Optimism in Science for 2026

As we step into the new year, it seems like those filled with hope and ambitious plans are in the minority. Most of us, honestly, have wobbled into 2026 feeling exhausted, facing all sorts of challenges—from being overly dependent on remedies to managing finances while worrying about global issues. Yet, there’s one thing that never fails to uplift me: science. I don’t claim to fully grasp it, but I’m genuinely thrilled that it’s out there, continually improving our lives.

A recent article from The Atlantic titled “55 Facts That Blew Our Minds in 2025” really jolted me out of my year-end stupor. Did you catch that scientists at UC Berkeley managed to create a new color? It’s called “olo,” and it’s a sort of teal shade. There’s also the remarkable feat where doctors used custom gene editing to treat a baby with a rare genetic disorder. Smithsonian also shared some amazing discoveries from last year: ichthyosaurs, ancient marine reptiles, were found to have “stealth flippers,” and some snails can regenerate their eyes in a month. Oh, and flamingos? They create tornado-like whirlpools when foraging, which is impressive to watch—I even checked out a video on YouTube. On the insect front, entomologists discovered a “bone collector” caterpillar that hides in its prey’s body parts. I’m sure it’s charming once you get to know it.

2025 also saw science make oyster mushrooms play keyboards (in a way), astronomers discovering over 100 moons in our solar system, and medical researchers developing a replica womb lining. They even made strides toward lab-grown teeth. Science is truly inspiring; it’s the one thing that encourages me about 2026. I know the sharp minds are hard at work tackling pressing issues like climate change, plastic pollution, and chronic illnesses affecting many around me. But I find the smaller advancements equally intriguing. While I might not be able to list 55, I’ve got a few ideas for potential “mind-blowing discoveries” for next year.

First off, let’s reexamine whether sitting is genuinely bad for us. I think it would be great if someone would dive deeper into that topic.

Also, discovering a supersized stick insect last year was nice, but how about shifting some focus towards finding a cute, fuzzy mammal? That could really boost global spirits, don’t you think?

Live translation technology has advanced so much. I recently read about a journalist in Japan using it effectively. This year, let’s turn our attention to pets. Wouldn’t it be fascinating to know if your cat truly loves you? Get ready for a reality check!

Then there’s earworm removal—once more, I can’t deal with my husband humming The Muppets theme endlessly.

I’ve also got two alternative energy ideas: one is tapping into our scrolling habits—surely, with all that time spent, we could generate some power. The second idea is tapping into middle-aged female frustration. Give me a full bin, and I could probably power something significant for a while.

I follow research suggesting that short exercise bursts can be beneficial; a recent finding about just 10 minutes of exercise potentially protecting against bowel cancer was fantastic. Perhaps it’d be lovely if the act of raiding the fridge turned out to have health benefits.

While we’re on exercise, we need physics to tackle what really happens when you run on a treadmill. Time seems to stand still—civilizations rise, epochs pass, yet the display lingers stubbornly at four minutes. Make it make sense!

Wearable tech has come a long way but hasn’t yet solved the dilemma of bedtime procrastination. I’d love a gadget that, at 10 PM, undresses me, brushes my teeth, and gets me to bed, similar to how they recently relocated that rhino. If that’s too far-fetched, I’d settle for something that gives me increasing electric shocks if I stay on the couch past bedtime.

Lastly, we really need to figure out what’s up with geese. While everyone is worried about orcas, it’s geese that should be on our radar.