Architects Molecular Cages Win Chemistry Nobel
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Three Scientists Win 2025 Nobel Prize for MOF Chemistry
Above: (L-R) The portraits of Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar M Yaghi. Image copyright: Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP/Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
The 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry exemplifies how scientific innovation addresses humanity's most pressing challenges by utilizing metal-organic frameworks. These revolutionary materials harvest water from desert air, capture carbon dioxide emissions and store clean hydrogen fuel. MOF technology is the material of the twenty-first century, offering unprecedented solutions for environmental protection, sustainable energy storage and water scarcity.
Narrative B
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry often overlooks stellar scientists whose work lacks a singular "Aha!" moment, favoring high-profile applications and sidelining crucial foundational research in molecular dynamics. This narrow focus means the prize fails to reflect the collaborative and multidisciplinary nature of modern science, creating an incomplete historical record that undervalues diverse, incremental contributions and skews recognition in the field.