Nobel Prize Laureate Engages in Dialogue with Teenagers, Exploring the Mysteries of Chemistry in Everyday Life

On July 20, 2025, the latest session of the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum’s branded educational program “Science Travel · Technological Innovation Principal Space Station” was held at the SNHM. The event specially invited Ben Feringa, 2016 Nobel Prize Laureate in Chemistry and Professor at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, to deliver a keynote lecture on cutting-edge topics in chemistry and molecular science, building a bridge for dialogue between leading scientists and the public.

In his lecture, titled “The Joy of Discovery,” Feringa reviewed the groundbreaking progress he and his team have made in their research on “molecular motors” and “molecular switches.” He elaborated in detail on how precise chemical synthesis can be used to construct molecular machines capable of controlled motion at the nanoscale. He noted that the creativity of synthetic chemistry has surpassed natural design, offering infinite possibilities for constructing the microscopic molecular world, with broad applications ranging from pharmaceuticals to display technologies. He particularly emphasized that the current core challenge lies in achieving precise control of nanoscale motion and developing dynamic molecular systems, which indicates that the future of molecular nanoscience will be filled with boundless potential.