The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm announced on Wednesday that Henri B. Kagan and Kenso Soai are the recipients of the 2026 Nobel Prize in chemistry. The researchers were honored for their discovery of non-linear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis.
Prize Details and Context
- The Nobel Prize carries a monetary award of 12 million Swedish kronor, approximately $1.2 million, regardless of whether it is awarded to an individual, a group, or an organization.
- Last year’s chemistry prize recognized three scientists for developing molecular structures capable of trapping gases, providing a potential method to capture greenhouse gases or harvest atmospheric moisture.
- This year’s series of Nobel announcements began Monday with the medicine award, which went to three scientists utilizing light to study brain mechanisms.
- The physics award was presented Tuesday to a scientist for their efforts to demystify a rare group of neutrinos. 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.