Consulting the Crystal Ball of Biology: Karl & Erum's 2026 Predictions
Karl and Erum kick off 2026 by reviewing their 2025 forecasts—celebrating the wins (DeSci's rise, waste as a resource, AI-biology convergence) and acknowledging the misses (no biotech M&A boom, no quantum biology breakthrough yet). Then they unveil their boldest predictions for the year ahead: the first functional AI-composed genome entering production, a major non-sterile biomanufacturing facility breaking ground, biological arbitrage creating competitive advantages against tariffs, consumer-held health records surpassing traditional medical data in clinical significance, spacemanufactured drug crystals entering human trials, definitive proof of alien life, and AIenabled communication with whales and other animals. They also welcome Lizette Couto, who joins the podcast to provide science definitions and explanations throughout episodes going forward. From dirty biology manifestos to peptide proliferation to interspecies communication, this episode maps the frontiers where synthetic biology, AI, space technology, and consumer adoption collide.
Chapters:
(00:00:00) - 🎙️ Welcome to 2026: The Year Biology Gets Real
(00:01:00) - Introducing Lizette Couto: Science Definitions and Podcast Updates
(00:03:00) - 2025 Predictions Review: Using AI to Analyze Episodes
(00:04:00) - What We Got Wrong: H5N1, Quantum Biology, and M&A Activity
(00:10:00) - What We Got Right: DeSci's Rise and the BIO Token
(00:12:00) - Waste as a High Value Resource: Agricultural to Urban Applications
(00:14:00) - Onshoring and Government Funding: A Crushing Year for Science
(00:18:00) - AI and Biology Convergence: From Reading to Composing Genomes
(00:20:00) - Microbiome and Longevity in Mainstream Culture
(00:23:00) - 2026 Prediction #1: The First AI-Composed Genome Goes Into Production
(00:26:00) - 2026 Prediction #2: Major Non-Sterile "Dirty Biology" Manufacturing Facility
(00:30:00) - 2026 Prediction #3: Biological Arbitrage Creates 15-20% Margin Advantage
(00:34:00) - 2026 Prediction #4: Consumer Health Records Become More Significant Than Medical Records
(00:36:00) - 2026 Prediction #5: Consumer Biotech Gains on Industrial Biotech (The Bathroom Shelf Wins)
(00:41:00) - 2026 Prediction #6: Space-Manufactured Drug Crystals Enter Human Clinical Trials
(00:44:00) - 2026 Prediction #7: We'll See Proof of Alien Life
(00:48:00) - 2026 Prediction #8: AI Enables Clear Communication with Whales and Other Animals
(00:51:00) - Closing Thoughts and Upcoming CPG Series Preview
Episode Links:
145. Decentralized Science 101: Defining DeSci with the Experts
146. Pump It Up: Benji Leibowitz on DAO-ing Science Differently
123. From Gas to Glam: Molly Morse Discusses Mango Materials' Biodegradable Innovations
113. Microbe Mission Possible: Noah Helman Discusses iMicrobes' Quest to Turn Waste into Wealth
154. No Trees Were Harmed: Symmetry Wood's Gabe Tavas on Growing Wood from Waste
The Future of Science: Modernizing the U.S. Scientific Enterprise
152. Crystals in the Cosmos: Varda Rewrites Drug Formulation in Microgravity
