French-Japanese duo wins 2026 Nobel chemistry prize

Two scientists, Henri Kagan and Kenso Soai, have been awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their groundbreaking discovery of non-linear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis. This announcement came on Wednesday, following the medicine and physics awards announced on Monday and Tuesday. According to Heiner Linke, Chair of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry, the prize acknowledges the foundational chemistry of chiral molecules, which are mirror images of each other but not identical.

Chiral molecules, derived from the Greek word for hand, are crucial to our understanding of molecular structures. Established by Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel, the Nobel Prizes for science, literature, and peace have been awarded annually since 1901, with brief interruptions due to global conflicts. Nobel, a chemist, amassed wealth from 19th-century inventions related to warfare, notably dynamite.

Apart from this year's laureates, the chemistry awards have recognized influential discoveries such as nuclear fission and genetic sequencing techniques. Last year's chemistry award honored Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar Yaghi for their work on metalorganic frameworks, molecules that can help address climate change and water scarcity.

The winners will receive their medals from King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden at a ceremony in Stockholm on December 10, the anniversary of Nobel's passing. They will also share a prize pool of 12 million Swedish crowns ($1.2 million) and the prestige of being recognized with the world's most prestigious science award. The Nobel Peace Prize, the only Nobel ceremony held outside of Sweden, is awarded separately in Oslo.