- Henri Kagan, Kenso Soai awarded 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
- Recognized for non-linear effects, autocatalysis in organic synthesis.
- Royal Swedish Academy announced prestigious 12 million Swedish crowns prize.
Scientists Henri Kagan and Kenso Soai won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry "for the discovery of non-linear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis," the award-giving body said on Wednesday. The more than a century-old prize is awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and the winners share 12 million Swedish crowns (USD 1.2 million), as well as the fame of winning arguably the world's most prestigious science award.
BREAKING NEWS The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has decided to award the 2026 #NobelPrize in Chemistry to Henri B. Kagan and Kenso Soai “for the discovery of non-linear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis.” https://t.co/nH090ql1Xc
— The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 7, 2026
"Henri Kagan and Kenso Soai have provided a solution to a chemical mystery that is over a century old: how homochirality can emerge spontaneously," Heiner Linke, chair of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry, said in a news release. "The chemical reactions they have developed are spectacular."
Kenso Soai – awarded the 2026 #NobelPrize in Chemistry – designed the first chemical reaction in which only one of the potential mirror images was formed. Other than life itself, no one had ever achieved this feat. The Soai reaction is one of the most spectacular chemical experiments ever conducted.
— The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 7, 2026
Who is Kagan?
Kagan, 95 years old and born in France, is affiliated with Universite Paris-Sud in Orsay, France, and Soai, born in Japan, with the Tokyo University of Science. Soai said he was shopping near his home when he was reached by the Nobel committee.
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced the winner in Stockholm.
Last year, three scientists won the chemistry Nobel for their development of new molecular structures that can trap vast quantities of gas inside, laying the groundwork to potentially suck greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere or harvest moisture from desert environments.
This year's prizes began with the Nobel for medicine, awarded on Monday to three scientists whose work led to a tool that uses light to help unravel how the brain works. The physics award Tuesday recognised a scientist's efforts to demystify a rare group of neutrinos.
How much money will they get?
The literature prize is set to be awarded Thursday. After Friday's peace prize is awarded, the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences will be announced Monday. The prize money this year is 12 million Swedish kronor (about USD 1.2 million), whether for an individual, a small group of laureates or an organisation.
(With inputs from agency)
You may also like to watch