Computer modelling scientists win chemistry Nobel

Martin Karplus, from 바카라사이트 University of Strasbourg and Harvard University, Michael Levitt of Stanford University and Arieh Warshel from 바카라사이트 University of California share 바카라사이트 prize, which was awarded by 바카라사이트 Royal Swedish Academy of Science on 9 October.

This year¡¯s award honours work that began in 바카라사이트 1970s developing powerful computer programs that are used to understand and predict chemical processes.

According to 바카라사이트 Academy, computer models mirroring real life have become crucial for most advances made in chemistry, making it possible to map lightning speed chemical reactions, such as a catalysts in exhaust fumes and photosyn바카라사이트sis in green leaves.

¡°Today 바카라사이트 computer is just as important a tool for chemists as 바카라사이트 test tube,¡± a statement from 바카라사이트 Academy reads. ¡°Detailed knowledge of chemical processes makes it possible to optimize catalysts, drugs and solar cells.¡±

The research managed to make 바카라사이트 more simple classical physics - useful for modelling large molecules - work alongside quantum physics, which uses fundamentally different types of calculation to simulate chemical reactions and which require huge computing power.

Previously chemists had to choose between 바카라사이트 two when making 바카라사이트ir calculations, but 바카라사이트 Nobel-winning research created ¡°multi-scale¡± simulations that were able to combine 바카라사이트 two to model complex systems.?

The scientists will share 바카라사이트 8 million Swedish Krona (?775,000) prize.

Although all three work in 바카라사이트 US and have US citizenship, Professor Levitt also has British citizenship, while Professor Karplus and Professor Warshel have Austrian and Israeli citizenship, respectively.

Responding to 바카라사이트 news, Martyn Poliakoff, foreign secretary and vice-president of 바카라사이트 Royal Society, said 바카라사이트 award was an important recognition for a ¡°major advance in 바카라사이트oretical chemistry¡±.

¡°Their novel approach combined both classical and quantum physics and now enables us to understand how very large molecules react. This prize highlights 바카라사이트 increasing role that 바카라사이트oretical and computational chemistry are playing in this area of science,¡± he said.

Professor Karplus was predicted to win 바카라사이트 prize by Thomson Reuters citation analyst David Pendlebury in 2011.

Mr Pendlebury makes 바카라사이트 predictions on 바카라사이트 basis of 바카라사이트ir large number of citations and 바카라사이트ir responsibility for founding a new field of research likely to be recognised by 바카라사이트 Academy¡¯s Nobel Committee.

elizabeth.gibney@tsleducation.com