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2026 Nobel Prize Predictions: Medicine, Physics & Chemistry (EP 60)

2026 Nobel Prize Predictions: Medicine, Physics & Chemistry (EP 60)

From First Principles vor 1 Monat

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Who could win the 2026 Nobel Prizes? From the science behind
Ozempic to quantum interference and droplets inside living cells,
Lester Nare and Krishna Choudhary make their picks for Medicine,
Physics and Chemistry, and explain the discoveries behind them. In
Episode 60 of From First Principles, we explore seven research
areas with a case for Nobel recognition: GLP-1, optogenetics,
optical coherence tomography, the Aharonov–Bohm effect, atomic
force microscopy, biomolecular condensates and Buchwald–Hartwig
coupling. We also discuss Michael Berry’s geometric phase and the
awkward question of how a prize limited to three people recognizes
discoveries built by larger teams. These are our predictions,
recorded before the 2026 announcements. Medicine, Physics and
Chemistry will be announced October 5–7. Which discovery, and which
researchers, would you pick? Tell us in the comments, then join us
for our Nobel week breakdowns. CHAPTERS 00:00 The science that
could win a Nobel Prize 00:57 Hello Internet: our 2026 predictions
02:03 Medicine: GLP-1 and the science behind Ozempic 07:41
Medicine: optogenetics and controlling neurons with light 13:16
Medicine: optical coherence tomography 16:28 Golden Goose Awards
and FFP updates 18:39 Physics: the Aharonov–Bohm effect and
geometric phase 27:37 Physics: atomic force microscopy 32:04
Chemistry: biomolecular condensates 36:36 Chemistry:
Buchwald–Hartwig coupling 38:42 Your predictions and our Nobel week
plans RESEARCH & FURTHER READING Foundational papers and
background for the discoveries discussed: GLP-1: Mojsov, Weir &
Habener (1987) https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI112855 Optogenetics:
Boyden et al. (2005) https://doi.org/10.1038/nn1525 Optical
coherence tomography: Huang et al. (1991)
https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1957169 Aharonov–Bohm effect (1959)
https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRev.115.485 Berry’s geometric phase
(1984) https://doi.org/10.1098/rspa.1984.0023 Atomic force
microscopy: Binnig, Quate & Gerber (1986)
https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.56.930 Biomolecular
condensates: Brangwynne et al. (2009); Li et al. (2012)
https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1172046
https://doi.org/10.1038/nature10879 Buchwald–Hartwig coupling: Paul
et al. (1994); Guram et al. (1995)
https://doi.org/10.1021/ja00092a058
https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.199513481 Official Nobel announcement
schedule:
https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/about/prize-announcement-dates/
EDITORIAL NOTES 19:30 David Bohm later held a professorship at
Birkbeck, University of London (1961–1987); he did not spend the
rest of his career in Brazil. 33:23 The ribosome-producing
compartment discussed is the nucleolus, not the nucleosome. These
corrections also appear on screen. WATCH & EXPLORE YouTube:
https://youtu.be/MgOpbh5VUGE Episode page and research library:
https://ffppod.com/episodes/ep60 Support: https://ffppod.com/donate
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