AI Powers Breakthroughs in Microbes and Minerals | California News

Two UC Santa Barbara research teams are among the first 278 nationwide selected for the U.S. Department of Energy’s ambitious Genesis Mission, a new initiative to supercharge scientific discovery with AI, supercomputing, and advanced tech. Led by Professors Michelle O’Malley and Justin Wilson, their projects tackle big challenges: O’Malley’s team uses AI to decode complex microbial communities that convert plant waste into sustainable bioplastics and medicines, while Wilson’s team deploys AI to design a smart two-step system for extracting rare minerals—using chelators and proteins—to dramatically speed up extraction from months to weeks. This closed-loop AI approach could revolutionize chemistry and biology, accelerating breakthroughs critical for energy, national security, and sustainability. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/731af2331b48a125