This is Scientific Americans 60 Second Science. I'm Steve Mursky.

The Nobel Assembly at Carolinsky Institute has today decided to award the 2017 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine jointly to

Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael Rossbach and Michael W. Young for their discoveries on molecular mechanisms controlling

the circadian rhythm. Thomas Perlman, Secretary of the Nobel Assembly

shortly after 530 this morning, Eastern Time.

Jeffrey Hall was born in New York and performed his seminal work at Brandeis University.

He's now retired and lives in Cambridge in Boston. Michael Ross-Bash was born in Oklahoma

City and performed his prize-winning studies also at Brandeis University where he's still on the faculty.

And finally, Michael Young was born in Miami and did his work at Rockefeller University in

New York where he also remains on the faculty.

Ever since the emergence of life on Earth, about 4 billion years ago, evolving life forms, had to adapt to the rotation of our planet.

This ability to prepare for the regular daily fluctuations is crucial for all life forms. But how is this possible? This year's Nobel laureates

have been studying this fundamental problem and solved the mystery of how an inner

clock in most of our cells in our bodies can

anticipate daily fluctuations between night and day to optimize our behavior and

physiology.

Since the paradigm shifting discoveries

by Hall, Rosbash and Yang,

circadian biology has developed

into a highly dynamic research field with vast implications for our health and well-being.

For an in-depth listen about the 2017 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine,

look for the Scientific American Science Talk

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