Nobel laureate urges revolutionary breakthroughs at Shanghai forum

Yet List views his Nobel Prize as merely a steppingstone. "This honor came too early," he said, adding that what he truly wants to accomplish is finding a universal catalyst that can solve all chemical problems.

One of List's ambitious projects aims to tackle climate change through artificial photosynthesis. His team is working to extract carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere and use light and catalysts to decompose it into oxygen and graphite.

"This sounds like a crazy idea," he admitted. "High school students could think of it. But if it works, it will truly change the world."

When asked about the role of artificial intelligence in scientific discovery, List expressed measured skepticism. "Right now, relying solely on AI won't get you a Nobel Prize," he explained, noting that AI generates responses based on existing data probabilities rather than genuinely novel concepts, while science needs new things.