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Nobel Prize in chemistry awarded to Henri Kagan and Kenso Soai
Their work explains how chemistry can produce one mirror-image form of a molecule and has helped guide drug development.
- On Wednesday, October 7, 2026, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry to Henri B. Kagan and Kenso Soai for discovering non-linear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis.
- Their research resolves a century-old mystery regarding homochirality, explaining why living organisms exclusively use one version of mirror-image molecules—a discovery crucial for designing safe pharmaceutical drugs.
- Kagan, professor emeritus at Université Paris-Sud, and Tokyo University of Science professor Soai developed methods to drive reactions producing only one mirror-image form, a feat the Nobel Committee described as never previously achieved "other than life itself."
- Heiner Linke, chair of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry, called their chemical reactions "spectacular." Soai, who was out shopping when notified, expressed excitement about sharing the honor with Kagan.
- The prize includes 12 million Swedish kronor, or about $1.2 million, shared by the laureates. Nobel season continues with the literature award Thursday and the peace prize Friday.
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Kenzo Soai (76), Professor Emeritus at Tokyo University of Science, has been awarded this year's Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Fellow researchers have rejoiced, and local classmates have also congratulated him on this remarkable achievement.
·Tokyo, Japan
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This year's Nobel Prize in Chemistry is awarded to Henri Kagan and Kenso Soai. This was announced by the Royal Academy of Sciences in Stockholm. Kagan is French, Soai Japanese. Her research is relevant, among other things, for the safety of medicines.
·Germany
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Total News Sources701
Leaning Left108Leaning Right80Center121Last UpdatedBias Distribution39% Center
Bias Distribution
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39% Center
L 35%
C 39%
R 26%
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