Other uses could be for sensors or actuators. They may become part of what is called smart materials "that respond to the environment in a way." In a home, when light shines on an object, the magnet may close a door.

"Who would have ever thought you could do anything with organic magnets?" Miller wonders.

Miller earned his Ph.D. in chemistry from UCLA in 1971. He and the physicist Epstein met when both worked for the Xerox Corp. in the early 1970s. Later, Epstein went to Ohio State while Miller worked for industry, including DuPont. In 1993 he came to the U.

Both continued researching and "published lots of papers together," Miller said. He received the Utah Governor's Medal for Science and Technology in 2004. The citation for that award mentioned that the researchers found the first new class of magnets in more than 400 years of research.

"Known as an excellent lecturer," the governor's citation added, "Prof. Miller has given over 400 seminars in various venues, as well as co-authoring over 400 articles in peer-reviewed publications."

But this new award seems unusual, with physicists honoring a chemist-physicist team. Isn't a rivalry supposed to exist between chemists and physicists?

"I think in today's world, more than before, each side appreciates the other side's breadth and what they bring to the table," Miller replied. Several Nobel Prizes in physics have been given to chemists and vice versa, he said.

Miller added that the distinction some people make between chemistry and physics "is a little bit arbitrary."

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E-mail: bau@desnews.com