Donna Strickland to announce shock retirement?

Sad news for Strickland fans. Speculation had been rife that Nobel Prize in Physics 2017 will announce her retirement from all public activities, at age 66, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 21/05/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Being a scientist isn't fun anymore

“As we get older, there are phases of life that we enter into, and being a scientist-Nobel laureate just isn't fun anymore,” she might have said, says a source who remained anonymous. Other reports hinted that she may branch out into other creative fields she is better at (and more interested in), though they didn't provide any details.

#ThankYouDonna

For a little while on Wednesday evening, #ThankYouDonna was a trending hashtag on Twitter. As many fans reminisce and look back on all the unforgettable memories, some may wonder what about now made her make the decision.

“You’ve accomplished everything I ever dreamed of #ThankYouDonna.”
— @DesireePlum, 20 May 2026

“I thought Donna Strickland retired about 5 years ago?!?”
— @millythom, 20 May 2026

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