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Large language models for scientific discovery in molecular property prediction
Abstract Large language models (LLMs) are a form of artificial intelligence system encapsulating vast knowledge in the form of natural language. These systems are adept at numerous complex tasks including creative writing, storytelling, translation, question-answering, summarization and computer code generation. Although LLMs have seen initial applications in natural sciences, their potential for driving scientific discovery…
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PhD scientists who forged a career off the beaten track
On the rugged, uninhabited Archipelago of the Recherche off the coast of Western Australia, marine ecologist Jennifer Lavers has front-row access to the wildlife she studies, because she lives nearby. In 2022, Lavers set up her successful marine-ecology research group in the tiny hamlet of Esperance, or Kepa Kurl, on the coast of southwest Australia,…
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Trump 2.0: an assault on science anywhere is an assault on science everywhere
The administration of Donald Trump has launched an unprecedented strike on US science.Credit: David Turnley/Corbis/VCG/Getty One month has passed since the start of Donald Trump’s second US presidency. In a letter to the incoming president, Nature urged Trump and his administration to build on the nation’s legacy and achievements in science, and further boost research…
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Drax pledges to set science-based nature targets after deforestation criticism
The business is best known for its power plant in Selby, North Yorkshire, which now runs on biomass in the form of wood pellets, having been converted from coal. The UK Government recently confirmed that it will halve the level of subsidies paid to Drax for the operation of this facility from 2027. This contract…
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Drax pledges to set science-based nature targets after deforestation criticism
The business is best known for its power plant in Selby, North Yorkshire, which now runs on biomass in the form of wood pellets, having been converted from coal. The UK Government recently confirmed that it will halve the level of subsidies paid to Drax for the operation of this facility from 2027. This contract…
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How scientists can drive climate action: celebrate nature and promote hope
Science is necessary, but clearly not sufficient, for conveying the climate crisis. The past two years have been the hottest on record. Denial of climate change is still widespread and false claims about products’ environmental benefits, or ‘greenwashing’, are on the rise. What can researchers do? A decade ago, many scientists tended to argue that…
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Will AI jeopardize science photography? There’s still time to create an ethical code of conduct
One of the privileges of being on the campus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge is seeing glimpses of the future, from advances in quantum computing and energy sustainability and production, to designing new antibiotics. Do I understand it all deeply? No, but I am able to wrap my head around much…
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Postdocs and PhD students hit hard by Trump’s crackdown on science
Early-career scientists fear that their chances of making a life in the US research scene are slipping away. Credit: Karen Ducey/Getty The first in her family to go to university, Suzanne Autrey pushed herself to the brink chasing an academic career. She is now an assistant professor at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, and takes…
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Trekking across Nepal to bridge its gender gap in the sciences
Babita Paudel travels Nepal to collect soil samples in high-altitude regions such as Annapurna and to run workshops for female scientists’ professional development.Credit: Rajaram Khang Changemakers This Nature Q&A series celebrates people who fight racism in science and who champion inclusion. It also highlights initiatives that could be applied to other scientific workplaces. During her…
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India’s bold first step to an open science future
The true potential of ONOS lies in its role as a catalyst for open science. Credit: Nutthaseth Vanchaichana / iStock / Getty Images Plus India’s One Nation, One Subscription (ONOS) initiative is an unprecedented attempt to make high-quality research accessible to all, eliminating institutional disparities and breaking down financial barriers. But while ONOS is a…