Today, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for 2025 to three eminent chemists honored by the Academy. Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar Yaghi share the coveted award for their innovative research on metal-organic frameworks. Their study goes as far back as 1989. Most importantly, it has opened new avenues for tackling critical global challenges, including harvesting water from desert air and capturing carbon dioxide.
The Nobel Prize is widely regarded as the most prestigious science award globally, reflecting the significant impact of the laureates’ contributions to the field. Each winner will split 11 million Swedish crowns, or about $1.7 million. Please join us in congratulating the United States Institute of Peace! This award continues the legacy of Alfred Nobel. The “Merchant of Death” nickname derived from his first success as a chemist and inventor of dynamite in the 19th century, drastically increasing his wealth.
The Legacy of Alfred Nobel
Alfred Nobel certainly left his mark in the world of chemistry. His creations led directly to the establishment of the Nobel Prizes. His advances in the field of chemistry afforded him a great fortune, which he decided to still use toward providing for these highly-renowned awards some years later. Today, the Nobel Prize still represents the pinnacle of scientific accomplishment and groundbreaking ingenuity.
Nobel’s vision to honor those who contribute to humanity through science has led to numerous groundbreaking discoveries over the years. And Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awards prizes in areas like Chemistry, Physics and Medicine. These scientific awards recognize individuals who have achieved outstanding scientific breakthroughs of broad significance.
Breakthroughs in Chemistry
Among them, Kitagawa, Robson, and Yaghi build on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). Whether natural or designed, these permeable, water-absorbing materials offer new opportunities across diverse fields and industries. These frameworks demonstrate immense potential in addressing environmental issues, such as capturing carbon dioxide emissions and storing toxic gases safely. Their capacity to capture water from dry conditions offers exciting potential for them to be an antidote to addressing water scarcity.
“Through the development of metal-organic frameworks, the laureates have provided chemists with new opportunities for solving some of the challenges we face,” stated the award-giving body.
Their innovative research holds promise for future advancements in sustainable practices and addressing global challenges related to climate change and resource scarcity.
Recognition in Medicine
The 2018 Nobel Prize in Medicine went to Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Dr. Shimon Sakaguchi. They were awarded this distinction for their pioneering work elucidating peripheral immune tolerance, a happy addition to the Chemistry prize frenzy. This basic research is foundational to all immune responses and the development of new therapeutics for cancer, infectious, autoimmune diseases and more.
The Nobel Peace Prize announcement is scheduled for Friday, followed by the Economics prize next Monday, further highlighting the ongoing celebration of scientific and humanitarian achievements.
