Kitagawa, who found a use for the useless, wins the Nobel Prize
21 hours ago
- #Innovation
- #Chemistry
- #Nobel Prize
- Susumu Kitagawa, a 74-year-old professor at Kyoto University, won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs).
- MOFs are materials with tiny pores that can absorb gases, offering potential applications in combating climate change and energy storage.
- Kitagawa's discovery was initially met with skepticism but later revolutionized scientific understanding of porous materials.
- His inspiration came from the Lao-Zhuang philosophical concept of 'the usefulness of the useless,' focusing on empty spaces (pores) in materials.
- Kitagawa envisions a future 'age of gases,' where air could be a universal resource, reducing global energy conflicts.
- Over 40 startups worldwide are exploring MOFs for environmental and energy solutions.
- Kitagawa emphasizes teamwork, curiosity, and perseverance in scientific research, quoting Louis Pasteur: 'Chance favors the prepared mind.'
- His lab fosters an egalitarian culture, with team bonding activities like hiking and sharing homemade bread.