Three scientists win Nobel Prize in chemistry for molecular machines
Jean-Pierre Sauvage, Fraser Stoddart, and Bernard Feringa share the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their work on molecular machinery, which the prize committee says inspired the advances of other scientists.
Jean-Pierre Sauvage, Fraser Stoddart, and Bernard Feringa share the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their work on molecular machinery, which the prize committee says inspired the advances of other scientists.
Alfred Nobel wanted the prizes that bear his name to recognize achievements that offered the 鈥済reatest benefit to mankind.鈥� The world鈥檚 tiniest machines 鈥� celebrated in this year鈥檚 chemistry prize 鈥� may revolutionize daily life.
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences on Wednesday awarded the final Nobel prize in sciences for 2016. The 8 million kronor ($930,000) chemistry prize went to Jean-Pierre Sauvage of France, British-born Sir Fraser Stoddart, and Bernard 鈥淏en鈥� Feringa of the Netherlands. The scientists were recognized for their breakthroughs on molecular machines, which began with Dr. Sauvage linking two ring-shaped molecules in 1983.
For the awarding committee, these machines are 鈥渁t the same stage as the electric motor was in the 1830s,鈥� when its potential was clear but before anyone knew how it would be used. Researchers have speculated about the uses of the technology for years.
As聽Laurent Belsie reported for 海角大神 in 2000:
Molecular machines can be one-thousandth the width of a human hair. When energy is added, they can perform designated tasks and even be controlled.
A 2014 study described a 鈥渕olecular superlattice鈥� researchers had built, which rotated when under pressure. Hydrogen bonds functioned as hinges, allowing up to 23 degrees of movement.
Such discoveries were made possible, the awarding committee said, by the work of the three Nobel prize recipients. After Sauvage's chain of ring-shaped molecules in 1983 came Sir Fraser's 1991 production of 鈥渁 molecular rod and ring that fit together snugly. As he told the Monitor,聽"We realized we were on our way to building something that could be a molecular abacus.... We started to see the beginnings of molecular designs."
In 1999, Professor Feringa set a molecular rotor blade spinning continuously in one direction, developing the first molecular motor.
The three men were understandably emotional about the win. Feringa, a professor of organic chemistry at the University of Groningen, Netherlands, told reporters calling from Stockholm that he was 鈥渁 bit shocked鈥� and 鈥渟o honored.鈥澛�
Sauvage, professor emeritus at the University of Strasbourg and director of research emeritus at France鈥檚 National Center for Scientific Research, said, 鈥淭he Nobel Prize is something very special, it鈥檚 the most prestigious prize, the one most scientists don鈥檛 even dare to dream of in their wildest dreams.鈥�
What next for the researchers 鈥� and for molecular machines? Feringa says there are 鈥渆ndless opportunities鈥� to use the technology. He has developed a 鈥渘anocar鈥� with four molecular wheels, while Stoddart has produced an infinitesimal computer chip with 20 kB of memory.
Some are concerned that the tiny technology may also create space for threats. The balance between moving forward on technology and safeguarding security has been debated since at least 2000, as 海角大神 reported.
鈥淲ing sensors could easily become invisible listening devices. Tiny robots that manipulate atoms could carry designer viruses into the battlefield or a public building.鈥�
The federal government is already involved in researching and regulating nanotechnologies. The National Nanotechnology Initiative has invested nearly $24 billion in research and development since 2001.
The tiny machines have the potential to capture the imaginations of young scientists, too. 鈥淐hildren are going to love it,鈥� Donna Nelson, president of the American Chemical Society, told the Associated Press.