

Should Gerald Pollack Receive the Nobel Prize?
Few scientific discoveries have the potential to reshape our understanding of life as profoundly as Gerald H. Pollack’s work on water. For over two decades, Professor Pollack, bioengineering professor at the University of Washington, has explored what he calls the Fourth Phase of Water, or Exclusion Zone (EZ) water. His findings challenge long-standing assumptions in biology, physics, and chemistry – and may well merit the world’s highest scientific honor: the Nobel Prize.
A Fourth Phase of Water?
Most of us learn that water exists in three phases: solid, liquid, and gas. Pollack’s research proposes a fourth: a semi-crystalline, structured form that appears next to hydrophilic surfaces. This phase excludes solutes, has a negative electrical charge, and forms spontaneously under exposure to light, particularly infrared. These characteristics allow EZ water to function like a biological battery — a radical idea with vast implications for biology and energy science.
Scientific Recognition and Practical Impact
Pollack’s work has not only been published in over 300 peer-reviewed papers, but also inspired books like The Fourth Phase of Water, considered by many a scientific classic. Beyond theory, the EZ concept has been applied in areas such as cardiovascular physiology (showing that blood vessels can drive circulation), cancer research (suggesting new paradigms of cellular energy), and even water purification technologies that require no external energy input.
More than fifty respected scientists, physicians, engineers, and thought leaders have publicly endorsed Pollack’s nomination for the Nobel Prize. These include Mark Smith, MD, professor at Georgetown University, who calls Pollack’s theory “the most important scientific insight of the last 50 years”, and Michael Crosby, former Executive Director of the U.S. National Science Board, who highlights the transformative potential of Pollack’s discoveries for regenerative medicine and beyond.
Criticism and Courage
Like many pioneers, Pollack has faced resistance — particularly from within his own institution. But his supporters see this as part of the historical pattern for revolutionary science. As Albert Szent-Györgyi famously said, “Discovery consists of seeing what everybody has seen and thinking what nobody has thought.” Pollack’s ability to do just that has attracted international admiration, including honorary positions at the Russian Academy of Sciences and keynote talks at the UN and the Abu Dhabi Royal Palace.
Should He Win?
If the Nobel Prize is meant to reward paradigm-shifting science that benefits humanity, then Gerald Pollack is a worthy candidate. His research opens new doors not just to understanding water, but to understanding life itself — with potential applications in medicine, energy, agriculture, and beyond.
As one nominator wrote: ”He is the highest ‘bang for the buck.’ His contributions have been legendary — and they will continue to come.”