Technology 9/10: 'Magic bag' helps three chemists win Nobel Prize 2025

The “magic bag” in chemistry helps three scientists win the 2025 Nobel Prize

Three scientists have been awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for developing “metal-organic frameworks” (MOFs), a type of molecular architecture that can store large amounts of gas in a microscopic structure. The Nobel Committee likened this work to Hermione Granger’s magic bag in the Harry Potter books.

The scientists honored include Susumu Kitagawa (Japan), Richard Robson (Australia), and Omar Yaghi (USA, originally from Jordan). Their work opens up possibilities for applications to pressing problems such as climate change, harvesting water from desert air, storing toxic gases, and catalyzing chemical reactions.

Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar Yaghi won the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. (Source: Nobel)

Heiner Linke, chairman of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry, described MOFs as “hotel rooms” – where molecules can come and go like guests. One gram of MOF material has an internal surface area equivalent to a football field.

The potential applications of MOFs are wide-ranging: from capturing CO₂ to combat climate change, to removing toxic chemicals from water, to breaking down pharmaceutical residues in the environment. However, to be effective globally, it will need to be deployed on a very large scale.

VDA 2025: Honoring 52 outstanding digital transformation agencies, organizations and individuals

The Vietnam Digital Awards 2025 - Vietnam Digital Awards 2025 - took place in Hanoi on October 8, marking the 8th season of the prestigious award sponsored by the Ministry of Science and Technology , to honor individuals and organizations pioneering in national digital transformation.

This year, VDA 2025 added a category to honor individuals, affirming the central role of humans in the digitalization process. The award-winning products and solutions all apply modern technologies such as AI, Big Data, IoT, and Blockchain.

Vietnam Education Publishing House received the VDA 2025 award. (Source: VDA)

After 6 months of launching, the Organizing Committee received more than 400 applications from 15,000 units, honoring 52 outstanding individuals and organizations. Dr. Nguyen Quan - Chairman of the Final Round Council - commented: "The models have technological depth, the ability to replicate and integrate into the national digital ecosystem."

After 8 seasons, VDA has reached more than 36,000 units, attracted 2,600 applications and honored more than 450 individuals and organizations. VDA 2025 continues to be a forum to connect, share and spread successful digital transformation models nationwide.

Nvidia still sponsors H-1B visas for foreign employees

Nvidia has pledged to continue sponsoring H-1B visas for foreign employees, despite a new executive order from US President Donald Trump requiring companies to pay an additional $100,000 for each new visa application.

“As one of the many immigrants at Nvidia, I understand how opportunities in the U.S. have shaped our lives,” CEO Jensen Huang said in an internal message. He affirmed that the company will cover all costs related to the H-1B visa.

An Nvidia chip on a circuit board. (Source: Reuters)

CEO Huang emphasized that Nvidia's success is the result of its global team, and would not have been possible without the contributions of talented immigrants.

As Nvidia invests heavily in AI and partners with companies like OpenAI, maintaining an open visa policy is seen as an important strategy to attract global talent.

Minh Hoan

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/cong-nghe-9-10-chiec-tui-than-ky-giup-ba-nha-hoa-hoc-gianh-nobel-2025-ar970123.html