Chemistry Nobel Prize awarded to 3 professors By Nikky Raney

Photo: AFP/GETTY IMAGES/AP

CNN reports that the 2010 Nobel Prize in chemistry has been awarded to three professors Richard Heck of the University of Delaware (USA), Ei-Ichi Negishi of Purdue University (USA) and Akira Suzuki of Hokkaido University (JAPAN).

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced that the three received this award after the creation of a tool called a palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling, which was created in order to make carbon-carbon bonds in organic chemistry.

Organic chemistry is also known as carbon-based chemistry which all revolves around the basis of life such as poison in snakes, color in flowers, penicillin, etc.

The Nobel Committee told CNN that organic chemistry has allowed humans to build on nature's chemistry and create "revolutionary" materials.

Negeshi has been trying to create this for over 50 years and told reporters that a dream amongst the professors is to be able to synthesize any organic compounds of importance in order to create bigger and better things.

The Telegraph online explains that thanks to the creation of the palladium-catalysed cross-coupling scientists and researchers will be able to artificially produce a substance that is naturally found in sea sponges that is an aide used to fight cancer cells.


The three laureates all worked independently and will equally share the prize which is worth $1.47 million.