Japanese scientist Hideki Shirakawa, who shared the 2000 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, has passed away at the age of 90. Shirakawa was awarded the Nobel along with American scientists Alan Heeger and Alan MacDiarmid for their groundbreaking work on conductive polymers—materials that can conduct electricity like metals but are made from plastic. This discovery opened new possibilities in technology, leading to the creation of lightweight, flexible electronic components used in devices like solar cells and smartphone screens. Shirakawa died on August 24, according to the University of Tsukuba, where he had been a professor and researcher since 1979. The university did not provide details about the cause of death. According to Japan’s leading newspaper, Yomiuri, Shirakawa passed away at a hospital in Yokohama, a city located west of Tokyo. Born in Tokyo in 1936, Shirakawa earned his doctorate in engineering from the Tokyo Institute of Technology in 1966. He later moved to the United States, where he became a researcher at the University of Pennsylvania. It was there that he joined forces with Heeger and MacDiarmid, leading to the discovery that challenged conventional understanding—plastics, typically considered non-conductive, could be modified to conduct electricity. The trio’s research revolutionized the field of materials science, enabling the development of affordable, flexible conductive materials. These materials have since found widespread use in various technologies, from flexible electronics to energy-efficient solar panels. Shirakawa’s legacy will continue to influence scientific advancements and technological innovations for years to come.