The Download: biotech’s future and cheaper, cleaner steel

Every year, MIT Technology Review publishes a list of 35 Innovators Under 35, highlighting young scientists and engineers under 35 years old who are making significant contributions in fields like science and technology.

In 2026, nine of these innovators are working in biotechnology, a field that uses biological systems, living organisms, or derivatives to develop products or processes for medicine, agriculture, and industry.

Their groundbreaking work includes therapies that reverse vision loss by reprogramming cells, brain electrodes inspired by traditional Japanese art, and personalized gene-editing treatments for rare genetic disorders in babies.

Additionally, some are exploring the use of generative AI to design new viruses that could either produce new drugs or help clean up pollution.

These innovations are part of a broader effort to push the boundaries of what biology can achieve, with potential applications ranging from healthcare to environmental sustainability.