The Take From a refugee family to Nobel Laureate: Omar Yaghi's story
Jan 19, 2026
Omar Yaghi, a Nobel Laureate in Chemistry and Professor at UC Berkeley, shares his remarkable journey from growing up in a Palestinian refugee family to revolutionizing scientific research. He reveals the inspiration behind his groundbreaking work on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), which can capture carbon and harvest water from desert air. Yaghi explains how MOFs function like 'molecular hotels' and emphasizes their potential for addressing global water scarcity and climate challenges, urging collective action for a sustainable future.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Humble Beginnings Shaped a Scientist
- Omar Yaghi grew up in Amman, Jordan, in a refugee family with no running water or electricity.
- He learned work ethic, independence, and careful craftsmanship from his father's shop while observing more than playing.
A Library Discovery That Hooked Him
- As a child Omar skipped recess to explore a school library and found molecular drawings that captivated him.
- That discovery hooked him on molecules and set his lifelong path toward chemistry and research.
MOFs Are Customizable Molecular Hotels
- Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) combine organic and inorganic building blocks like Lego to create porous structures.
- Their customizable internal 'rooms' let scientists trap specific molecules such as water, CO2, or hydrogen for targeted uses.
