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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Science
Kostya Manenkov,Stefanie Dazio and Adithi Ramakrishnan

Nobel Prize in Chemistry given to scientists who solved ‘mirror image’ mystery

Henri B. Kagan and Kenso Soai have been awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry following their work on mysterious mirror images in chemical molecules, a discovery that transformed modern medicine.

Many molecules of life come in versions that look alike but aren’t exactly identical – similar to right and left hands. For example, while one mirror image of the chemical carvone smells like mint, the other has the scent of caraway.

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