2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry awarded for solving the mystery of mirror-image molecules
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Neutral summary
The 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded to French chemist Henri Kagan and Japanese researcher Kenso Soai. The laureates were announced on Wednesday, October 7, in Stockholm by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. The prize recognizes their work on nonlinear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis. The scientists helped explain how chemical reactions can favor one of two mirror-image forms of molecules — structures that, like left and right hands, cannot be superimposed. This property, known as chirality, is fundamental to life: nature produces only one form, while laboratories had long struggled to do the same. The discovery has direct applications in pharmaceuticals, since one form of a molecule may produce the desired therapeutic effect while the other can cause side effects. Controlling their synthesis helps make drugs more precise and safer. Experts cited by Russian media note that the laureates' work, among other things, contributed to the development of ibuprofen. Some outlets, such as Le Figaro, describe Kagan's award as correcting a “great injustice” from 2001, when the prize for related work went to other scientists. Soai himself, according to The Japan Times, said he understood the significance of his research and “would not have complained” if he had won. The prize amount for 2026 is 12 million Swedish kronor, to be shared equally by the laureates.
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Publication timeline
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ТАСС (outlet profile)
В Стокгольме объявят лауреата Нобелевской премии по химии
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Nature (outlet profile)
Chemistry Nobel for solving mystery of how ‘handed’ organic molecules can emerge. Nature, Published online: 07 October 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-03093-0 Prize awarded to two chemists who probed why life favours one m…
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Nature (outlet profile)
Nobel Prizes 2026: brain switches, ‘ghost’ particle hunter, and 'the chemistry of life'. Nature, Published online: 07 October 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-03208-7 Nature rounds up the Nobel Prizes for science — plus, hi…
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Onet Wiadomości (outlet profile)
Ogłoszenie laureata Nagrody Nobla w dziedzinie chemii. Trwa tydzień przyznawania nagród Nobla za osiągnięcia, które w największym stopniu przysłużyły się ludzkości. W środę komitet Królewskiej Szwedzkiej Akademii Nauk w…
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The Independent (outlet profile)
Nobel Prize in chemistry set to be awarded in Stockholm. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences will award the Nobel Prize in chemistry
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Exame (outlet profile)
Nobel de Química premia descoberta que fez moléculas ‘escolherem um lado’. Henri Kagan e Kenso Soai dividirão prêmio de 12 milhões de coroas suecas anunciado pela Real Academia Sueca de Ciências
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ABC News (outlet profile)
Nobel Prize in chemistry set to be awarded in Stockholm. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences will award the Nobel Prize in chemistry
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The Japan Times (outlet profile)
Japanese scientist Kenso Soai and France’s Henri B. Kagan win Nobel Prize in chemistry. Japanese scientist Kenso Soai and Henri B. Kagan won "for the discovery of non-linear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organ…
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El País Ciencia (outlet profile)
Anuncio del Premio Nobel de Química de 2026, en directo. La Real Academia de Ciencias de Suecia anuncia un galardón que premia desde avances médicos hasta ciencia de materiales
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Scientific American (outlet profile)
2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry is award to Henri Kagan and Kenso Soai for their work in 'mirror' chemistry. The prize recognizes Henri Kagan and Kenso Soai's work showing autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis.
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O Globo (outlet profile)
Nobel de Química 2026 é anunciado. O Prêmio Nobel de Química de 2026 foi anunciado nesta quarta-feira, pela Academia Real Sueca de Ciências. O que ganha quem recebe um Prêmio Nobel? Veja o que está incluído na premiação…
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G1 (outlet profile)
Nobel de Química 2026. A Academia Real de Ciências das Suécia anuncia nesta quarta-feira (7) o vencedor do Nobel de Química 2026. O laureado receberá o prêmio de 12 milhões de coroas suecas (R$ 6,2 milhões) concedido pe…
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NBC News (outlet profile)
Nobel Prize in chemistry awarded to Henri Kagan and Kenso Soai. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences Wednesday awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry to Henri B. Kagan and Kenso Soai “for the discovery of non-linear effe…
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O Globo (outlet profile)
Quem são os ganhadores do Nobel de Química 2026. O Prêmio Nobel de Química de 2026 foi anunciado nesta quarta-feira, pela Academia Real Sueca de Ciências. O que ganha quem recebe um Prêmio Nobel? Veja o que está incluíd…
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Telegraf (outlet profile)
Proglašeni dobitnici Nobelove nagrade za hemiju. Nobelovu nagradu za hemiju za 2026. dobili su Anri Kagan i Kenso Soaji za otkriće nelinearnih efekata i autokatalizu u asimetričnoj organskoj sintezi, saopštila.
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NRK (outlet profile)
To forskere deler nobelprisen i kjemi. Franske Henri Kagan og japanske Kensro Soai får årets nobelpris i kjemi «for oppdagelsen av ikke-lineære effekter og autokatalyse i asymmetrisk organisk syntese.» Det kunngjorde Ku…
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Tanjug (outlet profile)
Dobitnici ovogodišnje Nobelove nagrade za hemiju su Anri Kagan i Kenso Sual za otkriće nelinearnih efekata autokataliza
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Интерфакс (outlet profile)
Объявлены лауреаты Нобелевской премии по химии. В Стокгольме Шведская академия наук объявила лауреатов Нобелевской премии по химии 2026 года.
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Kurir (outlet profile)
DODELJENA NOBELOVA NAGRADA ZA HEMIJU! Dva naučnika nagrađena za veliko otkriće
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ТАСС (outlet profile)
Лауреатами нобелевской премии по химии в 2026 году стали ученые Анри Каган и Кенсо Соаи
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La Repubblica (outlet profile)
Henri Kagan e Kenso Soai hanno vinto il Nobel per la Chimica 2026. Il premio è accompagnato da 1,1 milioni di euro. L’anno scorso il riconoscimento era andato agli scopritori di nuovi materiali porosi, con una grande su…
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Folha de S.Paulo (outlet profile)
Nobel de Química 2026 vai para pesquisas que fazem a química escolher imagens espelhadas. O prêmio Nobel de Química de 2026 ficou com os pesquisadores Henri Kagan, da Universidade Paris-Sud, da França, e para Kenso Soai…
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DW (Deutsche Welle) (outlet profile)
Nobel Prize in Chemistry goes to Henri B. Kagan and Kenso Soai. Henri B. Kagan and Kenso Soai win Nobel Prize in Chemistry
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www.rbc.ru (outlet profile)
Нобелевскую премию по химии дали Генри Кагану и Кэнсо Соаи. Нобелевскую премию по химии присудили Генри Кагану и Кэнсо Соаи, сообщается на сайте Нобелевского комитета.
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Naked Science (outlet profile)
Нобелевскую премию по химии 2026 года получили Анри Каган и Кенсо Соаи. В Стокгольме объявили имена лауреатов Нобелевской премии по химии — 2026. Награду присудили за открытие нелинейных эффектов и автокатализа.
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Handelsblatt (outlet profile)
Auszeichnungen: Chemie-Nobelpreis an einen Franzosen und einen Japaner
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BFMTV (outlet profile)
Le prix Nobel de chimie 2026 décerné au Français Henri Kagan et au Japonais Kenso Soai. Le prix Nobel de chimie 2026 a été décerné ce mercredi 7 octobre au français Henri Kagan et au japonais Kenso Soai.
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The New York Times (outlet profile)
Nobel Prize in Chemistry Is Awarded to Henri Kagan and Kenso Soai. The Nobel Committee recognized them for “the discovery of non-linear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis.”
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El País (outlet profile)
Premio Nobel de Química para Henri Kagan y Kenso Soai por arrojar luz en el misterio de las asimetrías de la naturaleza. La Real Academia de Ciencias de Suecia anuncia un galardón que premia desde avances médicos hasta…
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La Croix (outlet profile)
Nobel de chimie 2026 : le Français Henri Kagan et le Japonais Kenso Soal récompensés. Le prix Nobel de chimie a été décerné, mercredi 7 octobre 2026, à un duo : le Français Henri Kagan et le Japonais Kenso Soal. Leurs t…
Factual core
- The Nobel Prize in Chemistry for this year was awarded to Henri Kagan and Kenso Soai.
- The Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded.
- The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm announced the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
- The 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded for work on symmetry in chemistry.
In the daily issue: The day in brief — October 7, 2026
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