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Scientists trained AI on genetic sequences to design viruses not found in nature, yielding 16 viable viruses that can infect bacteria but don't threaten humans (Carl Zimmer/New York Times)

Scientists trained artificial intelligence on libraries of DNA and then asked the model to create recipes for viral genomes.

We haven't written up this one. Techmeme has the full story — the link below goes straight to it.

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KSC Partnerships Related Links

KSC Partnerships Related Links Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge The refuge traces its beginnings to the development of the nation’s Space Program.

Observing key material properties atom by atom for the first time

Many material properties depend on how electrons are arranged inside a material. Their distribution determines, for example, whether a material conducts electricity or displays magnetic behavior. Understanding how electrons organize themselves at the atomic scale is therefore one of the major challenges in materials science.

Are cats getting tamer, or is it people who are changing?

Around 15 years ago, I created a Facebook page for my cat, Sandi. Friends thought it was weird. Today, social media accounts for cats attract millions of followers, cats travel in backpacks and strollers, and surveys consistently show that the overwhelming majority of owners regard their pets as family.

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