Nobel Prize in Chemistry Awarded for Solving Chirality Mystery

Henri B. Kagan and Kenso Soai have been awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their groundbreaking work in resolving a long-standing mystery concerning mirror images in chemical molecules. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced the prize in Stockholm, recognizing the laureates for their development of chemical reactions that allow for the spontaneous emergence of homochirality.

Heiner Linke, chair of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry, described the awarded reactions as “spectacular,” noting that Kagan and Soai have provided a solution to a chemical puzzle that has persisted for over a century. The mystery of homochirality, which refers to the preference of molecules to exist in one of two mirror-image forms, is fundamental to life itself, as biological systems often exhibit a strong preference for one form over the other.

Kagan, 95, who was born in France, is affiliated with Université Paris-Sud in Orsay, France. Soai, born in Japan, is associated with the Tokyo University of Science. Soai was reportedly shopping near his home when he received the call from the Nobel committee.

This year's Nobel Prizes began with the award in medicine on Monday to three scientists for their work on a tool that uses light to help understand brain function. The physics prize on Tuesday recognized a scientist's contributions to the study of high-energy neutrinos of astrophysical origin. The literature prize is scheduled to be announced on Thursday, followed by the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences on Monday.

Last year, three scientists received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their work on molecular structures capable of trapping gases, which laid the groundwork for potential applications in capturing greenhouse gases and extracting moisture from arid environments.

The prize money for this year's awards is 12 million Swedish kronor, equivalent to approximately $1.2 million, to be distributed among the laureates.