{
  "id": 12666941,
  "title": "2026 Nobel Chemistry Prize Goes to Kagan and Soai for Molecular Handedness Work",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/2026-nobel-chemistry-prize-goes-to-kagan-and-soai-for-molecular",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-10-07T16:58:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Colombia One",
    "slug": "colombia-one",
    "url": "https://colombiaone.com/2026/10/07/2026-nobel-chemistry-prize-kagan-soai-molecular-handedness-work/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded to Henri B. Kagan and Kenso Soai for their discoveries related to molecular handedness and asymmetric organic synthesis. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences recognized their work on nonlinear effects and autocatalysis, which allows chemists to control the molecular chirality crucial in manufacturing drugs with different effects depending on the molecular form.\n\nSome molecules exist in two forms that are mirror images of each other, called enantiomers. While living systems can distinguish between the two forms, chemical reactions can produce both mirror-image molecules in equal amounts. The phenomenon of homochirality, where life overwhelmingly uses one form of a molecule, has puzzled chemists for over a century. Kagan and Soai's discoveries provided answers on how chemical reactions can favor one mirror-image form over the other.\n\nKagan's 1986 discovery of nonlinear effects transformed asymmetric synthesis, allowing chemists to understand and manipulate reactions that produce mirror-image molecules. Soai's work in 1995 demonstrated an asymmetric autocatalytic reaction, where a small initial imbalance could be amplified. In 2003, Soai showed a reaction that could generate an overwhelmingly dominant mirror-image form from an initially non-chiral mixture.\n\nThe Soai reaction, known as the \"Soai reaction,\" remains a key model for studying chirality and the origins of homochirality. These discoveries have practical consequences in drug design, manufacturing, and the production of fragrances, agrochemicals, and advanced materials. The laureates, Kagan at 95 and Soai at 76, will share the 12 million Swedish kronor prize, receiving it in Stockholm on December 10.",
  "summary": "The 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded Wednesday, Oct. 7, to French chemist Henri B. Kagan and Japanese chemist Kenso Soai for discoveries that helped explain how chemical reactions can favor one of two mirror-image forms of a molecule. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences recognized their work on nonlinear effects and autocatalysis in […]",
  "key_points": [
    "Henri B. Kagan and Kenso Soai awarded 2026 Nobel Chemistry Prize",
    "Discovered molecular handedness and asymmetric organic synthesis",
    "Work enables control of molecular chirality for drug manufacturing"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Nippon.com News",
        "title": "Japan's Kenso Soai Named Co-Winner of 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/japans-kenso-soai-named-co-winner-of-2026-nobel-prize-in-chemistry",
        "published": "2026-10-07T11:01:34.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "El Pais",
        "title": "Premio Nobel de Química para Henri Kagan y Kenso Soai por arrojar luz en el misterio de las asimetrías de la naturaleza",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/premio-nobel-de-quimica-para-henri-kagan-y-kenso-soai-por-arrojar-luz",
        "published": "2026-10-07T11:58:45.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}