Science Weekly 2026 Preview: Space Missions, Fusion Energy, and Gene Editing

The Guardian Science Weekly looks ahead to 2026 across multiple science domains, from space exploration and private sector missions to breakthroughs in fusion energy, weight-loss drugs, and embryo gene-editing debates. The discussion covers Euclid's cosmos map, Artemis II’s lunar flyby, Haven One’s commercial space station, and the race to practical fusion power, alongside ethics and policy around gene editing in embryos and the evolving landscape of GLP-1 weight-loss therapies. It also touches on US science funding, climate science, and the growing role of private investment in space and energy research.

Overview

The episode surveys pivotal science and technology themes expected to shape 2026, including space exploration, energy innovation, biotech ethics, and health technology. Hosted by Ian Sample and featuring science writer Hannah Devlin, the discussion pivots from space missions and private spaceflight to breakthroughs in fusion energy, gene editing, and GLP-1 weight-loss therapies, while noting policy and funding environments that influence these developments. The conversation emphasizes the pace of progress, the balance between novelty and safety, and the geopolitical dimensions of science leadership.

"The Euclid mission could finally illuminate the dark corners of the cosmos by mapping dark matter and dark energy in three dimensions" - Hannah Devlin

Space Exploration: Euclid, Artemis II and Private Missions

The discussion highlights Euclid, launched to generate the largest three‑dimensional map of the universe, with a goal of tracing dark matter and dark energy through deep space observations. It also covers NASA’s Artemis II, the first crewed mission on the Space Launch System and Orion, planned to travel a lunar flyby and test life support, navigation, and communications for future crewed lunar exploration. In parallel, the episode notes private sector ambitions, including the Haven One commercial space station by Vast, to host crews and test viability for Haven 2 as a potential International Space Station successor. SpaceX’s ongoing activity around Starship is discussed as part of broader private‑sector ambitions in space, with attention to the technical and regulatory hurdles of the largest rocket ever built.

"The Euclid telescope will deliver the largest 3D map of the cosmos, helping us understand dark matter and dark energy" - Hannah Devlin

Fusion Energy: Progress, Investment and the Energy Race

The host and guest explore reports of progress toward net energy gain in fusion experiments, including Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s brief net energy gain demonstrations and the MIT‑led Commonwealth Fusion Systems’ innovations in superconducting magnets that shrink reactor size and energy needs. The conversation also frames fusion within a broader energy security and tech‑leadership discussion, noting substantial private and public funding from entities like Nvidia and federal agencies as the U.S. and China compete for leadership in clean, abundant energy. The segment highlights the optimism of near‑term plasma milestones while acknowledging ongoing challenges around sustained net energy gain, cost, and commercial scalability.

"There are signs fusion could deliver net energy gain and move toward commercial viability within the next decade" - Hannah Devlin

Biotech and Genetics: Embryo Editing, IQ Predictions, and Ethics

The episode delves into the fast‑moving field of embryo genetics, from plans by Silicon Valley‑backed Preventive to explore safe gene edits in human embryos to debates around embryo screening for traits like IQ, height, and disease risk. The discussion references past controversy from Hei Jiankui’s gene‑edited babies and notes that embryo editing raises multi‑generational considerations because edits can be inherited. Viewers are reminded that in the United States such editing is largely restricted, while new ventures aim to push capabilities further than traditional gene editing, raising questions about safety, equity, and the societal implications of designing future children. The segment also touches on laboratories aiming to generate eggs from stem cells, which would further expand the potential for embryonic manipulation and selection if proven safe and ethically acceptable.

"Editing embryos carries profound ethical and generational questions that require careful regulation" - Hannah Devlin

Health and Medicine: GLP-1 Drugs, Oral Pills and Weight Management

The discussion returns to health tech with weight‑loss drugs based on GLP‑1 agonists, noting the shift from weekly injections to oral pills as a key frontier. Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are pursuing oral semaglutide and related modulators, with starter doses around $149 per month versus injectable costs that can exceed $299 per month. Trials of other agents, such as retatrutide, show substantial weight loss but carry potential risks like kidney issues and bone fragility if weight loss is too rapid. The conversation anticipates a future where monthly or even longer‑acting dosing improves accessibility, but also stresses the need for cautious use and monitoring of side effects as potent drugs reach broader populations.

"Oral GLP‑1 pills could be a game changer for weight management, but safety and dosing remain critical" - Hannah Devlin

Policy, Funding and Global Impacts

The episode notes how science policy and funding environments shape research trajectories, including domestic science funding in the United States and the impact of political shifts on science priorities. The discussion touches on NOAA job cuts and broader science governance as background to understanding how research in space, fusion, and biotech evolves in 2026. The geopolitical dimension — from the U.S. versus China tech race to federal backing for fusion proposals — frames the episodes’ forward‑looking stance as a snapshot of where policy and research intersect in the coming year.

With these threads in view, the program closes by sketching a cautious but hopeful outlook for 2026, where breakthroughs in space, fusion energy, and biotechnology could transform energy systems, healthcare, and our understanding of the universe, while underscoring the ongoing need for responsible innovation and robust science policy.

"If fusion can deliver reliably, it could transform our energy landscape and global competitiveness" - Hannah Devlin