From First Principles What’s Next in Science? Nobel Prizes, Space Missions & More (EP 57)
Sep 14, 2026
A lively tour of the science to watch this fall, from Nobel Prize predictions and the surprising payoffs of curiosity-driven research to the origins of GLP-1 drugs. The conversation then blasts into space with NASA’s Roman Telescope, JAXA’s Phobos sample-return mission, and BepiColombo’s investigation of Mercury’s ice, hollows, magnetic field, and oversized core.
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How Gila Venom Led To GLP-1 Drugs
- The Golden Goose Awards highlight federally funded discoveries whose societal value emerged unexpectedly.
- Gila monster venom research ultimately enabled GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy, illustrating why curiosity-driven science matters.
Why Government Should Fund Basic Research
- Federal research debates often overlook that private industry already funds far more applied research than the government.
- Public funding therefore has a distinctive role in supporting basic questions whose commercial value remains unknown.
Check The Data Before Attacking Science Funding
- Examine funding data before judging which scientific fields receive public money.
- The hosts direct listeners to FFP’s funding tracker, which breaks spending down by agency and research area.