Connect with us

Published

on

Breakthrough in AI-Driven Genome Design

A new artificial intelligence model has been introduced, marking a significant advancement in biological research. Developed using a dataset of 128,000 genomes covering various life forms, this AI can generate entire chromosomes and small genomes from scratch. Researchers claim it has the potential to interpret non-coding gene variants associated with diseases, making it a powerful tool in genetic research. This development is expected to enhance genome engineering by facilitating a deeper understanding of DNA sequences and their functions.

About the AI model

According to a study published by the Arc Institute, the AI model, named Evo-2, has been developed in collaboration with Stanford University and NVIDIA. The model, which has been made available through web interfaces, provides researchers with the ability to generate and analyse DNA sequences. Patrick Hsu, bioengineer at the Arc Institute and the University of California, Berkeley, stated during a press briefing that Evo-2 is intended to serve as a platform that scientists can modify to suit their research needs.

Trained on a Vast Repository of Genomes

Unlike previous AI models that focused primarily on protein sequences, Evo-2 has been trained on genome data, encompassing both coding and non-coding sequences. This extensive training set includes genomes from humans, animals, plants, bacteria, and archaea, covering 9.3 trillion DNA letters. The complexity of eukaryotic genomes, which contain interspersed coding and non-coding regions, has been incorporated into Evo-2’s framework to enhance its ability to predict gene activity.

Performance Evaluation and Capabilities

Anshul Kundaje, computational genomicist at Stanford University, stated to Nature that independent testing would be required to fully assess Evo-2’s capabilities. Preliminary results suggest that it performs at a high level when predicting the effects of mutations in genes such as BRCA1, which is linked to breast cancer. The model was also used to analyse the genome of the woolly mammoth, further demonstrating its ability to interpret complex genetic structures.

Generating New DNA Sequences

The AI has been tested in designing new DNA sequences, including CRISPR gene editors, as well as bacterial and viral genomes. Earlier versions of the model produced incomplete genomes, but Evo-2 has shown improvements by generating more biologically plausible sequences. Brian Hie, computational biologist at Stanford University and Arc Institute, mentioned that while progress has been made, further refinements are necessary before these sequences can be fully functional in living cells.

Potential Applications in Genetic Research

Researchers anticipate that Evo-2 will aid in designing regulatory DNA sequences that control gene expression. Experiments are already underway to test its predictions on chromatin accessibility, which influences cell identity in multicellular organisms. Yunha Wang, computational biologist and CEO of Tatta Bio, suggested that Evo-2’s ability to learn from bacterial and archaeal genomes could assist in designing novel human proteins.

Future Prospects for AI in Genome Design

Scientists involved in the project aim to push beyond protein design towards comprehensive genome engineering. With ongoing refinements and laboratory validations, Evo-2 may contribute to advancements in synthetic biology and precision medicine. The model’s role in understanding genetic regulation and designing functional DNA sequences is expected to grow as more researchers adopt and refine its capabilities.

Continue Reading

Science

Doomed Exoplanet TOI-2109b Spirals Toward Its Star with Three Possible Fates

Published

on

By

Doomed Exoplanet TOI-2109b Spirals Toward Its Star with Three Possible Fates

The gas giant TOI-2109b is more than five times as massive as Jupiter, and resides in a perilous orbit 870 light-years from our planet. As an “ultrahot Jupiter,” it completes a lap around its parent star in a mere 16 hours, the briefest orbit of any such planet known. It is baking its atmosphere to broiling temperatures, and inching closer to oblivion in an orbit that is slowly pulling it in toward its parent sun. Using archived space telescope data from TESS and Cheops, astronomers have observed the testimony of this inevitable spiral, and contemplated three (wildly divergent) possible fates of the doomed planet.

Fates for TOI-2109b

According to the new research, conducted with data from NASA’s TESS and ESA’s Cheops missions shows that TOI-2109b’s orbit is decaying — a process it will continue for thousands of Earth’s years to come by 10 seconds over three Earth years. This proves that it is in a process of slow in fall. If the decay becomes worse, the planet may start falling directly into its host star and create a luminous flare, just like ZTF SLRN-2020. Alternatively, the star’s tidal forces could permanently warp the planet and rip it asunder.

A Potential Planetary Rebirth

There is a third, less-tragic possibility which could happen through a process of photoevaporation, in which strong radiation from the hosting star removes TOI-2109b’s gaseous envelope to reveal its rocky core. If the planet shrinks quickly enough, it might survive the process, avoiding its destruction by spiraling within its eternal Roche limit, and settling as a super-Earth or Neptune-sized blow-up hard relic. Then TOI-2109b would be an odd, rare opportunity to witness up close how this process unfolds.

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who’sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.


Samsung’s Exynos 2600 SoC Listed on Geekbench; Could Power the Galaxy S26 Series



iQOO Z10 Turbo+ Launch Teased; Chipset and Battery Capacity Confirmed

Continue Reading

Science

Hubble Spots Interstellar Invader Comet 3I/ATLAS for the First Time

Published

on

By

Hubble Spots Interstellar Invader Comet 3I/ATLAS for the First Time

The Hubble Space Telescope has taken its initial shots of comet 3I/ATLAS, a comet visiting us from beyond our solar system that recently fell apart — but not before it struck a pose for the cameras. It’s only the third such object ever known, after 1I/ʻOumuamua in 2017 and 2I/Borisov in 2019. The subject of numerous scientific tweets and some frantic searches by astronomers anxious to figure out just what it is — and where it came from — before it is gone into the pitch black of deep space forever, 3I/ATLAS was first sighted by the ATLAS survey telescope on July 1, 2025.

Ancient Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Offers Clues to Planetary Systems Beyond Our Own

According to As per Space.com, recent studies indicate that 3I/ATLAS could be some 7 billion years old, well beyond the 4.6 billion years of our solar system. That’s an indication that the comet arose in the more ancient parts of the Milky Way, which would give researchers a rare glimpse of what the early days of other planetary systems were like. Undergraduate researcher Astrafoxen first flagged the Hubble images on Bluesky, noting the comet’s “nice and puffy” coma, despite interference from cosmic rays.

A newly available preprint paper has already revealed that 3I/ATLAS contains abundant water ice and a dust makeup resembling D-type asteroids—organic-rich bodies typically found in the outer solar system. Unlike ultrared trans-Neptunian objects, D-types are believed to have high carbon and silicate content, potentially shedding light on the comet’s deep-space origins and volatile chemistry.

The comet 3I/ATLAS was discovered just as the Vera C. Rubin Observatory was gearing up to carry out its initial observations of the heavens, dovetailing with the LSST’s expected discovery of many more interstellar objects in the coming decade.

Until then, 3I/ATLAS holds the astronomical spotlight. Its brief solar system passage offers a precious opportunity for researchers to analyse the material makeup of alien planetary systems. The Hubble images, now available for download, are expected to aid future papers as scientists continue to unravel the story of this ancient cosmic traveller.

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who’sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.


Microsoft Knew of SharePoint Security Flaw but Failed to Effectively Patch It, Timeline Shows



AppleCare One Subscription Announced; Lets You Add Up to 3 Devices Under One Plan

Continue Reading

Science

Meet Walker S2: The Self-Sufficient Humanoid Robot with Swappable Battery Tech

Published

on

By

Meet Walker S2: The Self-Sufficient Humanoid Robot with Swappable Battery Tech

In today’s world, there are amazing and weird humanoid robots; however, there is one which is an eye-catching machine launched in 2025 with its battery pack. This makes it more capable of running for a full day and even seven days a week. The robot’s name is Walker S2, and it has been made by the Chinese company UBTECH with dimensions of 5 feet 3 inches or 162 centimetres in height and weighs 43 kilograms or 95 pounds, which makes it a perfect size and weight for a small adult.

Walker S2: A Self-Sufficient Humanoid Robot with Swappable Battery System

As per UBTECH, it is a great robot, as with the help of a 48-volt lithium battery wrapped in a dual battery system, the robot can stand for four hours and walk for two hours before the power runs out. It takes 90 minutes to recharge the battery completely once it is depleted. It is the first robot which doesn’t need human interference to remove and recharge the battery, as it can do this on its own.

In a video published on July 17, 2025, on YouTube, the Walker S2 is also observed as charging its battery by approaching the station. It uses its arms to remove the battery pack, which is fitted in the back and places it into a vacant slot to recharge. It then takes out a fresh battery pack then inserts it into the dedicated port.

UBTECH’s Vision: Walker S2 as the Future of Factory and Public Service Robotics

It has been reported by the Chinese publication CnEVPost that Walker S2 removes and swaps its battery pack when one of its batteries is out of power. It can also detect the remaining power left and decide whether it can swap or charge the battery pack.

This robot is designed to be used in factories and other places where it can do the jobs of humans and greet and meet customers at public places. Further, it has 20 degrees of freedom and is compatible with Bluetooth and WiFi.

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who’sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.


NASA Engineers Rescue JunoCam with Deep-Space Heating Hack



iOS 18.6 Release Candidate Beta Released Alongside macOS 15.6 RC and More for Both Public and Developers

Continue Reading

Trending