Two scientists won the Nobel Prize in chemistry on October 7, 2026. Henri B. Kagan from France and Kenso Soai from Japan received the prize for their work on molecules. Soai was shopping at a local supermarket when he heard the news. “Of course, this is one of the most exciting days in my life,” he said.

Many things around us are made of molecules. These are very tiny parts. Some molecules have two forms, like our right and left hands. They look very similar, but they are not the same. For example, one form can smell like mint. Its mirror image, the other one, can smell very different.

The two forms can behave in different ways. So scientists must choose the correct form for a new medicine. This one can treat a cold. The wrong form can make the cold worse. Thanks to Kagan and Soai’s discovery, scientists can now make many better medicines.