Scientists Get Star Treatment as Breakthrough Prizes Awarded

Seven scientists and research teams received $3 million each to pursue groundbreaking work as the Breakthrough Prizes were awarded Sunday at a red-carpet gala in Silicon Valley, The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times report.

A total of $21.9 million was handed out in the third annual presentation of the world’s richest science prize, founded and funded by Russian tech investor Yuri Milner; Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan; Alibaba chief executive Jack Ma and his wife, Zhang Ying; Google co-founder Sergey Brin; and Anne Wojcicki, chief executive of genetic-testing firm 23andMe.

Mr. Milner said the televised awards ceremony, attended by celebrities such as musician Pharrell Williams, singer Christina Aguilera, and actor Russell Crowe as well as tech-industry titans, was conceived as an Oscars for scientific achievement to shine a spotlight on scientists whose breakthroughs in physics, life science, and other disciplines have affected millions of lives.