French-Japanese duo wins chemistry Nobel for solving molecular 'mystery'
Summary
French chemist Henri Kagan and Japanese chemist Kenso Soai have won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for discoveries that explain why only one molecular form appears in nature. Their work on asymmetric organic synthesis and autocatalysis could help improve the manufacture of pharmaceuticals.
Key Points
- Henri Kagan and Kenso Soai won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for discoveries in asymmetric organic synthesis.
- Their work explains homochirality, the phenomenon in which only one mirror-image form of certain molecules appears in nature.
- The findings are considered important for drug manufacturing and other chemical applications.
- French President Emmanuel Macron congratulated Kagan on the award.
