Targeting commercial shipping, endangering civilian crew and impeding freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz is "unacceptable", India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Parvathaneni Harish has said, stressing that international law governing safe passage must be "fully respected"
Editorial independence is core to our work. Some links may earn us a commission, without influencing our opinions.Tried and Tested: I used this hair dryer for 30 days, and it has changed the way I dry my frizzy hairI have used Croma hair dryer for over three weeks
The story so far: Russia-based hackers targeted high-profile users in Germany, according to reports from the German media over the past few weeks. Der Spiegel reported that 300 Signal accounts belonging to politically connected individuals were attacked. On May 7
Fitness coach shares realistic rules he would follow to lose 30 lbs of stubborn belly fat without extreme dietingFrom protein intake to walking daily, here’s a breakdown of realistic rules that you can follow to lose 30 lbs of stubborn belly fat. Published on: May 17
An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has killed more than 80 as authorities warned there was no vaccine for the strain in a crisis that the World Health Organization declared an international health emergency on Sunday (May 17, 2026)
Meet Kitagawa, Robson & Yaghi - trio that bagged Nobel Prize in Chemistry for developing metal–organic frameworks
Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar Yaghi were awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for developing metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). These materials feature large cavities allowing molecules to pass through, enabling applications like water harvesting from desert air, pollutant removal, and carbon capture. Their work provides new avenues for chemical problem-solving.
The trio comprising Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar M. Yaghi bagged the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences for creating new rooms for chemistry. The three individuals created metal–organic frameworks that contain large cavities in which molecules can flow in and out.
The development has helped researchers to harvest water from desert air, extract pollutants from water, capture carbon dioxide and store hydrogen. The three scientists have provided chemists with new opportunities for solving some of the challenges we face.
Their story is of curiosity, persistence, and an unlikely collaboration that connected three very different minds.
Also read: Nobel Prize 2025 in Chemistry awarded to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson & Omar M. Yaghi for development of 'metal–organic frameworks '
Richard Robson
In 1974, Richard Robson, who was teaching at the University of Melbourne, Australia, had been tasked with turning wooden balls into models of atoms, so students could create molecular structures. For this to work, he needed the university's workshop to drill holes in them, so that wooden rods – the chemical bonds – could be attached to the atoms. However, the holes could not be randomly placed.When the workshop returned the wooden balls, he tested building some molecules. This was when he had a moment of insight: there was a vast amount of information baked into the holes' positioning. This insight led to his next idea: what would happen if he utilised the atoms' inherent properties to link together different types of molecules, rather than individual atoms? Could he design new types of molecular constructions?
Every year, when Robson brought out the wooden models to teach new students, the same idea occurred to him. However, more than a decade passed before he decided to test it out. He started with a very simple model, inspired by the structure of a diamond, in which each carbon atom bonds to four others, forming a tiny pyramid He aimed to build a similar structure, but his would be based on positively charged copper ions, Cu+. Like carbon, they prefer to have four other atoms around them.
At that time, most chemists would have assumed that combining copper ions with the four-armed molecules would result in a bird's nest of ions and molecules. But things went Robson's way. However, unlike diamond – which is a compact material – this crystal contained a vast number of large cavities.
In 1989, Robson presented his innovative chemical creation in the . In his article, he speculated about the future and suggests that this could offer a new way to construct materials. These, he writes, could be given never previously seen properties, potentially beneficial ones.
As it turned out, he had foreseen the future. As soon as the year after his pioneering work was published, Robson presented several new types of molecular constructions with cavities that were filled with various substances.
In his experiments, Robson showed that rational design can be utilised for building crystals with spacious interiors that are optimised for specific chemicals. He suggested that this new form of molecular construction – when correctly designed – could be used to catalyse chemical reactions, for example.
However, Robson's constructions were quite rickety and tended to fall apart. Many chemists thought they were useless, but some could see that he was onto something and, for them, his ideas about the future awakened a pioneering spirit. Those who would come to lay a stable foundation for his visions were Susumu Kitagawa and Omar Yaghi.
Susumu Kitagawa
Born on July 4, 1951, Susumu Kitagawa is affiliated to Kyoto University of Japan. Throughout his research career, Kitagawa has followed an important principle: to try to see “the usefulness of useless.” As a young student, he read a book by the Nobel Prize laureate Hideki Yukawa. In it, Yukawa refers to an ancient Chinese philosopher, Zhuangzi, who says that we must question what we believe to be useful. Even if something does not bring immediate benefit, it may still turn out to be valuable.
Like Robson, he used copper ions as cornerstones that were linked together by larger molecules. Kitagawa wanted to continue experimenting with this new construction technology, but when he applied for grants, research funders did not think there was any particular point to his ambitions.
However, he did not give up and in 1997, he had his first major breakthrough. His research group created three-dimensional metal–organic frameworks that were intersected by open channels. When they dried one of these materials – emptying it of water – it was stable and the spaces could even be filled with gases. The material could absorb and release methane, nitrogen and oxygen, without changing shape.
Kitagawa's constructions were both stable and had a function, but research funders were still unable to see their charm.
Susumu Kitagawa understood that if he were to receive any major grants, he had to define what made metal–organic frameworks unique. So, in 1998, he described his vision in the . He presented several advantages with MOFs.
After this, all he had to do was to put his ideas into practice. Kitagawa, along with other researchers, started developing flexible MOFs. While they work on this, we will move our focus to the US, where Omar Yaghi was also occupied with taking molecular architecture to new heights.
Omar Yaghi
Omar Yaghi and his many siblings were raised in a single room in Amman, Jordan, with no electricity or running water. School was a refuge from his otherwise challenging life. One day, when he was ten years old, he sneaked into the school library, which was usually locked, and picked a book at random from the shelf. On opening it, his eyes were drawn to unintelligible but captivating pictures – his first encounter with molecular structures.At the age of 15 – and on his father's stern instruction – Yaghi moved to the US to study, where he was attracted by chemistry and eventually by the art of designing new materials, but found the traditional way of building new molecules too unpredictable.
In 1992, when Yaghi started his first position as research group leader, at Arizona State University, he wanted to find more controlled ways in which to create materials. His aim was to use rational design to connect different chemical constituents, like pieces of Lego, to make large crystals. This turned out to be challenging, but they finally succeeded when the research group started combining metal ions with organic molecules. In 1995, Yaghi published the structure of two different two-dimensional materials; these were like nets and were held together by copper or cobalt. Yaghi describes this material in an article in Nature where he coins the name “metal–organic framework;” this term is now used to describe extended and ordered molecular structures that potentially contain cavities, and are built from metals and organic (carbon-based) molecules.
Yaghi established the next milestone in the development of metal–organic frameworks in 1999, when he presented MOF-5 to the world. This material has become a classic in the field. It is an exceptionally spacious and stable molecular construction. Even when empty, it can be heated to 300°C without collapsing.
However, what caused many researchers to raise their eyebrows was the enormous area hiding inside the material's cubic spaces. A couple of grams of MOF-5 holds an area as big as a football pitch, which means it can absorb much more gas than a zeolite could (figure 5).
Omar Yaghi laid the final bricks in the foundation of metal–organic frameworks in 2002 and 2003. In two articles, in and , he shows that it is possible to modify and change MOFs in a rational manner, giving them different properties.
Yaghi's research group has harvested water from the desert air of Arizona. During the night, their MOF material captured water vapour from the air. When dawn came and the sun heated the material, they were able to collect the water.
Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source Add Now!
Source: EconomicTimes
Related Posts: Nobel Prize 2025 in Chemistry awarded to Susumu Kitagawa Hollywood Star Richard Gere Attends Dalai Lama's 90th Birthday Celebration Who is Laura Robson Nobel Prize in Chemistry awarded to three scientists for development of metal-organic frameworks Nobel Prize in Economics awarded to Joel Mokyr 45 citizens awarded Padma Shri in Three IIT Madras Professors Awarded Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar 2025 For Scientific Excellence Vaibhav Suryavanshi Awarded With Highest Civilian Award Charlie Kirk posthumously awarded by Trump Physics Nobel Prize awarded to three scientists for their work on quantum computing
Indian woman explains why Florida feels impossible to leave after 5 years: ‘Once someone comes here…’An Indian woman in the US said life in Florida made her feel she could not move to any other state. Published on: May 17, 2026 2:28 PM IST By Mahipal Singh Chouhan Share via Copy link An
7 hours ago
Tilak Varma, the young Indian cricketer who plays for Mumbai Indians and the Indian team, is once again at the centre of dating rumours involving Telugu actress Sreeleela after a viral video featuring Suryakumar Yadav sparked fresh speculation online. The clip, now going viral across Reddit
10 hours ago
Indian-origin CEO announces layoffs at $3.4 billion US startup: ‘Difficult day’Healthtech unicorn Innovaccer, led by Abhinav Shashank, has carried out a fresh round of layoffs as it moves towards an AI-native structure. Updated on: May 17, 2026 11:04 AM IST By Sanya Jain Share via Copy link
10 hours ago
On May 10, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s motorcade drove through Gujarat’s Jamnagar, a town known for housing the world’s largest oil refinery. Videos showed hundreds of Bharatiya Janata Party supporters lining the route, waving party flags and cheering.On May 10
10 hours ago
At least eight people were killed and 25 others injured after a train collision triggered a fire that engulfed a public bus in Bangkok on Saturday (May 16, 2026), rescue officials and police said. Firefighters and rescue crews were dispatched as flames engulfed the bus
10 hours ago
‘This day is my favourite’: Indian man praises UK corporate culture after painting zoo railings with colleaguesAn Indian man shared how UK Volunteer Day culture gave him a chance to try painting and bond with colleagues. Published on: May 17
10 hours ago
Gurugram-based logistics services provider has elevated six senior executives to C-suite roles as the company looks to strengthen its leadership team amid expansion across business verticals. The company said in a stock exchange filing that the appointments are effective immediately
10 hours ago
Former couple Mouni Roy and Suraj Nambiar announced that they were going their separate ways earlier this week. Fans noticed that they are now following each other again on Instagram. Before Mouni Roy and Suraj Nambiar announced their separation
10 hours ago
You know a dish is interesting when it makes you stop and think, “Wait, why have I never eaten this combination before?" That’s exactly what Amritsari Chole Baozi feels like. Imagine soft, fluffy bao buns stuffed with spicy Punjabi chole, topped with pickled onions and mint mayo, comforting
10 hours ago
Manipur deputy chief ministers key negotiators in abduction crisisThe two leaders are engaging with their respective communities to secure the safe return of at least 20 abducted people, officials said. Published on: May 17, 2026 11:07 AM IST By Prawesh Lama
10 hours ago
Foxtail millets idli recipe: Give a delicious and healthy spin to this South Indian staple with Sanjeev Kapoor' recipeFoxtail millet, a nutritious grain from India, is used in various dishes. Chef Sanjeev Kapoor shares a recipe for idlis using foxtail millet and urad dal. Updated on: May 17
10 hours ago
The Israeli military on Saturday (May 16, 2026) confirmed that Ezzedine Al-Haddad, chief of Hamas' armed wing, was killed in an air strike in Gaza the day before. "The IDF and the ISA announce that yesterday, in a precise strike in the area of the City of Gaza
10 hours ago
An Iranian state television presenter fired a shot at the flag of the United Arab Emirates during a live firearms training broadcast, in a dramatic moment amid rising regional tensions and the increasingly militarised messaging on Iranian state media
10 hours ago
Donald Trump’s White House ballroom funding hits US Senate roadblockA Republican plan to earmark federal funding for President Donald Trump’s planned ballroom hit at least a temporary roadblock Saturday in the US Senate. Updated on: May 17, 2026 10:31 AM IST Bloomberg Share via Copy link A
10 hours ago
Virat Kohli, who has retired from Tests and T20Is but remains a cornerstone in the 50-over format, opened up on playing the ODI World Cup 2027, amid the ongoing IPL 2026 season. In a candid and fiercely honest revelation, Indian batting great Virat Kohli has finally broken his silence on the
10 hours ago
Some people wake up early to work out. Others wake up early purely for good breakfast, and honestly, that feels like the better life choice. Because there’s something deeply satisfying about starting the day with great coffee, buttery croissants, perfectly runny eggs
10 hours ago
A Reddit post shared by a CBSE Class 12 student has started a wider conversation online about pressure from parents after board exam results. The student claimed their father reacted harshly after seeing the marks, leading to both emotional and physical punishment at home
10 hours ago
China’s Ministry of Commerce said that Beijing and Washington had reached an agreement covering the purchase of US aircraft as well as the supply of jet engines and aviation components to China, marking a major breakthrough during US President Donald Trump’s state visit
10 hours ago
Weekly Tarot Horoscope for May 17–23, 2026: Karmic awakenings, some momentum, and emotional resets may all be arrivingWeekly Tarot Horoscope: Read your tarot prediction for May 17-23, 2026. Published on: May 17, 2026 10:00 AM IST By Kishori Sud Share via Copy link Aries This week asks you to
10 hours ago
It is just past noon at the crescent-shaped Palolem beach on the southern tip of Goa's long, sandy coastline. The sun is blinding hot, but that has not deterred the tourist hordes from splashing about in the ocean. The beachside shacks and cheap backpacker hotels hugging the bay in the state often
10 hours ago
India’s anti-narcotics agencies have made a landmark breakthrough after seizing the country’s first-ever consignment of Captagon, a highly controversial amphetamine-based drug often referred to as the “Jihadi drug" in an operation that has gone viral online
10 hours ago
Chaturvedi said, "Actually, it's not just one suicide; there are three such suicides that have taken place. And yes, I agree with what Rahul Gandhi is saying, because these are murders committed by the Government of India by totally disregarding the mental stress and mental agony of lakhs of
10 hours ago
IMD to revamp heatwave alerts, introduce percentile-based thresholds for first timeUnder the new framework, a heat alert will be triggered when maximum temperatures exceed the 95th percentile for a given location. Updated on: May 17, 2026 10:56 AM IST By Jayashree Nandi Share via Copy link
10 hours ago
Aditi Rao Hydari serves regal glamour at Cannes in a breathtaking green gown and statement silhouetteAditi Rao Hydari served a high-fashion red carpet look at Cannes 2026 with a green draped couture gown that took the internet by storm. Let’s decode her look. Published on: May 17
10 hours ago
India’s external affairs ministry on Saturday rejected an award reportedly issued by a court of arbitration about maximum pondage at Indian hydroelectric projects on the Indus river system, calling it null and void. Pondage refers to water that accumulates behind the dam of a run-of-the-river
10 hours ago
Bengal: Major anti-encroachment drive conducted to clear out Howrah station areaBengal: Major anti-encroachment drive conducted to clear out Howrah station area Published on: May 17, 2026 11:17 AM IST PTI Share via Copy link Kolkata, A massive anti-encroachment drive was carried out outside Howrah
10 hours ago
Actor Rajinikanth on Sunday broke his silence on actor-turned-politician Vijay becoming the state’s chief minister, saying he was “extremely shocked" by the development. Addressing reporters at his Poes Garden residence in Chennai, Rajinikanth said he felt compelled to clarify his position
10 hours ago
