Nature Podcast Science in 2026: what to expect this year
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Jan 1, 2026 In this engaging discussion, Miryam Naddaf, a Nature reporter, forecasts the major science stories of 2026. She highlights groundbreaking small-scale AI models that may challenge big players in reasoning tasks. Miryam also reveals exciting developments in personalized gene editing trials and new UK-based blood tests for early cancer detection. Additionally, she shares insights on Japan's Phobos sample-return mission and the upcoming PLATO satellite's hunt for Earth-like planets, while addressing significant shifts in US science policy.
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Small Models Can Beat LLMs
- Small, specialized AI models may outperform large LLMs on reasoning tasks by using compact mathematical representations.
- These tiny models can be trained on limited data to solve specific reasoning puzzles more efficiently than LLMs.
Personalized Gene Editing Trials Arrive
- Gene editing is moving toward personalized therapies tailored to individual mutations in children with rare disorders.
- Teams plan clinical trials to expand the CRISPR-based treatment used on baby KJ Muldoon to other metabolic and immune disorders.
Large Trial Tests Blood Cancer Screen
- A UK trial of a single blood test screened >140,000 people for ~50 cancer types using tumour DNA in blood.
- Positive results could lead UK health authorities to roll the test out across hospitals for early detection.