Video
1 min read
One molecule, two smells: the power of chirality
Just like your left and right hands, two molecules can share exactly the same atoms yet never be superimposed on one another. Jeanne Fenouil, a science writer at the Institut Pasteur, explains how Louis Pasteur discovered chirality—and why it changes everything, from smells to medications.
© Script: Jeanne Fenouil and Sacha Tembe - Filmmaking: Jeanne Fenouil (video in french, english subtitles available translated by AI)
Two smells, one molecule. It's just reversed!
Jeanne Fenouil, science writer at the Institut Pasteur, explains how a simple reversal can change everything.
This is called chirality: two “mirror” versions of the same molecule that cannot be superimposed, like your left and right hands.
Discovered by Louis Pasteur, this property plays a major role in biology, perfumery... and even medicine! Certain drugs, such as ibuprofen, only work in one orientation in space.