synbio Archives

Pipeline: Lagrangian tracking → 𝐻Δ𝑡 heatmap → MSPD aggregation → evolutionary loop → complex simulation output. -- cs.NE

Directing Open-Ended Evolution in Artificial Life via Multi-Scale Path Divergence

by Keith CowingJune 23, 2026June 23, 2026

Open-ended evolution (OEE) in artificial life is typically driven by uninterpretable, black-box neural-network complexity metrics, leaving life-like systems disconnected from physical theories of complexity.

In a study published in Nature Electronics, a Harvard-led team reports a silicon chip that synthesized 64 distinct DNA sequences on its surface in parallel – not by using the solvent-heavy chemistry that dominates custom DNA manufacturing today, but through a water-based enzymatic process. -- Nature Electronics

Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Press Release, Tricorders & Sensors

Tricorder Tech: A Schematic Of Core Steps In The Enzymatic Synthesis Platform

by Keith CowingJune 22, 2026June 21, 2026

Editor’s note: If you are on a long term mission or on an away team on another world, you might want your tricorder to be able to do some quick […]

Inferred subcellular organization in LECA, the last eukaryotic common ancestor, based on its estimated gene content. Credit Cell illustration adapted from multiple graphics shared as open source by SwissBioPics.

Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release

Scientists Reveal Disease Genes From Reconstruction Of Ancestor To All Complex Life

by Keith CowingMay 28, 2026May 28, 2026

A University of Texas at Austin-led team has reconstructed the most detailed map to date of the molecular machines that carried out the functions of life in an ancient ancestor […]

Model accuracy in terms of predicted DSSP secondary structure. A. DSSP sequence percent identity of predicted sequences to target, input, secondary structure. B. Example target structures of low (green) medium (orange) and high (blue) structure complexity proteins (top) displayed in ribbon format. Histograms (bottom) of results for DSSP sequence percent identity of predicted sequences to target, input, secondary structures for low404 (green) medium- (orange) and high- (blue) complexity protein targets. C. DSSP sequence percent identity for predicted sequences across protein sequence length and alphabet size. --biorxiv.org

AI - Data - Apps - Cybernetics, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Commercial & Private Sector, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Origin & Evolution of Life, Status Report

Artificial Intelligence Aided Design Of Peptides With Custom Secondary Structure Motifs And Reduced Amino Acid Alphabets

by Keith CowingMay 20, 2026May 20, 2026

Proteins are highly diverse functional polymers where the specific sequence of amino acids, selected from a standard genetically-encoded alphabet of twenty (C20), determines the structure and ultimately the function of […]

Schematic illustration of the proposed biological approach to MarWan biomanufacturing -- q-bio.CB

Astronauts and Explorers, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Life Support Systems, Mars, Microbiology & Virology, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Space Life Science, Status Report

Weaving Life Into Regolith: Engineered Autotrophic-Heterotrophic Consortia For Autonomous Biofabrication From Granular Feedstocks

by Keith CowingMay 15, 2026May 15, 2026

Long-duration human missions to Mars will require autonomous systems capable of converting in situ resources into structural materials, tools, and functional components. More broadly, such systems represent a class of […]

Cancer Cell expressing microprotein (colored in red) - Credits Ting Luo The researchers investigated 7,264 so‑called non‑canonical open reading frames (ncORFs). These ncORFs are produced by previously overlooked genes in our DNA, the so‑called non‑coding genome, and are the source of peptideins. They found that approximately a quarter of the studied ncORFs actually produce proteins. This was unprecedented proof of their existence.

Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Press Release

Thousands Of Previously Unknown Proteins Discovered

by Keith CowingMay 11, 2026May 11, 2026

Editor’s note: As we expand outward from Earth to other worlds we are almost certainly going to encounter things we did not expect to find – things that are unlikely […]

Molecule created by CoCoGraph Credit URV.

AI - Data - Apps - Cybernetics, Astrochemistry, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release

A New Artificial Intelligence Tool That Can Generate Millions Of New Molecules

by Keith CowingMay 6, 2026

Editor’s note: As we expand outward from Earth to other worlds we are almost certainly going to encounter things we did not expect to find – things that are unlikely […]

Down to the core. From left to right: When rebuilt outside of living cells, CorM forms dynamic filaments. Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) image of purified CorM filaments. Successive zoom-ins show the reconstructed 3D electron density map of the CorM filament, followed by the corresponding atomic model, illustrating the filaments’ assembly into a bipolar double-stranded filament. Credit© Springstein et al. / Science

Astropharmacy / Biotechnology, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Gaia - Planetary Perspectives, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Microbiology & Virology, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Press Release

Anabaena Learns A New Trick – Cyanobacteria Surprise Scientists With Evolutionary Shift

by Keith CowingApril 17, 2026April 17, 2026

Photosynthetic bacteria helped shape Planet Earth. Among them are cyanobacteria that produced the oxygen in our atmosphere and made complex life possible, captivating scientists for decades. Now, researchers at the […]

Energetics associated with the occupancy of the K1 site and the position of the M2 ion. (A) Free energy surface of the concerted motions of Prp11 Lys10 and M2, with the initial PDB conformation marked by a yellow star. (B–D) Representative structures of three metastable states from metadynamics simulations. State 1 (B) represents a PDB-like arrangement where Lys10 (slate blue sticks) remains at the K1 site, and M2 (yellow sphere) is properly positioned at the U6 snRNA triple-helix (yellow cartoon). State 2 (C): Lys10 leaves the K1 site, allowing a K+ ion to occupy it and stabilize M2 in place. State 3 (D): M2 directly coordinates G52, losing its catalytic position and partially occupying the K1 site. -- PNAS

Astropharmacy / Biotechnology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Status Report

Computational Chemistry And Supercomputers To Help Understand The Mechanisms Of Life

by Keith CowingApril 13, 2026April 13, 2026

A new study from the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), in collaboration with Uppsala University (Sweden) and AstraZeneca, shows how computational chemistry and supercomputers can help scientists better understand the […]

Proteins — large molecules with a specific biological function — are created by stringing together smaller molecular building blocks (amino acids) into chains which fold into complex 3D shapes. Credit Johan Jarnestad/The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences

AI - Data - Apps - Cybernetics, Astropharmacy / Biotechnology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release

Identifying The Limits Of Protein Evolution

by Keith CowingApril 2, 2026April 2, 2026

The number of known proteins is infinitely small in comparison to the universe of possible proteins which could in theory be realized. Yet these known proteins are the only major […]

synbio

Directing Open-Ended Evolution in Artificial Life via Multi-Scale Path Divergence

Tricorder Tech: A Schematic Of Core Steps In The Enzymatic Synthesis Platform

Scientists Reveal Disease Genes From Reconstruction Of Ancestor To All Complex Life

Artificial Intelligence Aided Design Of Peptides With Custom Secondary Structure Motifs And Reduced Amino Acid Alphabets

Weaving Life Into Regolith: Engineered Autotrophic-Heterotrophic Consortia For Autonomous Biofabrication From Granular Feedstocks

Thousands Of Previously Unknown Proteins Discovered

A New Artificial Intelligence Tool That Can Generate Millions Of New Molecules

Anabaena Learns A New Trick – Cyanobacteria Surprise Scientists With Evolutionary Shift

Computational Chemistry And Supercomputers To Help Understand The Mechanisms Of Life

Identifying The Limits Of Protein Evolution

Astrobiologist Dale Andersen’s Antarctic Field Report: 5 November 2026: Traverse to Lake Untersee

Blown Sand On Mars Can Spread Microbial Spores From Earth

Can A Self-sustaining Chemical Network Emerge Due To Just A Few Catalysts?

ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter Detects Hints Of Volcanic Activity On Mars

Using Vibrations To Reveal What Lies Beneath Other Planets’ Surfaces