The Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded jointly to three scientists for their research into “metal-organic frameworks.”

The results of the research by Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar Mons-Yaghi could help solve some of the world’s biggest problems, such as absorbing greenhouse gases or reducing plastic pollution.

The scientists’ research focuses on how molecules combine to create larger, porous structures, something the Nobel committee has called “molecular architecture.”

Metal-organic frameworks are made by combining metal ions with organic molecules, where the organic molecules bond with the metal ions to create a larger structure that is porous, meaning it has relatively large empty spaces inside.

Some molecules can pass through these spaces, but larger molecules get stuck behind them; In this way, this structure can help absorb gases such as carbon dioxide that cause global warming.