Which scientific breakthroughs are poised to expand their reach or become commercially viable at scale in 2026? Our CAS Science Team has identified eight emerging trends encompassing drug development, renewable energy, smart agriculture, and more. Scientific breakthroughs in these areas prime them to be some of the most impactful developments we’ll see in the coming year. These insights rely heavily on research within the CAS Content CollectionTM, the largest human-curated repository of scientific information, and we’re excited to share our thoughts on these trends for 2026.
Hybrid solar cells expanding small-scale renewable energy systems
Tandem perovskite solar cells — those made of perovskite and silicon — have reached power conversion efficiencies over 34%, a significant improvement over existing commercial silicon-based panels that can reach about 24%. These efficiency improvements are due to breakthroughs in interface passivation, compositional tuning with rubidium and cesium, and enhanced stability.
Perovskite-silicon solar cells therefore enable more energy generation per square meter, making solar power viable in space-constrained environments like smaller rooftops and vehicles where traditional PVs may not fit. They also facilitate the development of portable solar installations.
Hybrid tandems also build upon existing silicon PV infrastructure rather than replace it, which provides a faster path to commercialization and more supply chain options. In contrast, pure perovskite solar cells face challenges with degradation and stability. Hybrid solar cell manufacturers have already achieved mass-production-ready efficiencies, and the first commercial versions are expected to reach the market in 2026. With these cutting-edge innovations, portable solar power could soon be scaled up to homes and vehicles everywhere.
Targeted sodium channel drugs bringing opioid-free pain relief
Numbers of opioid-related deaths have finally started to decline, yet over 50,000 Americans still died due to opioid overdoses in the most recent data. Despite these alarming numbers, effective and non-addictive alternatives for moderate to severe pain have remained elusive. However, following the FDA approval of suzetrigine (Journavax) in January 2025, there is renewed hope for opioid-free pain relief as a major scientific breakthrough in 2026.
Suzetrigine is the first in a new class of drugs that selectively blocks NaV1.8 sodium channels found exclusively in peripheral pain-sensing neurons. Unlike opioids that act on the central nervous system and carry addiction risks, or older sodium channel blockers that affect the heart and brain, suzetrigine achieves over 31,000-fold selectivity for pain pathways while sparing other tissues. Further, NaV1.8 may not be the only target — researchers are also looking at modulators of other sodium channels such as NaV1.7 and NaV1.9.
Clinical trials demonstrated pain relief comparable to opioids for post-surgical and acute pain without respiratory depression, sedation, or abuse potential. Several pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer, GSK, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals, among others, are now advancing similar NaV1.8 inhibitors through development pipelines, marking the first major innovation in pain management in over 20 years.
Advances in recycling bringing sustainable clothing closer to market
The textile industry generates 132 million tons of fiber annually, more than double what was produced 25 years ago. Much of the increase is due to the use of fossil fuel-based materials such as polyesters, which also generate significant waste and CO2 emissions. Only 8% of fibers are made from recycled sources in the clothing supply chain, and one reason is that many textiles blend cotton and polyester in ways that prevent separation.
Researchers at Avantium and the University of Amsterdam have recently developed a breakthrough recycling process that may solve this issue. Their sequential chemical recycling uses highly concentrated hydrochloric acid (43 wt% HCI) at room temperature to separate cotton and polyester in mixed-waste textiles. So far, it’s achieved a 75% recovery rate of cotton as glucose and a 78% recovery rate of polyester monomers. The technology is moving to a demonstration plant in 2026 with commercial-scale operations of 100,000 tons annually targeted for the end of the decade.
The timing is critical: Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations that took effect in the Netherlands in January 2025 now legally require fashion brands to pay for textile waste processing, creating immediate economic incentive to adopt recycling technologies that convert waste into virgin-quality materials rather than downcycling or landfilling. EPR legislation is also advancing in various U.S. states along with textile-specific regulations. This recycling innovation could therefore help producers of sustainable clothing meet new requirements while tackling the textile waste problem.
AI-guided biomarker discoveries advancing cancer treatment options
Biomarkers, such as proteins, genetic material, exosomes, and more, are important for the early detection of cancer. Early detection increases cancer survival rates, but AI-driven technology may be able to move beyond detection into prediction.
A recent breakthrough from AstraZeneca and Tempus AI demonstrated how contrastive learning can uncover biomarkers that forecast treatment response. Their Predictive Biomarker Modeling Framework (PBMF) improved patient selection in retrospective immuno-oncology clinical trials, yielding a 15% survival benefit over traditional designs using an ensemble model that incorporates large-language models (LLMs), generative AI, and traditional machine learning.
This shift signals a broader redefinition of diagnosis from identifying disease to accurately guiding therapeutic decisions. Researchers have also made progress using machine learning models to predict responses to immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) immunotherapy, for example. We expect to see continued investment in these predictive tools and greater development of AI-driven cancer care as one of the leading scientific trends in 2026.
Alternative battery technologies commercializing renewable energy storage
For the transition to renewable energy to succeed, we must store the electricity generated for hours or even days at a time. New material science battery technologies are surpassing current lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) in cost and material availability, and in 2026, several options will be ready for commercialization at the scale utilities need:
- Metal-air batteries: New battery technologies use abundant metals that don’t have the supply constraints of lithium. For example, iron-air batteries are built on the reversible rusting of iron. In 2025, Form Energy began manufacturing these batteries at scale, enabling multi-day energy storage using plentiful, non-toxic materials like iron, water, and air. With the ability to store electricity for up to 100 hours, they’re long-lasting enough to replace fossil fuel-based peaker plants and stabilize renewable-heavy grids. Another recent advancement is zinc-air batteries, which offer high energy density and long shelf life. These also use environmentally friendly and widely available materials.
- Metal-ion batteries: Similar to metal-air batteries, metal-ion batteries have a simpler supply chain that doesn’t rely on lithium. Sodium-ion technology is one example that is now reaching a commercial tipping point. These batteries have higher discharge rates and lower fire risk than LIBs, and they function well in extremely hot or cold environments. Other technologies include zinc-ion, which is safer and less costly than LIBs, and magnesium-ion batteries, which have nearly double the volumetric capacity of LIBs.
Clean energy recently reached 40% of global electricity generation, and renewable energy storage will be crucial as the energy transition continues. The scientific breakthroughs in batteries signal a structural shift — stored electricity is no longer a supplement to fossil fuels, but it’s becoming the foundation of our modern, real world power infrastructure.
CRISPR-edited agriculture unlocking drought-tolerant crops for food security
As climate volatility intensifies, researchers are turning to the hidden half of plants — the root system — to develop crops that can thrive under drought stress. Teams using CRISPR/Cas9 and base editing tools successfully modified root architecture genes in rice, wheat, and maize to promote deeper, more efficient water uptake without compromising yield. These edits target traits like root angle and root depth, enabling plants to access moisture from deeper soil layers.
Unlike traditional breeding, which can take decades to fix such traits, gene editing allows precise, rapid development of drought-resilient cultivars tailored to specific geographies. This method is also less problematic than other forms of genetic modifications in crops.
Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) involve transferring genes from different species, which has led to consumer concerns over unintended effects in the plants that enter our food supply. CRISPR technology, however, changes only genes in the plant’s current genome; it does not introduce genes from other species.
Field trials of CRISPR-edited plants are already underway, with early results showing increased yields. As regulatory frameworks evolve and climate pressures mount, root-focused gene editing is emerging as a cornerstone of long-term climate-smart agriculture.
Cell-free biomanufacturing enabling point of care diagnostic tools
One of the leading scientific trends for 2026 in biotechnology is the development of cell-free biomanufacturing. These systems can produce proteins, enzymes, or chemicals on demand without living organisms or fermentation tanks.
DARPA- and NSF-funded researchers in the U.S. have built modular, freeze-dried systems, while global companies like LenioBio have developed systems for cell-free protein production to drive drug discovery and vaccine development. European universities are also researching how machine learning can improve the process even further.
These cell-free platforms are faster, more stable, and easier to scale than traditional systems due to advances in reaction compartmentalization and energy regeneration. By decoupling biology from bioreactors, they open the door to portable, real-time, programmable production for diagnostics, therapeutics, and sustainable materials — anywhere biology is needed but cells are a liability.
This new diagnostic technology could improve emergency response, particularly in resource-limited settings, by creating therapeutics at the point of care, speeding up lab testing, or providing mobile testing capabilities. In 2026, these systems could scale from lab kits to pilot platforms, with applications expanding across healthcare, industrial biocatalysis, and field-ready manufacturing.
IoT sensors and smart coatings enabling self-healing infrastructure
Corrosion costs the global economy over $2.5 trillion annually, with bridges, pipelines, and marine structures requiring constant reactive repairs. Combining Internet of Things (IoT) emerging technology with existing self-healing materials is a leading 2026 breakthrough in materials science that could shift industries to predictive maintenance for all types of infrastructure based on real-time data analysis. As regulatory pressures mount, industrial adoption of this technology is gaining momentum.
Recent advances in microcapsule engineering, including shell stability, controlled release mechanisms, and healing agent chemistry, now allow self-healing coatings to survive industrial application and perform reliably in harsh environments. When damage occurs, embedded microcapsules rupture and release agents that polymerize to seal breaches within hours. Early commercial deployments are already underway in bridge infrastructure, offshore platforms, and pipeline networks. Self-healing materials have other uses, as well, including in biomedical applications.
This combination of self-healing materials with IoT sensors is important because the detection of microdamage prior to visible deterioration allows maintenance to be performed before significant problems occur, extending infrastructure lifespan while improving safety and potentially reducing costs.
These scientific breakthroughs demonstrate how 2026 may be a pivotal year for renewable energy innovations, green chemistry, biotechnology advances, precision medicine, and climate-smart agriculture. Stay informed about these emerging science trends by subscribing to CAS Insights for weekly updates on the scientific breakthroughs poised to make an impact in 2026 and beyond.
