Scientists Henri B. Kagan and Kenso Soai win 2026 Chemistry Nobel for research on chemical asymmetry

Chemistry Prize

The 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry goes to Henri B. Kagan and Kenso Soai. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced the win on Wednesday in Stockholm. The two scientists were honoured for their discovery of non-linear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis.

Solving A Mystery

Their work helps chemists drive chemical reactions that lead to homochirality. According to the Nobel Committee for Chemistry, the duo solved a chemical mystery that is over a century old by explaining how homochirality can emerge spontaneously. Life relies heavily on chiral molecules like amino acids, which have two mirror-image versions. Life is selective and only uses one of these versions, and the awarded scientists explained why life favours one mirror image over the other.

Background

Henri B. Kagan was born in Boulogne-Billancourt, France, and works with the Université Paris-Sud in Orsay. Kenso Soai is from Hiroshima and is tied to the Tokyo University of Science. The prize includes a diploma, a gold medal, and prize money that winners share if there is more than one recipient in a field.

Context

Nobel prizes are awarded every year in October across multiple fields like chemistry, physics, medicine, literature, peace, and economics. These prestigious international prizes recognise major scientific and cultural breakthroughs that shape our world.