Science I’m Looking Forward To In 2026 | Lightning Round

Quick Overview

The host shares science topics he looks forward to, focusing on a promising nanoparticle cancer vaccine showing tumor rejection in mice, the upcoming Artemis 2 mission scheduled for February 2026, and the continued utility of AI in protein folding via AlphaFold, while also expressing a desire for non-rage-bait social media.

Key Points: A University of Massachusetts Amherst nanoparticle vaccine successfully prevented aggressive cancers in mice, leading to tumor rejection in 88% of pancreatic cancer cases and teaching the immune system to target cancer antigens. The host anticipates the Artemis 2 mission, noting its possible launch opportunity starting in February 2026, which he wants to see to experience the solid rocket boosters. The host wishes for a new profitable social media platform not algorithmically geared toward increasing engagement through "rage bait," noting that recent alternatives like Threads and Blue Sky have failed to achieve this. Regarding the Raiders of the Lost Ark question about the Staff of Ra alignment, the host confirms that the procession of the equinoxes over 3,000 years would likely cause the alignment based on the Earth's axial procession to be incorrect by a few degrees. The host supports academic inquiry into phenomena like past-life recall researched by UVA's Division of Perceptual Studies, arguing that science should study everything, even fringe topics, as they are relatively harmless. Google DeepMind's AlphaFold, which predicts protein folds, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2024 and has already been used to strengthen bee immunity, reveal the structure of LDL's central protein, and create enzymes that break down plastic for chemical recycling. Stun guns incapacitate individuals who cannot feel pain because the devices lock muscles via electrical pulses, causing contractions regardless of pain perception in conditions like Congenital Insensitivity to Pain (CIP).

Context: The speaker hosts a monthly, lightly researched "cozy lightning round video" where he answers questions submitted by Patreon supporters and channel members at the solar system level, framing this specific session as a look at science he is looking forward to in the upcoming year, which he treats as a "wish list for the next year."