AI for science
Table of Contents
Research powered by artificial intelligence made leaps this year,and it is here to stay. AI ‘agents’ that integrate several large language models (LLMs) to carry out complex, multi-step processes are likely to be more widely used, some with little human oversight. The coming year might even bring the first consequential scientific advances made by AI. But heavier use could also expose serious failures in some systems. Researchers have already reported errors that AI agents are prone to, such as the deletion of data.
Next year will also bring techniques that move beyond LLMs, which are expensive to train. Newer approaches focus on designing small-scale AI models that learn from a limited pool of data and can specialize in solving specific reasoning puzzles. These systems do not generate text, but process mathematical representations of data. This year, one such tiny AI model beat massive LLMs at a logic test.
Gene-editing momentum
Next year could see the launch of two clinical trials to develop personalized gene therapies for children with rare genetic disorders. The efforts expand on the treatment of KJ Muldoon, a baby boy with a rare metabolic disorder who received a CRIPSR therapy tailored to correct his specific disease-causing mutation.
The team that treated Muldoon plans to seek approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to run a clinical trial in Philadelphia that will test gene-editing therapies in more children with rare metabolic disorders. These conditions are caused by variants in seven genes that can be addressed with the same type of gene editing as was used in Muldoon’s therapy. another team hopes to begin a similar trial for genetic disorders of the immune system next year.
Massive trial
A UK clinical trial of a single blood test that detects around 50 types of cancer before symptoms begin is expected to report results next year. The test screens for bi
Major Scientific Missions Launching in 2025 Promise New Insights into space and Earth
2025 is poised to be a landmark year for scientific exploration, with enterprising missions planned to study exoplanets, the Sun, and the Earth’s interior. These endeavors, led by international teams, promise to expand our understanding of the universe and our own planet.
Searching for Earth-Like Planets: The PLATO Space telescope
The European Space Agency’s (ESA) PLATO (PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars) mission is set to revolutionize the search for exoplanets – planets orbiting stars other than our Sun. Expected to launch later in 2025, PLATO will monitor over 260,000 luminous stars, focusing on identifying planets similar in size and mass to Earth.
PLATO’s primary goal is to discover and characterize possibly habitable,Earth-sized planets. It will achieve this by detecting the slight dimming of a star’s light as a planet passes in front of it – a technique known as the transit method. Crucially, PLATO is designed to identify planets within the “habitable zone” of their stars, where temperatures could allow for the existence of liquid water on the surface – a key ingredient for life as we know it. Beyond planet detection, PLATO will also study stellar oscillations, providing insights into the stars themselves.
unveiling solar Secrets: India’s Aditya-L1 Mission
India’s first solar observatory, Aditya-L1, is already providing valuable data. Launched in September 2023, the spacecraft is positioned in a halo orbit around the Sun-Earth Lagrange point 1 (L1), approximately 1.5 million kilometers from Earth. This strategic location provides an uninterrupted view of the Sun.
Currently observing the Sun during solar maximum, the peak of the roughly 11-year solar cycle, Aditya-L1 is gathering data on solar flares, coronal mass ejections, and the Sun’s magnetic field. These observations are crucial for understanding space weather, which can impact satellites, communication systems, and even power grids on Earth. The mission carries seven payloads designed to study the photosphere, chromosphere, and corona of the Sun, providing a comprehensive view of our star’s dynamic behavior.
Drilling into Earth’s Mantle: China’s Meng xiang
China is preparing for a groundbreaking geological expedition with its new deep-sea drilling vessel, the Meng Xiang. Expected to begin its first scientific mission in 2025, the Meng Xiang is capable of drilling up to 11 kilometers (6.8 miles) through the oceanic crust to reach the Earth’s mantle – a feat never before accomplished. The vessel was delivered in July 2023.
This ambitious project aims to collect samples from the lower oceanic crust and upper mantle, providing invaluable insights into the formation of the ocean floor and the processes driving plate tectonics. Researchers hope to understand the composition and structure of the Earth’s interior, shedding light on the planet’s evolution and the dynamics of geological hazards like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The Meng Xiang represents a notable advancement in deep-sea drilling technology and promises to unlock new secrets about our planet’s hidden depths.
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