Short Wave How AI Is Speeding Up Scientific Discoveries
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Oct 16, 2023 Geoff Brumfiel, a science correspondent who explores the intersection of AI and research, dives into how artificial intelligence is accelerating scientific discoveries. He shares exciting insights from his visit to a protein lab making significant strides in drug and protein design. AI is revolutionizing traditional methods, helping researchers create proteins to combat diseases more efficiently. Additionally, Brumfiel discusses the transformative potential of AI in protein folding and renewable energy materials, emphasizing its impact on the future of scientific inquiry.
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AI for Snakebite Research
- Graduate student Susana Vasquez-Torres uses AI to research neglected diseases, focusing on snakebites.
- She aims to design proteins that neutralize various snake venoms, potentially creating universal protection.
AI-Driven Protein Design
- Designing proteins involves combining amino acids in countless ways.
- AI speeds up this process, going from testing thousands of designs to creating perfect fits quickly.
Diffusion Modeling in Protein Design
- The AI used in protein design, diffusion modeling, is similar to image generators like DALL-E.
- It starts with random amino acids and tweaks them until a perfectly shaped protein is built.