No holidays. Just after winning the 2026 Nobel Prize, Stanford University professor Karl Deisseroth casually walks to work. But the internet is obsessed with his hairstyle

Karl Deisseroth, a Stanford University professor of bioengineering and psychiatry and behavioural sciences, was honoured with the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for pioneering optogenetics. This technique allows scientists to control individual nerve cells in the living brain using light. Deisseroth shares the award with Peter Hegemann from the Humboldt University of Berlin and Georg Nagel from the University of Würzburg in Germany. Now, a video of Deisseroth casually walking into work as a fresh Nobel laureate has gone viral on social media.

Karl Deisseroth returns to work after Nobel Prize win

The video shared by Stanford University on X, captures Deisseroth walking through the door as his colleagues greet him warmly. While some of them record him on their phones, others clap and congratulate him with a smile.

Deisseroth, on the other hand, was seen flashing a delightful smile at his co-workers, exchanging a brief conversation with some of them and shaking hands. The fun side note read, ‘Walking into work as a new Nobel laureate.’

Internet reacts

The post soon received multiple reactions. One user stated that Deisseroth walking into the office reminded him of the popular American sitcom The Big Bang Theory, as the scene had the same light-hearted, almost surreal feel of an ordinary workday involving someone who had just achieved one of science’s highest honours.

‘I may not be a genius or win any awards; but my dog gives me that sort of welcome when I have been at the store for 5 minutes,’ joked a user. ‘His hair game is unmatched, Nobel secured,’ pointed out another. ‘He’s cool! I see his hair is becoming a global sensation, too,’ agreed someone else. So far, the video has crossed over 1.1 million views.

Karl Deisseroth shares news of Nobel Prize win with children

Previously, another video of Deisseroth went viral, in which the Nobel Laureate was seen sharing the delightful news with his children. In the clip shared by Stanford, the scientist woke his daughters, Emma and Sophie, to deliver the unexpected news. Their sleepy expressions quickly gave way to screams of excitement and warm hugs.

Later on, Deisseroth shared the news with his 16-year-old son Hudson, who appeared stunned before joining his father in a celebratory hug and high-fives. His eldest son, Alexander, was already at Stanford when he learnt about his father’s achievement, after which he cycled home to celebrate the remarkable moment with his family.