The 2017 Nobel Prize chemistry has gone to three scientists for their work photographing molecules. Professors Jacques Dubochet, Joachim Frank and Richard Henderson will share the $1,090,000 prize. They developed a special way taking photos molecules. Molecules are the very smallest building blocks that make the cells our body. Everything and everyone is made molecules. The three chemists developed a technique called cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). This allows scientists to zoom to amazing new levels. Scientists can now see things our bodies that we have never seen before. They can see how the building blocks life move.
The Nobel Prize committee said the new cryo-EM technique will change science forever. It said the technique has "moved biochemistry a new era". The Nobel chairperson said: "Soon, there will be no more secrets. Now we can see the intricate details the biomolecules every corner our cells and every drop our body fluids. We can understand how they are built and how they act and how they work together large communities. We are facing a revolution biochemistry." Professor Frank said the practical uses the technique were "immense". Cryo-EM will mean scientists can look the building blocks of viruses. This means we will find cures many diseases.
