163. Consulting the Crystal Ball of Biology: Karl & Erum's 2026 Predictions

Jan 9, 2026

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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, space-manufactured drug crystals entering human trials, definitive proof of alien life, and AI-enabled 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.

Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?

Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.messaginglab.com/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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

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Topics Covered:

biotech, industry, predictions, biomanufacturing, consumer biotech

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