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Stowers scientists uncover a hidden blueprint in aphids, providing a way to predict what AI couldn't solve alone

Researchers at the Stowers Institute used AlphaFold2 and evolutionary data to predict protein structures in aphids, which were previously inaccessible to AI. The study reveals a common architectural plan among 2,400 BICYCLE proteins, showcasing the evolution's role in helping AI predict protein structures.

SourceStowers Institute for Medical Research·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 24, 2026

AI as a tool in flavor research

Researchers developed an AI-based method to predict bitterness of peptides, enabling de novo design of bitter peptides for improved flavor control. The method used a combination of a protein language model and an artificial neural network to analyze structural data, resulting in the identification of new bitter-tasting peptides.

SourceLeibniz-Institut für Lebensmittel-Systembiologie an der TU München·Journalnpj Science of Food·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 22, 2026

Stowers Institute partners with Google DeepMind and leading research institutions to help reveal the regulatory language of the human genome

Researchers have developed the AlphaGenome Atlas, a comprehensive map of more than 9 billion possible single-letter DNA changes. The one-petabyte dataset provides artificial intelligence-generated predictions for the molecular effects of these changes, accelerating understanding of the human genome.

SourceStowers Institute for Medical Research·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 8, 2026

Random physics helps model individual ant motion

A study by OIST researchers has developed a physics-based model to reproduce and predict individual ant movement. The model uses stochastic, or random, modeling to analyze video recordings of ants exploring laboratory environments, allowing for the derivation of predictions about their behavior in new environments.

SourceOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 6, 2026

In the right place, even a less fit species can win

A mathematical model shows that greater fitness is not enough for a population to succeed; expansion speed and position also play crucial roles. Less fit species can win if they occupy favorable positions, such as peaks or protrusions.

SourceSissa Medialab·JournalJournal of Statistical Mechanics Theory and Experiment·DateAug 3, 2026

Brain scans reveal two distinct subtypes of autism with different underlying biology

Researchers identified two distinct subtypes of autism based on brain connectivity patterns, one characterized by reduced connectivity linked to synaptic pathways and the other by increased connectivity associated with immune-related systems. The study's findings offer a biological basis for personalized care and support.

SourceThe Child Mind Institute·JournalNature Neuroscience·TypeImaging analysis·DateMay 29, 2026

New experimental drug may restore movement after stroke

Researchers discovered that strokes cause a chain reaction within the brain, leading to neuronal cell death. They found that blocking collagen production can prevent this damage and even restore motor function in paralyzed monkeys. The new drug KDS12025 reduces hydrogen peroxide levels and prevents the entire process from being triggered.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalCell Metabolism·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 27, 2026

AI model links mental health to type 2 diabetes

A new study uses an AI model to predict type 2 diabetes risk based on behavioral and psychosocial information. The digital twin model found that loneliness, insomnia, and poor mental health substantially raise a person's future risk of developing the disease.

SourceAnglia Ruskin University·JournalFrontiers in Digital Health·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 9, 2026

How does mitochondrial DNA affect your health?

Salk Institute researchers have developed a new biological platform for studying mitochondrial DNA in human physiology, adaptation, and therapeutic development. The platform allows scientists to investigate mitochondrial DNA variation in health and disease, enabling therapeutic innovation for mitochondrial disorders.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 6, 2026

Scientists from the University of Maryland School of Medicine and colleagues create the first-ever immune-capable “cervix-on-a-Chip” to study sexually transmitted infections (STIs)

Researchers developed an immune-capable 'cervix-on-a-Chip' model to study sexually transmitted infections (STIs), enabling a more accurate understanding of these conditions and the potential for better treatments. The model replicated key aspects of human biology, including the cervical microenvironment, microbiomes, and immune system.

SourceUniversity of Maryland School of Medicine·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 3, 2026

New biomarker predicts chemotherapy response in triple-negative breast cancer

Researchers developed a new computational approach to predict chemotherapy response in triple-negative breast cancer, outperforming current methods. The TmS biomarker accurately sorts patients into those with favorable or poor prognosis, highlighting its potential as an effective starting point for patient stratification.

SourceUniversity of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center·JournalCell Reports Medicine·DateFeb 17, 2026

Model connects animal movement and population dynamics

Researchers developed a new theoretical framework that links individual animal movements to population dynamics across space and time. The range-resident logistic model incorporates interactions between multiple animals, providing a more accurate prediction of population sizes and helping inform real-world conservation recommendations.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·JournalEcology Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 5, 2026

Vaping zebrafish suggest E-cigarette exposure disrupts gut microbial networks and neurobehavior

A study published in Science of The Total Environment found that e-cigarette exposure alters gut microbiota composition and affects neurobehavior in zebrafish. The researchers observed disruptions in the gut microbiome, with reduced microbial network stability and altered community composition, suggesting potential health risks.

SourceKyushu University·JournalScience of The Total Environment·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 29, 2026

Biology-based brain model matches animals in learning, enables new discovery

A new computational model of the brain based on biology and physiology learned a simple visual category learning task as well as lab animals, discovering counterintuitive activity in neurons. The model produced naturalistic dynamics and learning without training data, enabling researchers to identify new insights into brain function an...

SourcePicower Institute at MIT·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 29, 2025

One and Done? Research challenges past studies of evolution

A new study found remarkable variation in how populations evolve in variable environments, with some cases benefiting from changes and others being hindered. The research has implications for understanding evolution and adapting to climate change, as well as informing AI and machine learning.

SourceUniversity of Vermont·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 17, 2025

Muscle tissue from a 3D printer – produced in zero gravity

Researchers at ETH Zurich have successfully produced muscle tissue using a new biofabrication system called G-FLight in microgravity. The process enables rapid production of viable muscle constructs with similar cell viability and muscle fibers as those printed under gravity.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalAdvanced Science·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 31, 2025

Fruit flies teach us how to appreciate flavor

Scientists at RIKEN Center for Brain Science found that fruit flies use separate circuits to compute pleasant and unpleasant odors, challenging the idea that 'good' is the opposite of 'bad'. The discovery may contribute to a better understanding of human brain's flavor appreciation mechanisms.

SourceRIKEN·JournalCell·DateOct 8, 2025

AI engineers nanoparticles for improved drug delivery

Biomedical engineers at Duke University developed a platform combining automated wet lab techniques and AI to design nanoparticles for drug delivery. The TuNa-AI platform resulted in a 42.9% increase in successful nanoparticle formation compared to standard approaches.

SourceDuke University·JournalACS Nano·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 24, 2025

New model can accurately predict a forest’s future

A new model developed by University of Illinois researchers can accurately predict fluctuations in the relative abundance of tree species in a forest. The model uses genomic data and a one-time tree count to forecast changes in forest diversity, which is crucial for understanding how forests will change in the future.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalScience·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 18, 2025

Scientists create a mathematical model that explains esophageal motility disorders

Researchers developed a mathematical model that replicates the muscle movements of the esophagus during swallowing and reveals insights into esophageal motility disorders. The model includes signaling from the brain and nerves, as well as muscle contractions and relaxations, and can simulate various disorders.

SourceKyushu University·JournalRoyal Society Open Science·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 16, 2025

Groundbreaking AI aims to speed lifesaving therapies

A new open-source AI tool, ProRNA3D-single, has significantly increased accuracy in predicting and visualizing protein-RNA complex structures. This method can generate finely detailed images of molecules in 3D, enabling drug developers to design treatments by analyzing where viruses attach to human proteins.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalCell Systems·DateSep 16, 2025

Neural navigation: FAU engineers, sensing institute map brain’s blood flow

Researchers from FAU and the Sensing Institute created a detailed computer model of the mouse brain's vasculature, simulating how brain blood vessels respond to hemodynamics and vasodynamics. The model shows that transitional vessels play a critical role in regulating flow and protecting the brain during increased activity.

SourceFlorida Atlantic University·JournalPLOS One·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 12, 2025

New class of protein misfolding simulated in high definition

Researchers at Penn State have simulated a new class of protein misfolding using atomic-scale models, revealing a type of entanglement that disrupts protein function and persists in cells. The findings support the existence of this long-lasting type of misfolding, which is thought to contribute to aging and disease.

SourcePenn State·JournalScience Advances·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 8, 2025

In nature’s math, freedoms are fundamental

Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have developed a unified theory for gauge freedoms in models of biological sequences, which could revolutionize fields like plant breeding and drug development. The new approach provides efficient formulas for scientists to interpret research results with greater confidence.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateMay 28, 2025