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

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.CHAPTERS00:00 The science that could win a Nobel Prize00:57 Hello Internet: our 2026 predictions02:03 Medicine: GLP-1 and the science behind Ozempic07:41 Medicine: optogenetics and controlling neurons with light13:16 Medicine: optical coherence tomography16:28 Golden Goose Awards and FFP updates18:39 Physics: the Aharonov–Bohm effect and geometric phase27:37 Physics: atomic force microscopy32:04 Chemistry: biomolecular condensates36:36 Chemistry: Buchwald–Hartwig coupling38:42 Your predictions and our Nobel week plansRESEARCH & FURTHER READINGFoundational papers and background for the discoveries discussed:GLP-1: Mojsov, Weir & Habener (1987)https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI112855Optogenetics: Boyden et al. (2005)https://doi.org/10.1038/nn1525Optical coherence tomography: Huang et al. (1991)https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1957169Aharonov–Bohm effect (1959)https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRev.115.485Berry’s geometric phase (1984)https://doi.org/10.1098/rspa.1984.0023Atomic force microscopy: Binnig, Quate & Gerber (1986)https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.56.930Biomolecular condensates: Brangwynne et al. (2009); Li et al. (2012)https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1172046https://doi.org/10.1038/nature10879Buchwald–Hartwig coupling: Paul et al. (1994); Guram et al. (1995)https://doi.org/10.1021/ja00092a058https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.199513481Official Nobel announcement schedule:https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/about/prize-announcement-dates/EDITORIAL NOTES19:30 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 & EXPLOREYouTube: https://youtu.be/MgOpbh5VUGEEpisode page and research library: https://ffppod.com/episodes/ep60Support: https://ffppod.com/donateFollow @FFPPod on X / Instagram / TikTok / FacebookBreaking down science news so it makes sense to curious people everywhere.