[ww520]

ML absolutely has helped astrophysics in sorting the massive amount of observation data to make new discovery.

[Yizahi]

So if someone will invent say a new keyboard layout which will improve median data input rate by 10% and will be used by astrophysicists then it will be worthy of the astrophysics prize? Or better yet - in your example the main driver for the ML is Nvidia, should be award Jensen a prize in astrophysics? Or in any other field where ML is deployed? In my opinion we should separate efforts of people making tools, from the efforts of people doing research using said tools.

[ww520]

No. Because the keyboard while faster is not instrumental in finding new stars. ML is instrumental in finding new stars and new planets.

[OneDonOne]

So do telescopes. Has anyone every won a Nobel for a telescope?

[hildolfr]

People have won it over new microscope designs and techniques.. possibly telescopes, too.. but I'm less familiar with that and not somewhere where it's convenient to look it up.

[OneDonOne]

In 1986 and 2014, science (electron optics, nanoscopy/nanolasers) came first. Then the microscopy. Even 2017 won for 3D microscopy. What Nobel-worthy physics does thing do?

[bnegreve]

Most disciplines in CS have done that one way or another.