On Saturday, April 18, the world’s leading scientists and mathematicians joined Hollywood’s top stars in Los Angeles for the 12th annual Breakthrough Prize awards—often referred to as the “Oscars of Science”—to celebrate landmark scientific advancements and the people who make them possible. (L-R) Sam Altman and Brian Chesky speak onstage during the 12th Breakthrough Prize Ceremony (Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for Breakthrough Prize) Founded in 2012 by tech giants Sergey Brin, Mark Zuckerberg, Priscilla Chan, Julia & Yuri Milner, and Anne Wojcicki, the Breakthrough Prize was created to honor the achievements of the world’s top scientists, awarding approximately $15 million annually in prizes. In 2026, six Breakthrough Prizes of $3 million each were presented in Life Sciences, Fundamental Physics, and Mathematics—bringing the cumulative amount awarded over its 15-year history to $345 million.…