see more

Thors Hans Hansson (R), member of the Nobel Committee for Physics, uses a pretzel to visualize his explanations during a press conference to announce the winners of the 2016 Nobel Prize in Physics at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm on October 4, 2016; at (L) sits the Permanent Secretary of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences Goran K Hansson. British-born scientists David J. Thouless, F. Duncan Haldane and J. Michael Kosterlitz won the Nobel Physics Prize for revealing the secrets of exotic matter, the Nobel jury said. / AFP / TT NEWS AGENCY / Anders WIKLUND / Sweden OUT (Photo credit should read ANDERS WIKLUND/AFP/Getty Images)

Thors Hans Hansson (R), member of the Nobel Committee for Physics, uses a pretzel to visualize his explanations during a press conference to announce the winners of the 2016 Nobel Prize in Physics at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm on October 4, 2016; at (L) sits the Permanent Secretary of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences Goran K Hansson. British-born scientists David J. Thouless, F. Duncan Haldane and J. Michael Kosterlitz won the Nobel Physics Prize for revealing the secrets of exotic matter, the Nobel jury said. / AFP / TT NEWS AGENCY / Anders WIKLUND / Sweden OUT (Photo credit should read ANDERS WIKLUND/AFP/Getty Images)
Getty Images

AFP ANDERS WIKLUND

see more

Winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics John Michael Kosterlitz poses at Aalto University in Espoo, on October 4, 2016. Kosterlitz works currently as a visiting professor at Aalto University. British-born scientists David J Thouless, F Duncan Haldane and J Michael Kosterlitz won the Nobel Physics Prize 2016 for revealing the secrets of exotic matter, the Nobel jury said. / AFP / Lehtikuva / Roni Rekomaa / Finland OUT (Photo credit should read RONI REKOMAA/AFP/Getty Images)

Winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics John Michael Kosterlitz poses at Aalto University in Espoo, on October 4, 2016. Kosterlitz works currently as a visiting professor at Aalto University. British-born scientists David J Thouless, F Duncan Haldane and J Michael Kosterlitz won the Nobel Physics Prize 2016 for revealing the secrets of exotic matter, the Nobel jury said. / AFP / Lehtikuva / Roni Rekomaa / Finland OUT (Photo credit should read RONI REKOMAA/AFP/Getty Images)
Getty Images

AFP RONI REKOMAA

see more

PRINCETON, NJ - JANUARY 21: In this handout photo provided by Princeton University, F. Duncan Haldane, Eugene Higgins Professor of Physics at Princeton University poses for a photo on January 21, 2011 in Princeton, New Jersey. Haldane, along with David J. Thouless and J. Michael Kosterlitz have won the 2016 Nobel Prize in Physics for their work studying the phases and states of matter. (Photo by Denise Applewhite/Princeton University via Getty Images)

PRINCETON, NJ - JANUARY 21: In this handout photo provided by Princeton University, F. Duncan Haldane, Eugene Higgins Professor of Physics at Princeton University poses for a photo on January 21, 2011 in Princeton, New Jersey. Haldane, along with David J. Thouless and J. Michael Kosterlitz have won the 2016 Nobel Prize in Physics for their work studying the phases and states of matter. (Photo by Denise Applewhite/Princeton University via Getty Images)
Getty Images

Getty Images News Handout

see more

Winners of the Nobel Prize in Physics (L-R) David J Thouless, F Duncan M Haldane and J Michael Kosterlitz are displayed on a screen during a press conference to announce the winner of the 2016 Nobel Prize in Physics at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm on October 4, 2016. David J. Thouless, F. Duncan M. Haldane and J. Michael Kosterlitz were awarded the 2016 Nobel Physics Prize "for theoretical discoveries of topological phase transitions and topological phases of matter". / AFP / JONATHAN NACKSTRAND (Photo credit should read JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP/Getty Images)

Winners of the Nobel Prize in Physics (L-R) David J Thouless, F Duncan M Haldane and J Michael Kosterlitz are displayed on a screen during a press conference to announce the winner of the 2016 Nobel Prize in Physics at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm on October 4, 2016. David J. Thouless, F. Duncan M. Haldane and J. Michael Kosterlitz were awarded the 2016 Nobel Physics Prize "for theoretical discoveries of topological phase transitions and topological phases of matter". / AFP / JONATHAN NACKSTRAND (Photo credit should read JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP/Getty Images)
Getty Images

AFP JONATHAN NACKSTRAND