The most fundamental abstraction underlying all modern computers is the Turing Machine, that is if any modern computer can simulate a Turing Machine, an equivalence which is called Turing completeness, it is theoretically possible to achieve any task that can be algorithmically described by executing a series of discrete unit operations. In chemistry, the ability to program chemical processes is demanding because it is hard to ensure that the process can be understood at a high level of abstraction, and then reduced to practice. Herein we exploit the concept of Turing completeness applied to robotic platforms for chemistry that can be used to synthesise complex molecules through unit operations that execute chemical processes using a chemically-aware programming language, XDL. We leverage the concept of computability by computers to synthesizability of chemical compounds by automated synthesis machines. The results of an interactive demonstration of Turing completeness using the colour gamut and conditional logic are presented and examples of chemical use-cases are discussed. Over 16.7 million combinations of Red, Green, Blue (RGB) colour space were binned into 5 discrete values and measured over 10 regions of interest (ROIs), affording 78 million possible states per step and served as a proxy for conceptual, chemical space exploration. This formal description establishes a formal framework in future chemical programming languages to ensure complex logic operations are expressed and executed correctly, with the possibility of error correction, in the automated and autonomous pursuit of increasingly complex molecules.

A "chemputer" is a robotic method of producing drug molecules that uses downloadable blueprints to synthesize organic chemicals via programming. Originated in the University of Glasgow lab of chemist Lee Cronin, the method has produced several blueprints available on the GitHub software repository, including blueprints for Remdesivir, the FDA-approved drug for antiviral treatment of COVID-19. Cronin, who designed the "bird's nest" of tubing, pumps, and flasks that make up the chemputer, spent years thinking of a way researchers could distribute and produce molecules as easily as they email and print PDFs, according to a recent account from CNBC. "If we have a standard way of discovering molecules, making molecules, and then manufacturing them, suddenly nothing goes out of print," Cronin stated. Beyond creating the chemputer, Cronin's team recently took a second major step towards digitizing chemistry with an accessible way to program the machine.

Chris Smith and Phil Sansom delve into the world of artificial Intelligence (AI) to find out how this emerging technology is changing the way we practise medicine... Mike - I think this is an area where AI stands a really good chance of making quite dramatic improvements to very large numbers of people's lives. Carolyn - Save lives and reduce medical complications. Beth - That's a concern - when machine-learning algorithms learn the wrong things. Andrew - Frankly revolutionary productivity that we are now starting to see from these AI approaches in drug design. Lee - It will replace all manual labor in all research laboratories. And then suddenly everyone can collaborate. Phil - But what was previously sci-fi is now closer to reality. AI technology exists, and there's a brand new frontier where it's being applied to the world of healthcare. Chris - But this isn't the AI you see in the movies. In the words of Kent University computer scientist Colin Johnson, "this is more software than Schwarzeneggar"... Colin - When scientists say AI, they often mean some piece of code that's running on a computer and it's taking some inputs.

In a project that sounds like something from a sci-fi movie, defense specialist BAE Systems plans to chemically'grow' drones in large vats. The U.K.-based defense company is working with the University of Glasgow on the concept, which aims to'grow' Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in large-scale labs using chemistry. The project could help create specially-designed aircraft in weeks, rather than years. At the heart of the initiative is a "Chemputer" machine that would use advanced chemical processes to grow aircraft and some of their electronic systems. Very much a future project, scant details are available on how the Chemputer will work, although BAE systems says the machine could conceivably "grow" the drones from a molecular level.

Battlefields of the future could enable armies to respond quickly to threats by'growing' unmanned aircraft in the field. In a futuristic vision of warfare, British defence firm BAE Systems has described its plans for a radical new concept for developing new prototypes of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Called the Chemputer, its developers claim the concept could provide a significant advantage by slashing production times from years to just a matter of weeks. Grow your own drones: British defence firm BAE Systems has announced its plans to develop a'Chemputer' in which prototypes could be'grown' rapidly (concept illustrated). The'Chemputer' could provide a significant advantage by slashing production times from years to a matter of weeks.

It sounds like an idea for a science fiction film, but here in the UK scientists and engineers are spending time and money to see if they can do exactly that. British warplanes are already flying with parts made from a 3D printer. Researchers are already using that same technology to build drones. The military advantage is obvious - building equipment quickly and close to the battlefield - without long waits and long supply chains - gives you an enormous advantage over any enemy. But the latest innovation being developed by Prof Lee Cronin at Glasgow University takes 3D printing to another level.