Henri B Kagan and Kenso Soai win 2026 Nobel Prize in chemistry

Chemists Henri B. Kagan and Kenso Soai have been awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in chemistry for their work on mirror image molecules with applications in pharmacology.

FTMQ Health, written by our newsroom7 October 2026 at 11:530 views

Henri B. Kagan and Kenso Soai were awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in chemistry on Wednesday, STAT News reported. The two scientists received the award for solving a chemical mystery through research into mirror image molecules. [1]

According to STAT News, the award was given specifically for the discovery of non-linear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis. This research focuses on chirality, a phenomenon where certain molecules exist as mirror images of one another. [1]

The recipients of the award are 95-year-old Kagan and 76-year-old Soai, STAT News reported. Their discoveries in chemical synthesis have practical implications for pharmacology. [1]

The Nobel Prizes were first awarded in 1901 and are administered by the Nobel Foundation. The original prizes were created in accordance with Alfred Nobel's will to recognize contributions that offer the greatest benefit to humankind. [9]

Henri B. Kagan, 95, and Kenso Soai, 76, won the 2026 Nobel Prize in chemistry.
The award was given for research on mirror image molecules and asymmetric organic synthesis.
The findings on chirality have important applications in pharmacology.

Sources

Every paragraph above points to the numbered items it rests on. Read the originals here.

[1]2026 Nobel Prize in chemistry awarded for ‘mirror image’ molecule research, with impact on pharmacologySTAT News, 1h ago (the report this story comes from)
[2]UCLA researcher wins the 2026 Albany Prize for revolutionary cancer therapy discoveriesNews-Medical, 17h ago
[3]Oncologist Dennis Slamon receives the 2026 Albany Prize — News-MedicalUA.NEWS, 16h ago
[4]The Nobel prize in chemistry 2026 as it happens – LiveChemistry World, 4h ago
[5]Nobel prize in physics 2026: high energy cosmic neutrinosThe Guardian, 16h ago
[6]What to Know About the 2026 Nobel PrizesThe New York Times, 1d ago
[7]Nobel Peace Prize 2026: Trump to Carney, who are the top contenders? Why the ISS is a surprise contenderWION, 1d ago
[8]Meet the 2026 Nobel Prize WinnersTime Magazine, 1d ago

Background

[9]Nobel Prize on Wikipedia
[10]Nobel Prize on Grokipedia

Our newsroom writes these reports with the help of software, from the 10 sources listed and nothing else, and checks them against those sources. Facts can still be wrong or move on; the originals are the record. Spotted a mistake? Write to daniel@monsterkong.com.

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