Scientists honoured for expanding human understanding

Eight scientists have been rewarded for increasing human understanding of neuroscience, nanoscience and astrophysics in the 2010 Kavli Prize programme.

For the neuroscience prize, US scientists Thomas Suedhof, Richard Scheller and James Rothman share the accolade for their contribution to revealing the molecular basis for the brain's transferral of signals between nerve cells.

Suedhof and Scheller led this, the former discovering the role of the calcium-sensing protein synaptotegmin in switching the release of neurotransmitters and the latter finding the evidence to support this.

Rothman later clarified this, generalising the theory to include not only neurotransmitters in the brain, but also bodily functions such as insulin secretion and hormone release.

In nanoscience, Donald Eigler and Nadrian Seeman, both US-based, share the prize for their work using DNA and individual atoms as building blocks to widen our understanding of matter and living tissue.

The astrophysics prize is shared by Jerry Nelson, Ray Wilson and Roger Angel for innovations in telescope design.

Kavli Prizes are presented by the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, founded in 1857 and which works to embrace learning across all fields and disciplines.