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Clemson Livestock Poultry Health Names Catherine Harris Deputy State Veterinarian
Harris said the unit’s unique organizational structure, which includes its adjacency to Cooperative Extension, the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences, and the Harvey S. Peeler Jr. College of Veterinary Medicine, was a major draw and provides opportunity for collaborations that will benefit the state’s animal agriculture industry.
Google launches Gemini for Science AI tools | ETIH EdTech News
AI in education and edtech research shift as Google launches Gemini for Science, with Google Labs tools for literature insights, hypothesis generation, computational discovery, and Science Skills in Google Antigravity. ETIH edtech news looks at Google DeepMind, Google Cloud, NotebookLM, Co-Scientist
Apple's 15-Inch M5 MacBook Air Sees Biggest Price Cut Yet at $199 Off
Amazon has sweetened its deal on the 512GB 15-inch M5 MacBook Air today, dropping the price of the notebook down to $1,099.99, from $1,299.00. This is a new record low price on the 15-inch M5 MacBook Air, and it's available in three colors. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
NVIDIA bundles 007 First Light with 12-month GeForce NOW Ultimate membership
GeForce NOW adds Forza Horizon 6, Luna Abyss and six more games NVIDIA is adding eight games to GeForce NOW this week, with Forza Horizon 6 now available
AI & Science: What Is the Future of Discovery?
Continued progress in artificial intelligence, its expanding usefulness in science, and its contributions to landmark advances suggest that we may have entered a new era of AI for science.The breakthroughs so far—such as predicting the structure of practically every known protein, with profound implications for our understanding of biology, health, and the treatment of disease—are notable not only for what was achieved but also how it was achieved and what that suggests for scientific progress. This special double issue of Dædalus poses the question: What is the future of scientific discovery in this new age of AI? Thirty-three scientists responded. Bringing perspectives from life sciences and medicine, cognitive science and neuroscience, the physical and earth sciences, chemistry and materials science, computer science, mathematics and the social sciences—they draw on their work at the frontier of AI and science. The authors write with an eye to the future, not just the present. They explore what is being achieved and what possibilities lie ahead; examine AI’s limitations and efforts to move forward; and investigate the larger implications of AI-assisted science—on how science is done, the role of the scientist, and the scientific method, as well as the challenges and complexities involved.The authors together exemplify a long-standing bidirectional relationship: AI advancing science, while science advances AI. Where that relationship will take us—a golden age of discovery? New scientist-machine collaborations? Autonomous labs? Discoveries without human understanding?—is a future we are only beginning to imagine, and one we must also shape if the beneficial possibilities are to be realized.Image: UMAP sculptures visualizing three Dædalus volumes on artificial intelligence. © 2026 by Refik Anadol.
How to Get Free Ultron Cybernetic Drip Skin in Marvel Rivals
Learn how to unlock the free Ultron Cybernetic Drip Skin available as part of the Savage Adventure event in Marvel Rivals here.
US National Science Foundation pledges $1.5bn for innovative labs
Independent NSF X-Labs will tackle scientific challenges using non-traditional methods
Sutter Health Recognized in Anthem Blue Cross Annual Care Provider Recognition Program
Not-for-Profit Healthcare System’s Medical Groups Honored Among the Top Healthcare Providers in Anthem’s National Network NORTHERN CALIF. – Sutter Health today announced it earned recognition as one of only four California recipients in Anthem Blue Cross’ Care Provider Recognition Program. Developed in collaboration with Anthem’s affiliated health plans, the program honors top-performing medical groups nationwide […]
SBJ Tech Week: Leagues, entertainment companies embrace scalable tech to transform fan engagement
As professional sports leagues and entertainment companies accelerate their digital transformation, a shared reality is emerging across organizations to modernize fan engagement and operations using a new wave of scalable technology.
Alabama Rep. Barry Moore, former Navy SEAL Jared Hudson advance to GOP runoff in Senate race
Moore, boosted by the Trump endorsement, led the GOP primary voting Tuesday night for the seat being vacated by Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who is running for governor.
Trump-backed nominees dominate primary contests as president tightens party vicegrip
President Trump celebrated a sweeping primary night as his endorsed candidates won key GOP races in Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama, Idaho and Oregon.
Enzo Maresca working on transfer, pre-season plans ahead of Manchester City job
The Italian has already been collaborating closely with sporting director Hugo Viana for pre-season, the new campaign and beyond.
New in Edge for Business: AI for work, safe from day one
TL;DR: Edge for Business adds agentic browsing in limited preview, a Copilot-inspired new tab page, and mobile availability for multi-tab reasoning and YouTube summarization. These experiences are built on a secure enterprise browser foundation w
It's not you, would-be Subnautica 2 fish murderers, it's our creature encounters not feeling "fair, readable, and engaging" enough, say Unknown Worlds
Subnautica 2's devs have pledged to make creature run-ins "feel fair, readable, and engaging" in an open letter responding to calls for killable fish.
Samsung Expands Odyssey G8 Lineup With 6K@165Hz, 5K@180Hz, And 4K@240Hz OLED Monitors, All Running 4th-Gen Penta Tandem Panels
Samsung launches the Odyssey G8 gaming monitors, including the world's first 6K@165Hz model, with prices and availability yet to be disclosed
Hong Kong Meeting Advances Landmark Equine Health Center Proposal
A major step forward for the safe international movement of competition horses in the Asia-Pacific region was announced in Hong Kong in April, with a plan to establish the first World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) Collaborating Center for Equine Health and Movement. The proposal was ...
What to know about Ebola and how it spreads, as the outbreak widens
The outbreak has been linked to nearly 600 suspected cases and 139 deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This specific virus has no available vaccines or treatments.
Cornell CAT convenes researchers, industry to accelerate life sciences innovation
At a daylong event designed to promote academic-industry collaboration, Cornell’s Center for Advanced Technology in Life Science Enterprise cast itself as both a funder of early-stage research and catalyst accelerating connections that move discoveries foward.
‘The Traitors’: Rob Rausch Addresses ‘DWTS’ Rumors & Reality TV Future
Would he ever film a show about his life in Alabama?
‘The Traitors’: Rob Rausch Addresses ‘DWTS’ Rumors & Reality TV Future
Would he ever film a show about his life in Alabama?
It’s make or break time for AI labeling systems
It’s time for SynthID and C2PA to prove they work.
Students win statewide Frederick Douglass debate tournament
Slippery Rock University is championing multicultural education through competition. Four SRU students earned first place in the statewide Frederick Douglass Institute Collaborative conference and debate…
6,000-year-old humans with unique DNA are puzzling scientists - Futura-Sciences
The original hunter-gatherer group has no known modern descendants and no close ancient relatives. A study published in Science Advances details this isolated lineage. Led by Kim-Louise Krettek and senior author Cosimo Posth at the University of Tübingen, the project included collaboration with Andrea Casas-Vargas at the Universidad Nacional de...
UConn Hartford Students Apply Organic Chemistry to Public Health
Through a service-learning partnership with UConn Student Health and Wellness, students in an organic chemistry lab at UConn Hartford applied course concept ...
Live updates: Trump scores more primary election wins
Get live updates and the latest news as Trump scores more primary election wins in Kentucky, Alabama and Georgia, including Thomas Massie’s loss to Ed Gallrein.
Exploit released for new PinTheft Arch Linux root escalation flaw
PinTheft, a recently patched Linux privilege escalation vulnerability, now has a publicly available proof-of-concept (PoC) exploit that allows local attackers to gain root privileges on Arch Linux systems.
Sen. Tommy Tuberville wins Republican nomination for Alabama governor
Tuberville opted not to seek a second term and instead launched a bid for governor.
How China and Russia could team up to shift global science ‘centre of gravity’
Scientists say they hope Xi-Putin summit will bring more support for collaboration as Moscow and Beijing sign deals on tech and innovation.
Five Games Are Available Today Across Multiple Tiers Of Xbox Game Pass (May 20)
Lots of new titles on XGP
Astrolab's FLIP rover to carry NASA science, supporting Artemis moon base
Astrolab's FLIP rover, launching from Kennedy Space Center this year, will carry NASA science and tech to the moon, all in support of the moon base.
Iran war hits small business hard
Small business profits are sinking as entrepreneurs deal with a confluence of forces ranging from rising labor costs to higher energy prices.
$20 walk-in sports physicals available at two Springfield clinics
Families can get required sports physicals for children and teens at two Springfield clinics for a flat $20 fee.
UK celebrates Mental Health Awareness Month with 'More Good Days, Together'
During Mental Health Awareness Month, the University of Kentucky is highlighting resources and programs available to support the mental well-being of faculty, staff and students.
New ‘AI scientists’ are improving – but reveal their fundamental limits
More ‘natural’ collaboration between scientists and computers won’t necessarily be more effective.
Outscraper Sees Continued Growth in Use of Its Google Maps Scraper for Business Intelligence Needs
Outscraper has announced increased adoption of its Google Maps Scraper as more agencies, marketers, and researchers use automated tools to collect publicly available business data from Google Maps. Outscraper Sees Continued Growth in Use of Its Google Maps Scraper for Business Intelligence Needs Outscraper has announced increased adoption of its Google Maps Scraper as more agencies, marketers, and researchers use automated tools to collect publicly available business data from Google Maps. Ancho
We asked US researchers how the Trump administration's science policies have affected them
The American academic research engine has long been the envy of the world. Generally well-funded, labs in the United States have been able to attract the best minds who generate breakthroughs and train ...
Bob Brooks, Labor Leader Backed by Top Democrats, Wins Pennsylvania House Primary
Mr. Brooks will face Representative Ryan Mackenzie, a Republican, in the fall. He earned endorsements from across his party, including Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Gov. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania.
Business leaders see ‘cracks’ in Colorado, while governor insists state is ‘competitive’
How does Colorado get back to the climate in the early 2000s, when there was collaboration between state government, companies and colleges and universities? That was the question posed to Gov. Jared Polis and a panel convened Tuesday by the Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce as part of its annual state of the state luncheon […]
Business leaders see ‘cracks’ in Colorado, while governor insists state is ‘competitive’
How does Colorado get back to the climate in the early 2000s, when there was collaboration between state government, companies and colleges and universities? That was the question posed to Gov. Jared Polis and a panel convened Tuesday by the Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce as part of its annual state of the state luncheon […]
Materials scientist gains valuable research experience
The opportunities at the College of Engineering and Applied Science are what attracted Ananth Balasubramanian to the University of Cincinnati. He came to UC as a master's student and after two years, transitioned to a direct PhD program in materials science and engineering. Here, he works in the Digital Fabrication Laboratory and recently was named Graduate Student Engineer of the Month by CEAS.
UC researchers recruit older adults for extreme heat health study
The University of Cincinnati’s Center for Collaboration on Climate & Community for Health (C4H) is recruiting older adults to participate in a study tracking their health during periods of extreme summer heat.
Three men headed to prison for $2B healthcare fraud – but kingpin is in the wind
Three men are headed to prison for their roles in an elaborate international scheme to con health insurers by sending $2 billion of phony telemedicine prescriptions – but the plot's alleged kingpin...
2026 National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship Award
Undergraduate senior biochemistry student Lillian Ott (Mohanty group) has been awarded the 2026 National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship, one of the country’s most prestigious honors for graduate students in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). The program, jointly sponsored by the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force, supports doctoral students across a broad range of scientific and technological fields of strategic importance. This highly competitive fellowship provides full tuition, fees, and a monthly stipend for three years. In 2026, only 102 fellowships were awarded nationwide. Lillian also received an honorable mention for the prestigious National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP). Studying biochemistry at UCLA, Lillian became excited about how her physical science background could be applied to solve environmental issues. She joined the Subsurface Engineering Analysis Laboratory (SEA Lab) led by Professor Sanjay Mohanty in the Samueli’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. In the SEA lab, she has studied the fate and transport of per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). PFAS are ubiquitous “forever chemicals” and known carcinogens that impact water quality worldwide. This fall, she will begin her Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering at Stanford University with Professor Nina Zhao. Her research will be focused on metabolomics and the discovery of unrecognized chemical determinants of environmental and human health. “I have seen the serious and unforeseen environmental and health consequences from man-made chemicals like PFAS and microplastics, which are often only appreciated after the damage has been done. I hope that my research can lead to more sustainable chemical design and inform policy and solutions-based innovation in public health and water quality engineering,” Lillian said. Penny Jennings, UCLA Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, penjen@g.ucla.edu.
25 States Sue Over Changes Limiting Federal Loans for Nursing Degrees
Governors and attorneys general from the states and District of Columbia argue the Education Department’s decision not to label nursing as a professional degree will contribute to worker shortages.
Google Debuts AI-Powered Tools To Optimize Scientific Research Workflows
Three new features will be available under the Gemini for Science collection.
Trump ally Tommy Tuberville cruises to Alabama GOP governor nomination
Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville captures Alabama's GOP gubernatorial nomination, backed by Trump, as he seeks to succeed term-limited Gov. Kay Ivey.
Greg Hyman, Co-Creator of Tickle Me Elmo, Dies at 78
An electronics wizard, he was already a veteran inventor when he collaborated with Ron Dubren on an idea for a toy that giggled. The rest is retail history.
NAACP urging athletes, fans to boycott college athletic programs over voting rights complaints
The schools identified by the campaign include Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Clemson, Tennessee, Texas and Texas A&M
Scientists spur growth of implanted liver tissue
Researchers developed a way to control the growth of lab-grown liver tissue after it was implanted into mice.
California business owners 'trapped' in 'vicious cycle' as costs soar
As labor and energy costs rise in California, small business owners say minimum wage laws and gas taxes in the Golden State are crippling their operations.
Google and Samsung Reveal Designs of Upcoming Smart Glasses
The companies are collaborating with eyewear makers Warby Parker and Gentle Monster
Baptist Health Paducah to offer special pricing for sports physicals
Baptist Health will offer sports physicals for $35 at its urgent care, primary care, pediatrics, and orthopedics & sports medicine offices. The discounted price is available through Aug. 31.
Networking Mixer
Join us for an elevated evening of connection, collaboration, and opportunity. Set in a premium lounge atmosphere overlooking the field, this networking mixer brings together driven professionals, entrepreneurs, and business leaders ready to expand their circle.
Roundup: More identity verification tech for digital health exchanges
Verato launches a shared identity verification infrastructure to simplify healthcare operations. Epic makes IAL2-compliant patient identity tools from 1Kosmos and Vouched available in MyChart, while Zoom adds AI-driven human assurance in video meetings.
Voters cast ballots in several high-profile primary elections
Voters head to the polls in primary elections in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Kentucky and Alabama. Follow for live news updates.
URI Plant Sciences Student Gains Research Experience in Crop Genetics
Through lab research, fieldwork, and close faculty mentorship, Abby Harlow is discovering how plant sciences can address real-world agricultural challenges.
Inside Alabama Politics
It's Election Day here in Alabama, which equal parts exciting and maddening to most politicos. In any case, we're finally going to get closer to some answers on what the next chapter of the state's elected leadership will be. But not for a good twelve hours!
PAHO and Google join forces to expand access to trusted health information across the Americas
New agreement prioritizes accurate, evidence-based information, with a focus on public health messaging and mental health promotion. Washington, D.C., 19 May 2026 — The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and Google LLC signed a five-year framework agreement to collaborate on strategic health communication and mental health promotion across the Region of the Americas.
Alabama city named one of the nation’s 50 best sports business cities
The Sports Business Journal published its fourth annual list.
What was the World's Fair like in New Orleans? I covered it for the media in 1984.
New Orleans writer Errol Laborde was a member of the media when the fair opened. Here's what he remembered.
Curiosity Guides 2026 Keller Award Winners
Doctoral graduates Anna Yaschenko and Junjian Wang knew early on that genetics would be part of their future. In NC State labs, their innovative research earned them recognition as the 2026 recipients of the Kenneth R. Keller Research Award.
SEC post-spring power rankings: Texas leads pack while Texas A&M, Alabama headline fluid middle tier
The deepest conference in the country has at least seven teams with legitimate College Football Playoff hopes heading into 2026
Why 70–80% Of Small Business Sales Fail (And How To Avoid It)
Learn why 70–80% of small business sales fail and what owners can do to build a sellable business with stronger valuation, systems, and financial clarity.
CVS Health collaborates with America250 to support the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration
Omnicare has approved the sale of the Company’s business to GenieRx Holdings LLC ("GenieRx"), a joint partnership between private investment firm Milrose Capital LLC and health-care investment and management firm Integro Asset Management LLC, which does business as Integro Healthcare Services.
Enhancing hospital discharge management around the world
For hospital discharge management, policy clarifies roles, operational teams plan ahead, and digital tools can make execution faster, safer and scalable.
Smart people react to Google and Blackstone collab on AI company
"The small fry are getting squeezed out," wrote one equities portfolio manager.
Trump targets Massie in explosive Kentucky showdown as six states hold high-stakes primaries
Six states hold primaries Tuesday testing President Trump's grip on the GOP, with high-profile races in Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama, Oregon, and Pennsylvania.
The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales ‘Prologue Demo’ now available
Publisher and developer Square Enix, and developer Claytechworks have released the “Prologue Demo” for HD-2D action RPG The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales for PlayStation 5,…
Alissia Di Maria, S.M. '26: Diving into the data of wearable tech
Data science student analyzes stroke recovery data in Harvard Biodesign Lab
Traditional Medicine Innovation for Health Impact: Financing, Collaboration, and Future Pathways
This session brings together WHO, Member States, innovators, regulators and private sector partners to explore the role of integrating and advancing traditional medicine to improve health outcomes, while accelerating innovation, partnerships and collaboration. Discussions will focus on translating evidence and innovation into implementation, addressing financing and policy barriers, and identifying practical pathways to scale credible, community-rooted traditional medicine approaches to expand access, equity and health impact.Watch live on YouTube
Nintendo reveals new mobile game Pictonico
Nintendo is releasing a brand new mobile game titled Pictonico, the company just revealed. It will be available on May 28, 2026. Pictonico is a mini-game experience centered around using photos. You can use your own face (or friends as well) across 80 different challenges. The game is free to start. A few mini-games will be available for free, but...
What to know about Trump’s $1.8 billion taxpayer-fueled fund for his allies
The unprecedented lawsuit President Donald Trump brought against the Internal Revenue Service over the unauthorized disclosure of his tax returns years ago has led to an unprecedented arrangement that will make nearly $1.8 billion in taxpayer funds available to allies of the president who say they were unfairly investigated by the government in the past.
SCI Lab: Finding common ground on divisive science - Morgridge Institute for Research
As a scholar on societal perceptions of scientific research, Dominique Brossard focuses a lot of energy on divisive, challenging and controversial topics. But her ultimate goal is to find the "rock" we all stand together on.
What we know about the 2026 Ebola outbreak as first American tests positive
The type of Ebolavirus causing the outbreak in DRC, called Bundibugyo, is less common than other types of Ebola. There are no vaccines or drugs available to treat it.
Four NASA payloads to fly on Astrolab’s first lunar rover
Astrolab’s first lunar rover will carry four NASA payloads on a mission planned to launch later this year.
How scientists developed a hantavirus PCR test in a weekend Inside the race to develop a hantavirus PCR test
Researchers at the Nebraska Public Health Laboratory worked round the clock to develop a test for the Andes virus at the center of the deadly cruise ship outbreak
Apple Readies AI Writing Help, App Shortcuts and Wallpapers for iOS 27
Apple Inc. is preparing a wave of artificial intelligence features for its next iPhone and iPad operating systems, including a grammar checker and new shortcut options, part of an effort to narrow the gap with capabilities available on rival devices.
Jelly Roll schedules new Alabama show for May: Here’s how to secure last-minute ticket deals
Following the cancellation of his coheadlining tour date with Post Malone, Jelly Roll announced a new Birmingham show date for later this month.
What to know about the political chaos engulfing the UK's Labour Party and efforts to unseat Starmer
LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer tried to strengthen his grip on office Monday, saying he was getting on with the job after taking blame for the Labour Party’s disastrous election results that have put his leadership in jeopardy.
Could A Simple Lab Mistake Lead Scientists to Over-Estimate Microplastics?
While microplastics are a very real issue, one new study suggests that the numbers might not be quite as bad as we've feared.
Could A Simple Lab Mistake Lead Scientists to Over-Estimate Microplastics?
While microplastics are a very real issue, one new study suggests that the numbers might not be quite as bad as we've feared.
MARVEL Cosmic Invasion DLC characters Cyclops and The Thing now available
Publisher Dotemu and developer Tribute Games have released the arcade-style beat ’em up game MARVEL Cosmic Invasion downloadable content characters Cyclops and The Thing, the companies announ…
New MatterChat Model Helps AI to ‘See’ the Language of Science
From writing emails to generating computer code, much of the artificial intelligence prevalent in our daily lives has succeeded by mastering one domain: text. However, this leaves a major blind spot in the physical sciences, where models depend on the high-resolution, three-dimensional data of the physical world, like the intricate lattice of atoms in a crystal. Delivering on the promise of using AI for science requires teaching these data-driven text models to seamlessly “talk to” physics-based models. Now, a new AI framework from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab), called MatterChat, solves this problem by creating a specialized “bridge.” It connects the conversational power of a Large Language Model (LLM) with a physics-based AI that models “interatomic potentials”: the complex physical forces between atoms. The resulting system already significantly outperforms general-purpose AI tools like GPT-4 at predicting material properties, and the team hopes it can accelerate scientific discovery by serving as a robust research partner that provides grounded insights and generates step-by-step instructions for synthesizing novel materials. A paper describing this work was recently published in Nature Machine Intelligence. “Traditional simulations can provide the physical rigor required for materials science, yet their computational cost remains prohibitive for high-throughput screening. Conversely, while LLMs excel at rapid knowledge synthesis, they inherently lack the ‘structural vision’ to interpret materials directly from their underlying atomic coordinates,” said Yingheng Tang, a postdoctoral researcher in Berkeley Lab’s Applied Math and Computational Research Division (AMCR) and lead author on the paper. “MatterChat was built to solve this dilemma, empowering LLMs with a structural ‘vision’ that allows researchers to leverage their full potential for solving complex, real-world materials challenges.” Empowering language models to solve complex challenges in materials science To build MatterChat, the Berkeley Lab team drew inspiration from technologies like Vision Question Answering (VQA) and Text-to-Image (T2I) generation. In these tasks, AI must translate high-level text concepts into visual images, or vice versa. Doing so requires developers to build tools that “bridge” two fundamentally different forms of data. The researchers adapted this concept to the physical sciences. With MatterChat, they created a “bridge model” that successfully connects an LLM’s general knowledge with the deep understanding of the atomic-scale world encoded in scientific interatomic potentials. Until now, researchers using LLMs to solve materials problems usually had to feed them raw data files as if they were just strings of text. It’s like asking an AI to understand a complex 3D engine based only on a parts list: the LLM can read the names, but it can’t “see” how the atoms fit together in space. MatterChat solves this by training a specialized AI bridge model, pre-trained on millions of crystal structures and an LLM, to align the LLM’s representation of the world with the interatomic potential’s representation of the world. The bridge model can translate physical insights into a format the LLM can actually understand. By giving the LLM these “scientific eyes”— a scientific “inductive bias” in the terminology of AI — the Berkeley Lab team has transformed it into a robust research tool capable of providing grounded scientific insights into complex materials challenges, such as predicting thermal stability or analyzing electronic band gaps. “We think of atoms as living in a physical space, but from a machine learning perspective, they are just vectors living in some very non-trivially structured manifold in a high-dimensional Euclidean space; and, of course, the same is true for the sentences and paragraphs that we use to express our ideas about those atoms,” said co-author Michael Mahoney, Berkeley Lab’s Scientific Data Division (SDD) AI Initiative Research Lead. “The bridge model basically gets those two structures to ‘talk with’ each other.” As a proof-of-concept of this general approach, the team trained their bridge model on a dataset curated by pairing nearly 143,000 stable atomic structures from the Materials Project with their corresponding physical properties. This training data was automatically assembled using the Materials Project’s API and deliberately enriched with properties fundamental to microelectronics design — like formation energy and bandgap — allowing MatterChat to learn the complex patterns connecting a material’s atomic blueprint to its functional performance. To validate their model, the researchers benchmarked MatterChat against a suite of other AI systems, from general-purpose LLMs to other specialized scientific AI methods. The results show that MatterChat consistently outperformed its competitors across a range of tasks. The model was more accurate in classifying material types and demonstrated superior precision in predicting numerical properties. For example, it excelled at predicting a material’s bandgap, a property critical for designing new electronics from high-capacity energy storage to next-generation computer chips. “Our design is significantly more efficient because we don’t have to build a massive AI model from the ground up,” said co-author Zhi (Jackie) Yao, a research scientist in Berkeley Lab’s AMCR. “Instead, we take two powerful, pre-trained models — a structural encoder for materials physics and an open-source LLM — and use them off-the-shelf. The only component we actually train is the lightweight ‘bridge model’ that translates between them. It’s the difference between building an entire car factory and simply designing a smart adapter that connects a world-class engine to a world-class navigation system. This approach is not only computationally efficient, but also makes the system modular, so we can easily upgrade components or adapt the bridge for other scientific domains in the future.” Crucially, this modular design highlights exactly how institutions like Berkeley Lab and the Department of Energy are carving out a highly valuable niche in the booming AI landscape. Rather than competing with Silicon Valley tech giants to build ever-larger language models from scratch, the lab is focusing on the specialized connective tissue that makes commercial AI useful for hardcore science. Because the bridge model approach underlying MatterChat is forward-compatible, it is perfectly positioned to leverage these parallel tracks of innovation. As Mahoney pointed out, “We expect that industry will continue to develop improved LLMs, and we expect domain scientists and facilities will continue to generate new data. An important part of scientific machine learning is not simply to solve problems on today’s data, but instead to develop general methods that will be forward-compatible with orders of magnitude more data, whether from scientific domains or from LLMs.” According to Yao, the MatterChat project, which was initially developed and enhanced with funding from a Berkeley Lab Laboratory Directed Research & Development (LDRD) Program, will now expand its capabilities. In a collaboration with Fermilab, MatterChat is already contributing to a U.S. Department of Energy Genesis Mission project — called Accelerating eXtreme Environment Specs-to-Silicon (AXESS) — that aims to speed up the development of next-generation, high-speed, radiation-hardened detectors for challenging particle physics experiments by using advanced 3D integrated circuits (chiplets) and AI-driven data analysis. In addition to the LDRD support, the team also credits supercomputing resources at the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC), located at Berkeley Lab, with MatterChat’s success. “We are incredibly grateful to NERSC; this research simply would not have happened without access to the Perlmutter supercomputer through their AI for Science program,” said Tang. Wenbin Xu, a NERSC postdoctoral fellow at the time, was also a major co-author of the work, as was Benjamin Erichson, a research scientist in Berkeley Lab’s SDD, highlighting the benefits of AMCR-SDD collaboration on AI for science. ### Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) is committed to groundbreaking research focused on discovery science and solutions for abundant and reliable energy supplies. The lab’s expertise spans materials, chemistry, physics, biology, earth and environmental science, mathematics, and computing. Researchers from around the world rely on the lab’s world-class scientific facilities for their own pioneering research. Founded in 1931 on the belief that the biggest problems are best addressed by teams, Berkeley Lab and its scientists have been recognized with 17 Nobel Prizes. Berkeley Lab is a multiprogram national laboratory managed by the University of California for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science. DOE’s Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit energy.gov/science.
Business News: Royal Pop Sales Resume After Launch Rush For Audemars Piguet X Swatch Collaboration Forced Store Closures
This weekend's Royal Pop launch ends in disappointment and frustration at more than a dozen Swatch boutiques globally.
What’s Next for Artemis II AVATARs
Organ chips from Artemis II's AVATAR investigation have arrived at the laboratory at Emulate, Inc. in Boston, Massachusetts for analysis. The AVATAR (A Virtual Astronaut Tissue Analog Response) investigation uses personalized organ chips made from each astronaut's own cells to study the impacts of space radiation and microgravity on human health.
Northport considers new hotel fee agreement tied to River Run Park sports tourism
NORTHPORT, Ala. (WBMA) - Northport leaders are expected to consider a new hotel fee agreement Monday night tied to the city’s growing sports tourism efforts at
Supreme Court ruling throws Alabama politics into turmoil
A renewed redistricting fight deepened uncertainty over election maps, voting rights and Republican divisions, underscoring Alabama’s outsized role in national political battles.
FSU expert available to discuss high-functioning anxiety during Mental Health Awareness Month
Mental Health Awareness Month is recognized each May to provide education and reduce the stigma of several disorders. One lesser-known term gaining
AP Decision Notes: What to expect in Alabama's primaries
Alabama voters will choose nominees for U.S. Senate, governor and a full slate of state and local offices.
Illinois Wesleyan to Launch Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Quantum Science and Engineering Program
Illinois Wesleyan University announced the creation of the Fisher Center for Interdisciplinary Quantum Science & Engineering.
Don't mistake voter apathy for popular mandates
Alabama politics are dominated by hate, distraction and a lack of meaningful choices. It's hard to say the state as a whole is embracing that.
The Supreme Court’s Voting Rights Decision Spurred Swift Action in Louisiana and Alabama
The timing brought the court into the middle of a fight to redraw voting maps across the South, even as some primaries were underway.
Inside the U’s baby science research lab, a look at how the world learns
The University of Minnesota Child Brain and Perception Lab explores how infants and toddlers make sense of the people around them. MPR News spent a day recently at the lab watching one of the “pilot babies” discover their world.
Media Mention: Triangle Business Journal Features Emily Massey Profile in Inaugural Triangle Law Awards.
The Triangle Business Journal recently spotlighted attorneys who earned recognition in its inaugural Triangle Law Awards, including Ward and Smith Labor and Emp
Exploit available for new DirtyDecrypt Linux root escalation flaw
A recently patched local privilege escalation vulnerability in the Linux kernel's rxgk module now has a proof-of-concept exploit that allows attackers to gain root access on some Linux systems.
Q1 Airports Passenger Traffic Flat - Los Angeles Business Journal
Cumulative passenger traffic at the four airports serving Los Angeles County came in flat during the first quarter of the year. According to data released
Elliott builds big stake in life-science firm Bio-Rad Labs, WSJ reports
Elliott takes a stake in Bio-Rad (BIO), eyeing changes to lift the stock as Sartorius ties shape strategy.
Elliott builds big stake in life-science tools supplier Bio-Rad Labs, WSJ reports
Activist investor Elliott Investment Management has built a sizeable stake in U.S. diagnostics supplier Bio-Rad Laboratories NYSE:BIO, and plans to push the company to boost its underperforming stock price, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday.Bio-Rad's shares have fallen more than 18% so fa…
Elliott Builds Stake in Life-Science Firm Bio-Rad, WSJ Says
Activist investor Elliott Investment Management has built a sizable stake in Bio-Rad Laboratories to boost the firm’s underperfoming stock price, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.