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Henri Kagan and Kenso Soai were awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their work on non-linear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis, announced by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences on October 7, 2026. The prize recognizes Kagan’s discovery of a method to create an excess of one mirror image form of molecules and Soai’s design of a chemical reaction that produces only one specific version of these chiral compounds.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Henri B. Kagan from France's Université Paris-Sud and Kenso Soai from Japan's Tokyo University of Science were awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry "for the discovery of non-linear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis." This prize recognizes their transformative work on chiral molecules, which are like mirror images and crucial for drug development. Kagan discovered a new method to manipulate chemical reactions to produce more of one molecular form than previously thought possible. Soai designed the first reaction where only one mirror image is formed. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded them in Stockholm on October 7, continuing the tradition established by Alfred Nobel's will since 1901. This year’s prize follows awards for medicine and physics and precedes those for literature, peace, and economics later in the week.
Written for “Nobel Prize in Chemistry” on 2026-10-07,
grounded in this article and the 4 other(s) covering the same event.
Scientists Henri Kagan and Kenso Soai win 2026 Nobel chemistry prize
asserted
Kagan → win → prize
AI generated
STOCKHOLM – 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 Oct 7.
asserted
body → generate → Oct
The chemistry Nobel, always the third prize to be awarded during Nobel week, followed those for medicine and physics announced on Oct 5 and 6 respectively.
asserted
Nobel → award → Oct
Many molecules occur in two different versions.
asserted
molecules → occur → versions
They are one another’s mirror image, they look alike, but they are not identical.
asserted
they → look → ?
I cannot put my hands on top of one another.
asserted
I → put → one
Such molecules are called chiral, from the Greek word for hand, said Heiner Linke, chair of the Nobel committee for chemistry.
asserted
Linke → call → chemistry
According to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Kagan, 95, discovered a new way of manipulating chemical reactions, allowing a greater excess of one of the mirror images to be created than was previously assumed possible.
uncertain
excess → accord → images
Soai, 76, meanwhile, designed the first chemical reaction in which only one of the potential mirror images was formed.
asserted
one → design → images
Established in the will of Swedish inventor and businessman Alfred Nobel, the prizes for achievements in science, literature and peace have been awarded since 1901, with a few interruptions mostly due to the world wars.
asserted
prizes → establish → wars
Nobel, a chemist by trade, amassed huge wealth in the 19th century from inventions primarily tied to warfare, most notably dynamite.
asserted
Nobel → amass → warfare
The economics prize is a later addition funded by the Swedish central bank.
asserted
prize → fund → bank
Sometimes overshadowed by more famous laureates in the fields of physics, literature and peace, the chemistry awards have still recognised many influential discoveries such as nuclear fission and genetic sequencing techniques.
asserted
awards → overshadow → fission
The 2025 chemistry award went to scientists Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar Yaghi for the development of so-called metal-organic frameworks, molecular constructions that can help tackle challenges such as climate change and lack of fresh water.
asserted
that → go → water
The laureates will receive their medals from Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf at a ceremony in Stockholm on Dec 10, the anniversary of Nobel’s death.
asserted
laureates → receive → death
The awards are followed by a lavish banquet at Stockholm City Hall.
asserted
awards → follow → Hall
Awardees also share 12 million Swedish kronor (S$1.53 million), as well as the fame of winning arguably the world’s most prestigious science award.
asserted
Awardees → share → award
The peace prize, the only Nobel not presented in Sweden, is awarded separately in Oslo.
asserted
prize → present → Oslo
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