A Scottish-born scientist was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry jointly with a German scientist for their work on developing a new way of building molecules.
David WC Macmillan of Princeton University and Benjamin List of the Max Planck Institute were announced as the winners by Goran Hansson, Secretary General of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
The Nobel panel said that in 2000 scientists independently developed a new method of catalysis called “asymmetric organocatalysis”.
“This is already very beneficial to humanity,” said Nobel panel member Pernilla Witung-Staffshed.
Speaking after the announcement, Pro List said the award was a “huge surprise”.
“I wasn’t expecting it at all,” he said, as he was on holiday in Amsterdam with his family when the call came from Sweden.
Professor List said that he did not initially know that Professor Macmillan was working on the same subject and thought that his squabbles might just be a “stupid idea” until it worked out.
“I thought it might be something big,” he said.
It is common for many scientists working in related fields to share the award.
Last year, the award was given to Emmanuel Charpentier of France and Jennifer A. Doudna of the United States for their development of a gene editing tool that revolutionized science by providing a way to modify DNA.
The coveted prize is accompanied by a gold medal and 10 million Swedish kronor (£800,000).
The prize money comes from a will left by Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel, the creator of the prize, who died in 1895.
The Nobel Committee on Monday awarded the Physiology or Medicine Prize to Americans David Julius and Ardem Patpoutian for their discoveries. How the human body perceives and touches temperature.
NS Nobel Prize in Physics awarded on Tuesday For three scientists whose work has cleared up an obvious pitfall, helping to explain and predict the complex forces of nature, including expanding our understanding of climate change.
Awards will also be given this week for outstanding work in the field of literature, peace and economics.
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