Nobel Prize in Chemistry Awarded

An anonymous reader writes "The Nobel Prize in Chemistry for 2005 has been jointly awarded to Robert H. Grubbs (California Institute of Technology), Richard R. Schrock (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), and Yves Chauvin (Institut Français du Pétrole) for the development of the metathesis method in organic synthesis." Advanced [PDF] and supplementary [PDF] information is also available from the Nobel Prize site.

But as Sideshow Bob says...

[wernst]

Yes, yes, that's very interesting and all, but what I want to know is who won the Nobel Prize this year for "Attempted Chemistry?"

Metathesis is like swinging

[Dystopian Rebel]

"Metathesis can be compared to a dance in which the couples change partners."

Whoo hoo! Grubbs, Shrock and Chauvin have done a great service to married SlashDotters.

Re:But as Sideshow Bob says...

[kbrosnan]

You can find out tommorow when the IgNoble awards are released.
http://www.improb.com/ig/2005/2005-details.html [improb.com]

Last year the Chem Award went to Coca-Cola Co. of Great Britain for turning H20 into a cancer causing material.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,3604,11 74127,00.html [guardian.co.uk]

Re:Embarassed of a Nobel prize?

[gowen]

He'll still mention it when chatting up women, though. That's the French for you.

No Theory, no equations?-I am disappointed!

[Anonymous Coward]

They used to have the good habit of giving Nobel Prizes in Chemistry for physical chemistry, clean spectroscopical experiments, nice theories with lots of equations, sophisticated mathematics, quantum theories etc. Many physicists, not olny chemists, magaged to receive the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Not anymore, now smelly, organic chemistry and biochemistry grab everything! Think urine and meat and blood and saliva analyses and other gross things! I am VERY disappointed!

Well deserved

[JustNiz]

>> This represents a great step forward for "green chemistry",

Wow they must be smart, mine always comes out an icky brown colour.

Re:Grubbs is great

[Mr. Underbridge]

Pisses me off, I just left 7 months ago...I imagine I'm missing some great Chem department parties.

Re:Metathesis is like swinging

[Viper Daimao]

married SlashDotters.

Who?

Re:Grubbs is great

[Anonymous Coward]

I second that. I am the original submitter and also an undergrad at Caltech.

Funniest thing in that Ch 41a class was when he was demonstrating some reactions. He mixed H2 and O2 together and threw a catalyst and a spark in there. It was the loudest sound ever to resonate the lecture hall. Then he got another bottle and threw still more. He did it yet a third time, and this time, I wised up and ran from my front row seat to the back of the auditorium.

Great guy.