22/10/2026
💡The month of scientific discoveries
Every October, the world celebrates the Nobel Prize laureates - a moment that reminds us how groundbreaking discoveries often begin with a simple question and take decades of curiosity, persistence and collaboration to answer.
We congratulate all winners of the Nobel Prize, and particularly those within our scientific community:
⚗️Chemistry
Henri B. Kagan, Université Paris-Sud, France
Kenso Soai, Tokyo University of Science, Japan
"for the discovery of non-linear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis"
Even though L and D versions of various molecules exist, for some reason Life's chemistry (amino acids, sugars and all associated molecules like DNA, RNA, proteins) is homochiral (same-handed). The awardees contributed greatly to deciphering the question of how this homochirality emerged.
This discovery has been decisive for applications, such as pharmaceuticals manufacturing.
🩺Physiology and Medicine
Karl Deisseroth, The Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Stanford University, USA
Peter Hegemann, Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany
Georg Nagel, University of Würzburg, Germany
"for their discoveries concerning light-gated ion channels and optogenetics" - a method that makes it possible to show how nerve cells shape memories, feelings and behaviours in the living brain.
From curiosity about phototaxis (moving towards light) in simple organisms and the discovery of channelrhodopsin, photo-sensitive protein, in green alga to application of such photoswitches in unveiling causal relationships between neural activity and behaviour in mammals, including humans.
💡 These achievements shape our practice every day, as they are a testament to patience, persistence and curiosity.
