{
  "id": 12605647,
  "title": "Nobel Prize in chemistry awarded for research solving 'mirror image' mystery",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/nobel-prize-in-chemistry-awarded-for-research-solving-mirror-image",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-10-07T10:26:50.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News (US)",
    "slug": "abc-news-us",
    "url": "https://abcnews.com/Technology/wireStory/nobel-prize-chemistry-awarded-kagan-soai-research-solving-137057383"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Stockholm -- This year's Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Henri B. Kagan and Kenso Soai for their efforts to explain the phenomenon of mirror-image molecules. Nobel Committee Chair Heiner Linke announced that Kagan and Soai have provided a solution to a chemical mystery that has persisted for over a century. The Nobel Committee highlighted the spectacular chemical reactions developed by the duo, which have been instrumental for chemists in designing reactions for pharmaceutical manufacturing. Kagan, 95 years old and originally from France, is affiliated with Université Paris-Sud in Orsay, while Soai, born in Japan, works at the Tokyo University of Science. Soai was contacted by the Nobel Committee while shopping near his home. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced the winners in Stockholm. Last year, three scientists were honored with the chemistry Nobel for developing molecular structures capable of trapping large amounts of gas, paving the way for potential efforts to remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere or harvest moisture from deserts. This year's awards began with the Nobel for Medicine on Monday, followed by the Physics Prize on Tuesday. The Literature Prize is set to be announced on Thursday, and the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences will be disclosed on Monday. The prize money for this year is 12 million Swedish kronor, or approximately $1.2 million, regardless of whether it is awarded to an individual, a small group, or an organization. Corrections have been made to clarify that Kagan, not Soai, is 95 years old.",
  "summary": "Henri B",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}