Nobel Prize in Chemistry awarded to Austrian, British, and Israeli physicists.
Austrian Martin Karplus, 83, Briton Michael Levitt, 66, and Israeli Arieh Warshel, 73, have conducted research on multiscale models for complex chemical systems; all three work at American universities.
Renata Giraldi
Reporter from Agência Brasil
Brasilia – The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced today (9) the names of three researchers chosen to receive the 2013 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. The winners are Austrian Martin Karplus, 83, Briton Michael Levitt, 66, and Israeli Arieh Warshel, 73. They developed research on multiscale models for complex chemical systems. All three work at American universities.
In their research, scientists combined chemical analyses with methods from classical and quantum physics. Theoretical calculations and simulations were performed to observe quantum atoms and their association with the main protein and the organism. The computer executed the calculations. The research showed that chemical reactions occur at the speed of light and, in a fraction of a millisecond, electrons jump from one atomic nucleus to another.
Experts said that the work of Karplus, Levitt, and Warshel is groundbreaking because it combined classical physics with the different foundations of quantum physics. In the 70s, the three researchers analyzed programs that underpin the research into a range of chemical processes. They used computer models that mirror real life to observe advances in chemistry.
Tomorrow (10) the Nobel Prize in Literature will be announced, on Friday (11) the Peace Prize will be announced and on the 14th the Economics Prize. Details about the awards are published on the website http://www.nobelprize.org/
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