July 23, 2025
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36:02
Nobel Prize Winner Reveals the Tiny Molecule Changing Medicine Forever
Harvard professor Gary Ruvkun, winner of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, joins Ben Kaplan to talk about the discovery of microRNAs, how it shattered scientific orthodoxy and sparked a biotech revolution.
What do tiny worms, RNA strands, and a 9600-baud modem have in common?They all played a role in one of the most groundbreaking discoveries in modern biology.
Ruvkun breaks down how these microscopic molecules act like DNA hotfixes and why the next wave of biotech innovation might start in the most unexpected places. From antiviral therapies to the power of public science, this is a masterclass in curiosity, discovery, and the future of medicine.
