Both 2010 Nobel Prizes in Physics and Chemistry went to Carbon



Granular Carbon

After 14 years, this year was also a carbon year. The Nobel Chemistry and Physics prizes went to carbon related research: Palladium catalyzed carbon - carbon bond formation (Heck, Suzuki and Negishi couplings) and graphene, respectively. My 2009 guess included Andre Geim as a potential Chemistry laurate but he seems happier with the Physics prize.

Somehow I'm pleased with this year's results, unlike last year and the previous one. Don't know why.

Catalysis and carbon will continue to receive more prizes as hydrocarbon research is gaining momentum these days.

Mark my words..