Ryoji Noyori

Source: https://en.nagoya-u.ac.jp/research/distinguished-faculty/ryoji_noyori/ Parent: https://en.nagoya-u.ac.jp/research/

All things can be classified into two shapes. The shape that is reflected in a mirror (mirror image) is different from the actual view of the shape (actual image). For example, for things like glasses, teacups, and chairs, if you take the mirror image and flip it, it will overlap with the actual image. However, for things like gloves, wine openers, and pinwheel blades, the mirror image does not match the actual image. Two things that have a mirror-image relationship with each other are no different when they exist as single objects. However, if they interact, this changes. For example, a handshake works when it is done with two right hands, but if a handshake is done with a right hand and a left hand, the hands would not fit together well. These right and left differences are not limited to things that we can see in the world. These differences are very important, even in the world of molecules that exist in units of nanometers (one billionth of a meter). In particular, molecules like medicinal drugs and agricultural chemicals that pertain to life phenomena and biological phenomena can lead to social problems.