Change of tack: why Nobel laureates love to leave the herd
Many physicists who win a Nobel prize find the freedom it brings lets them carve out new research paths. Unfettered by the need to “prove” themselves or continue on the treadmill of bringing in grants, equipment and students, Nobel laureates can branch out into new research directions. But tackling novel topics is usually second nature for Nobel laureates. In fact, as this month’s cover feature reveals, very often the shift in focus began long before their prize was conferred. Also in this issue: open-source microscopy, graphene’s non-local behaviour and the life and times of Vera Rubin.
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