When doctors can't figure out what's ailing us, they can search our bodies for snippets of genetic material from viruses, bacteria, and fungi. In 2019, Nichol Cano, an otherwise healthy mother of three in Fresno, California, began experiencing worsening headaches. She had no history of headaches; they had seemed to start after a liposuction surgery in Tijuana, Mexico. She saw her primary-care doctor and then a neurologist, who diagnosed her as having migraines. She was given a standard migraine treatment--an injection and a pill--but her pain only intensified.

The use of AI systems to create viruses opens up new possibilities for combating bacterial resistance. It also raises concerns about the pace at which technology is outstripping regulation. For the first time, an artificial intelligence system has created a series of previously unknown viruses capable of infecting and eliminating certain types of bacteria. This breakthrough opens up new possibilities for combating bacterial resistance . However, it also raises concerns about the potential misuse of this technology to design biological weapons.

You're viewing the US edition You can switch to the UK or AU homepage at any time using this menu. Six-foot-10 former Knicks and Celtics star officially declares for WNBA Draft as league's trans debate explodes Trio of women - two of them transgender - tortured boy, 7, to death - but remembered to take their pet for its vaccines as victim lay at death's door, prosecutors say Watch the moment Trump's eyes go wide as he's presented with a'ball of gold' America's young dementia epidemic: The 14 lifestyle habits driving early-onset cases revealed by world-leading experts... and changes that can REVERSE your risk Why Costco's little-known in-store perk is winning over shoppers who say it's'faster, cheaper and so much nicer' than the competition Keith Urban's secret'RELIEF' about Nicole Kidman's new lover: Friends say she may finally let go of'hold over him' as daughters meet beau... and brutal question that sparked ugly split Watch the moment two middle-aged men are escorted out of ...

US researchers have announced the creation of new viruses using artificial intelligence, a scientific first that raises hopes for advances in medical treatments while also stoking anxiety about the dangers of the frontier technology. In findings published in the journal Science, researchers at Stanford University and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard said they used a naturally occurring phage - a type of virus that infects bacteria - as a template to generate thousands of genomes with AI. In tests, a mixture of the synthetic viruses proved more effective at killing E coli bacteria than the naturally occurring viruses, according to the findings. "Our approach expands what synthetic genomics can achieve alongside methods such as directed evolution and rational engineering, lays out a path for generating adaptive and resilient phage therapies against rapidly evolving pathogens, and establishes a foundation for the generative design of larger, more complex genomes," the researchers wrote in Science. Brian Hie and Samuel King, two of the paper's authors, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Did we learn nothing from sci-fi? A study published in Science (via The New York Times) details how researchers used an AI model to design new viruses capable of infecting and reproducing inside bacteria. The good news: they took appropriate precautions, and their work could lead to breakthroughs in gene therapy and biotechnology. The bad news: the next guys might not be so generous. Scientists at Palo Alto's Arc Institute and Stanford University created the viruses with the genome language models Evo 1 and Evo 2. They work somewhat like large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT or Claude.

Artificial Intelligence has been used to design brand new viruses that are fully functional and can replicate in the laboratory, say US researchers. It is the first time whole genomes have been successfully designed by AI. The resulting 16 novel viruses were created to infect bacteria and pose no threat to people. The breakthrough has been labelled a very significant turning point in science that could unlock a new era for treating disease. But experts have also warned AI-designed viruses raise urgent safety and security concerns.

A scientist holds an agar plate containing a bacteriophage, which can be used to treat patients with persistent infections. A scientist holds an agar plate containing a bacteriophage, which can be used to treat patients with persistent infections. Scientists have made the first viruses designed by artificial intelligence in a milestone that raises hopes for new medicines but also concerns over how to ensure the technology remains safe. The viruses are specific kinds known as bacteriophages, which only infect bacteria and are used around the world to treat patients with persistent infections. In lab tests, a cocktail of the AI-designed viruses killed bugs that were resistant to natural bacteriophages.

The 500-year-old smallpox DNA is the oldest ever found in the Americas. More information Adding us as a Preferred Source in Google by using this link indicates that you would like to see more of our content in Google News results. Smallpox killed 300-500 people during the 20th century. Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. By signing up, you confirm you are 16+, will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy .

As the US sees its highest number of measles cases in decades and vaccination rates fall, researchers are developing drugs to help those who contract the virus or who are particularly vulnerable. Up until recently, measles vaccination has been so effective that there's been little medical or financial incentive to develop treatments for the disease. But as measles cases hit a 35-year high and vaccination rates continue to decline in the US, a handful of biotech companies and academic groups have started working on measles treatments for those infected with the virus as well as vulnerable individuals needing short-term protection. It will likely be years, however, before these countermeasures are available, and it's even more uncertain if those who refuse vaccines would take such treatments. Fueled by large outbreaks in South Carolina and Utah, the US had already surpassed last year's 2,289 measles cases, and it's only July.

More information Adding us as a Preferred Source in Google by using this link indicates that you would like to see more of our content in Google News results. Just how likely are you to get sick on a cruise ship? Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. By signing up, you confirm you are 16+, will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy . A medical team in head-to-toe hazmat suits boarding a cruise ship was one of the many harrowing images from the COVID-19 pandemic.