A chemist from the University of California, Berkeley was one of three scientists who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry on Wednesday.
Omar Yaghi, professor at the University of Berkeley; Susumu Kitakawa, Kyoto University, Japan; Since the 1990s, Richard Robson of the University of Melbourne, Australia and Richard Robson of the University of Melbourne, Australia have been recognized for developing a novel molecular structure that combines metal ions and carbon-based molecules, according to the release of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, which manages the Nobel Prize.
Metal organic frames can collect water or store toxic gases. The release notes that these frameworks “may help address some of the biggest challenges facing humanity.”
The press release says these frames are essentially “rooms” because there is a large amount of space formed in the structure. According to the Associated Press, a Nobel Committee member compared it to Hermione Granger’s magic bag in the seventh book of Harry Potter. Her bag ended up with a tent, books and other supplies. Again, the frame looks small but can hold a lot of stuff.
More than 100,000 metal-organic frameworks have been created since the trio’s discovery, according to a press release from the University of Berkeley.
