Wanna know where tech is headed this year? MIT Technology Review has answers. They compile an annual list called "<a href="https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/01/12/1130697/10-breakthrough-technologies-2026/"target="_blank" >10 Breakthrough Technologies</a>". Today, host <a href="https://www.npr.org/people/1082526815/regina-g-barber"target="_blank" >Regina G. Barber</a> speaks with executive editor <a href="http://www.amynordrum.com/"target="_blank" >Amy Nordrum</a> about the list, and they get into everything from commercial space stations and base-edited babies to batteries that could make electric vehicles even more green. We also do a lightning round of honorable mentions you won't want to miss out on! Check out <a href="https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/01/12/1130697/10-breakthrough-technologies-2026"target="_blank" >the full list from MIT Technology Review</a>. Interested in more science? Check out our episode on <a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/01/31/1228085791/ai-artificial-intelligence-mit-cows-methane"target="_blank" >last year’s top 10 technologies</a> to watch and our episode on <a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/12/16/nx-s1-5608226/could-architecture-in-space-make-a-greener-earth"target="_blank" >building structures in space</a>. Email us your questions at <a href="mailto:shortwave@npr.org"target="_blank" >shortwave@npr.org</a>. Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at <a href="http://plus.npr.org/shortwave"target="_blank" >plus.npr.org/shortwave</a>. This episode was produced by Berly McCoy. It was edited and fact-checked by Rebecca Ramirez. The audio engineer was Robert Rodriguez. Learn more about sponsor message choices: <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a> <a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

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