Nobel Prize in Chemistry: France's Henri Kagan and Japan's Kenso Soai honoured for the mirror-molecule puzzle

Germany

incl. 2 state outlets

3 SOURCES

Pedagogical narratives on homochirality · 4 of 18 countries

Berlin sees this Nobel Prize in Chemistry as the solution to a century-old puzzle, explained by the image of the two hands and rooted in the memory of Contergan.

Argentina

2 SOURCES

Pharmaceutical and medical narratives · 9 of 18 countries

Buenos Aires is deciphering this Nobel Prize in Chemistry for its practical scope: from mirror molecules at the origin of life to more precise medications, with thalidomide as an example.

Australia

2 SOURCES

Pharmaceutical and medical narratives · 9 of 18 countries

Canberra takes note of the practical aspect of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry: mirror molecules that, when properly chosen, separate the medicine that heals from the one that worsens the condition, using mint and caraway to illustrate.

Belgium

2 SOURCES

Narratives centered on the national laureate or the 2001 precedent · 5 of 18 countries

Brussels notes the Nobel Prize in Chemistry's belated recognition of Henri Kagan, 95, whom the 2001 prize had overlooked despite his status as the "father" of asymmetric catalysis.

Canada

incl. 1 state outlet

3 SOURCES

Pharmaceutical and medical narratives · 9 of 18 countries

Ottawa is taking note of the 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, particularly its medical implications: the Canadian press explains mirror molecules through the production of medications, leaving national pride aside.

Colombia

2 SOURCES

Narratives centered on the national laureate or the 2001 precedent · 5 of 18 countries

Bogotá takes note of the 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for its pharmaceutical scope: mirror molecules are presented as the key to the manufacture of medicines, more than as a laboratory enigma.

United States

2 SOURCES

Pharmaceutical and medical narratives · 9 of 18 countries

The United States takes away from this Nobel a century-old chemical enigma, solved by reactions deemed "spectacular" and useful for the manufacture of medicines, in a dispatch tone.

Finland

3 SOURCES

Pedagogical narratives on homochirality · 4 of 18 countries

Helsinki interprets this Nobel Prize in Chemistry as a science lesson: the Finnish press explains the "right hand" and "left hand" of molecules and the century-old enigma that Kagan and Soai solved.

France

incl. 1 state outlet

6 SOURCES

Narratives centered on the national laureate or the 2001 precedent · 5 of 18 countries

Paris welcomes a Nobel that rectifies a "historical injustice": at 95 years old, Henri Kagan receives what was denied to him in 2001.

Italy

3 SOURCES

Narratives centered on the national laureate or the 2001 precedent · 5 of 18 countries

Rome takes from the Nobel Prize in Chemistry the promise of safe medicines: the Italian press explains mirror molecules through thalidomide and recalls Kagan's exclusion in 2001.

Japan

3 SOURCES

Narratives centered on the national laureate or the 2001 precedent · 5 of 18 countries

Tokyo hails a Japanese Nobel laureate in chemistry, the second in a row, by placing Kenso Soai, a child of Hiroshima, at the centre of the story, before the enigma of mirror molecules.

Mexico

4 SOURCES

Pharmaceutical and medical narratives · 9 of 18 countries

Mexico City sees this Nobel Prize in Chemistry as the resolution of an ancient scientific enigma, that of mirror molecules, and above all retains the tool offered to chemists and the pharmaceutical industry.

Pakistan

2 SOURCES

Pharmaceutical and medical narratives · 9 of 18 countries

Islamabad sees this Nobel as a matter of fundamental chemistry: a century-old enigma of mirror molecules, solved through reactions deemed "spectacular".

Peru

2 SOURCES

Pharmaceutical and medical narratives · 9 of 18 countries

Lima takes note of the pharmaceutical aspect of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry: the Peruvian press presents Kagan and Soai's discovery as a tool for manufacturing medicines, with thalidomide as an example.

Russia

2 SOURCES

Pharmaceutical and medical narratives · 9 of 18 countries

Moscow breaks down the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in simple terms: a mechanism of mirror molecules explained step by step, with pharmacy as an outlet, without any national stake.

Senegal

2 SOURCES

Pedagogical narratives on homochirality · 4 of 18 countries

Dakar takes away from the 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry the scientific enigma: the Senegalese press explains the chirality of living things and the "spectacular reaction" of Kenso Soai, more than the national record.

Sweden

3 SOURCES

Pedagogical narratives on homochirality · 4 of 18 countries

Stockholm explains the chemistry of mirror hands: the Swedish press details the century-old enigma of homochirality and the scope of Kagan and Soai's "spectacular" reactions for drug manufacturing.

Taiwan

2 SOURCES

Pharmaceutical and medical narratives · 9 of 18 countries

Taipei takes note of the implications of this Nobel Prize in Chemistry for pharmacy and the origin of life, with local researchers detailing the significance of "left" and "right" molecules.