In this paper we present a general review of some of the new branches in the field of optical activity that have been developed during the last five years. Also, the conditions under which circular intensity differential scattering can be measurable in the soft X‐ray region of the spectrum are established. It is found that the parameter which determines the strength of the preferential interaction of chiral molecules with opposite circular polarizations at these high energies is the anisotropy of the atomic polarizabilities in the molecule. The possibility of extending the other techniques discussed here to shorter wavelengths, is also discussed. Copyright © 1986, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved