Key Takeaways
- Henri Kagan and Kenso Soai received the 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
- The prize recognizes their discovery of non-linear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis.
- The ceremony will take place in Stockholm on December 10.
Scientists Henri Kagan and Kenso Soai have been awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their groundbreaking work on non-linear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis.
The Nobel Committee for Chemistry, chaired by Heiner Linke, highlighted the significance of their research, noting that many molecules occur in two different versions, known as chiral molecules, which are mirror images of each other.
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry is the third to be awarded during Nobel Week, following the announcements in medicine and physics.
The prize, established in the will of Swedish inventor and businessman Alfred Nobel, has been awarded since 1901, with interruptions mostly due to world wars.
Last year’s chemistry award was given to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar Yaghi for their development of metalorganic frameworks, which can help address climate change and water scarcity.
The laureates will receive their medals from Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf at a ceremony in Stockholm on December 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death.
The awards are followed by a lavish banquet at Stockholm City Hall, and the winners share 12 million Swedish crowns ($1.2 million).
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry often recognizes influential discoveries, such as nuclear fission and genetic sequencing techniques.
