{
  "id": 12627156,
  "title": "Nobel Prize in chemistry awarded to Kagan and Soai for research solving 'mirror image' mystery",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/nobel-prize-in-chemistry-awarded-to-kagan-and-soai-for-research-12627156",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-10-07T12:42:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/world/20261007/nobel-prize-in-chemistry-awarded-to-kagan-and-soai-for-research-solving-mirror-image-mystery"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Stockholm — Henri B. Kagan and Kenso Soai were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry on Wednesday for their groundbreaking research into the enigmatic mirror images found in chemical molecules, a discovery that has significantly advanced modern medicine. Many molecules essential to life exist in versions that appear identical, yet are not exactly alike, akin to right and left hands. One mirror image of the chemical carvone, for instance, smells like mint, while the other carries a hint of caraway. When formulating drugs to combat diseases, scientists must meticulously select the appropriate mirror image. They desire the version of a molecule that will effectively treat a cold, rather than one that could exacerbate the sniffles. Kagan and Soai devised methods to compel chemistry to choose a side, engineering and fine-tuning reactions to generate the desired mirror image. Peter Somfai, a member of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry, remarked that \"This is probably the coolest experiment in organic chemistry.\" Together, the groundbreaking discoveries by Kagan and Soai have revolutionized our understanding of molecular chirality, including how it is generated, amplified, and transmitted.",
  "summary": "STOCKHOLM — Henri B. Kagan and Kenso Soai won the Nobel Prize in chemistry Wednesday for their efforts to resolve mysterious mirror images in chemical molecules, a discovery that transformed modern medicine. Many molecules of life come in versions that look alike but aren’t exactly identical, like right and left hands. One mirror image of the chemical carvone smells like mint, for example, while…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Mainichi",
        "title": "Nobel Prize in chemistry awarded to Kagan and Soai for research solving 'mirror image' mystery",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/nobel-prize-in-chemistry-awarded-to-kagan-and-soai-for-research",
        "published": "2026-10-07T10:22:07.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Nobel Prize in chemistry awarded to Kagan and Soai for research solving 'mirror image' mystery",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/nobel-prize-in-chemistry-awarded-to-kagan-and-soai-for-research-12631015",
        "published": "2026-10-07T13:07:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}