MIT Technology Review has unveiled its 2026 list of "Innovators Under 35," a collection of young professionals driving significant advancements in science and technology. This year’s cohort includes nine individuals focused on biotechnology, with projects ranging from gene-editing treatments for rare disorders to the use of generative AI in designing viruses for drug development and environmental cleanup.

Among the honorees in the climate and energy category is Laureen Meroueh, founder of Hertha Metals. Meroueh is working to modernize the steel industry, which has seen little fundamental change in iron ore purification since the mid-19th century. Her approach utilizes a new furnace design that converts iron ore into liquid steel in a single step while substituting coal with natural gas. According to Meroueh, this method could reduce production costs by 25% and cut emissions by at least half.

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The broader technology landscape remains focused on the safety and regulation of artificial intelligence. Anthropic recently disclosed in a report that it has successfully blocked five attempts to use its AI models for the creation of biological weapons. Additionally, the company identified instances where its technology was utilized to develop software for conventional weaponry and to facilitate cyberattacks.

Legislative efforts are also intensifying, with California becoming the first U.S. state to ban specific social media features, such as infinite scrolling and autoplay, for users under the age of 16. Meanwhile, in the workforce, some technology employees are expressing concerns over the rise of "AI doubles," leading some to adopt tools intended to sabotage efforts to automate their professional workflows.

Source: MIT Technology Review