Scientists who solved the puzzle of how humans perceive warmth and touch were awarded the Nobel Prize

Two Nobel Laureates have been recognized for their work on the most fundamental aspects of our relationship with the world. The prize for physiology or medicine was given to the pair for their work on temperature and touch – how we experience the warmth of the sun or the skin of another person.

It helped explain how humans have lived for so long by illuminating those experiences that are most fundamental to being in the world. The Nobel Committee’s secretary-general, Thomas Perlmann, revealed David Julius and Ardem Patapoutian, both from the United States, as the winners on Monday.

Julius, 65, employed capsaicin, the primary ingredient in chilli peppers, to identify the nerve sensors that allow the skin to respond to heat, according to Patrik Ernfors of the Nobel Committee. Separate pressure-sensitive sensors were discovered in cells that respond to mechanical stimulation, according to Patapoutian.