Full Breakdown
Kenso Soai Delivers Nobel Lecture on Asymmetric Autocatalysis in Tokyo
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
Japanese chemist Kenso Soai, 76, professor emeritus at the Tokyo University of Science, presented a lecture in Tokyo hosted by the Chemical Society of Japan. The talk, attended by roughly 2,000 participants in person and online, focused on the asymmetric autocatalytic reaction that earned him the 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Soai explained how a minute difference between mirror-image molecular forms can be amplified until one predominates—a process now known as the Soai reaction.
Background on the Soai Reaction
The Soai reaction was first reported by Soai in 1990 and has become a cornerstone of studies on molecular chirality. By demonstrating that a small initial imbalance can drive a self-reinforcing chemical cycle, the work offers insight into the origins of left-right asymmetry in biological systems. Soai’s Nobel-winning research therefore bridges fundamental chemistry and broader questions of molecular evolution.
Key Figures
- Kenso Soai – Japanese chemist, 2026 Nobel laureate in Chemistry, recognized for the Soai reaction.
- Louis Pasteur – 19th-century French chemist and microbiologist who first linked molecular asymmetry to biological phenomena; Soai plans to reference Pasteur’s contributions in an upcoming lecture in Stockholm.
Verbatim Quotes
“I was interested in basic or rather fundamental matters,” — Kenso Soai, japanese scientist
What’s Next
Soai expressed his intention to attend the Nobel Prize award ceremony in Stockholm in December, describing his anticipation of arriving “in high spirits.” He also announced a forthcoming lecture in the Swedish capital, where he will discuss his own findings while highlighting Pasteur’s historic work on molecular asymmetry.