The Nobel Prize in Chemistry on Wednesday was awarded to Henri B. Kagan and Kenso Soai “for the discovery of non-linear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis.”
Kagan, who is 95 years old and was born in France, is affiliated with France’s Université Paris-Sud, and Soai, who is 76 years old and was born in Japan, is based at the Tokyo University of Science.
The scientists share the Nobel Prize for answering longstanding questions in chemistry about life’s origins.
Specifically, the duo solved an age-old mystery: some molecules, like amino acids, exist as two variants that are mirror images of one another, but just one of the variants out of the two is found in the proteins in our cells.
The scientists answered questions about why life chooses one variant over another.
Nobel chemistry prize goes to scientists who answered questions about homochirality
In chemistry, life’s chemistry is what scientists call homochiral, after the Greek words for “same” and “hand.”
The Nobel Committee said the chemistry prize recognizes discoveries that have enabled chemists to drive chemical reactions that lead to homochirality.
“Henri Kagan and Kenso Soai have provided a solution to a chemical mystery that is over a century old: how homochirality can emerge spontaneously,” said Heiner Linke, chair of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry. “The chemical reactions they have developed are spectacular.”
Who won the Nobel chemistry prize last year?
Last year, Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar Yaghi won the Nobel Prize in chemistry for the development of new molecular structures that can trap vast quantities of gas inside. Their discoveries can help tackle some of the world’s most pressing problems, like climate change.
What do laureates receive?
- Laureates receive a tailored diploma, a medal and a document detailing the cash award that is set this year to 12 million Swedish kronor, which is equivalent to just over €1 million or $1.2 million.
Who else has received a Nobel Prize so far?
- The Nobel Prize in medicine was awarded Monday to Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel for their pioneering work on optogenetics, a method of controlling nerve cells with light, which makes it possible to study how the brain works.
- The Nobel Prize in physics was awarded Tuesday to Francis Halzen, a Belgian-born astrophysicist whose efforts helped demistify a rare group of neutrinos that launched a new era of astronomy.
Nobel prizes in literature and peace also this week
- The Nobel Prize in literature is set to be awarded Thursday and the Nobel peace prize will be announced on Friday.
- After that, the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences will be announced on Monday.
- All prize announcements are streamed live by the Nobel Prize organization.
This is a developing story. Please check back for the latest version.
Edited by: Elizabeth Schumacher
