attack.
Russia struck Zaporizhzhia’s transportation infrastructure.
Russia also struck Dnipro with ballistic missiles, damaging a facility.
