Post by : Mariam
Al-Faris
Scientists at NYU Abu Dhabi have created a powerful new AI tool called LA⁴SR that can quickly find hidden proteins in microalgae, very small organisms that produce a large amount of the Earth’s oxygen and support life in oceans and rivers. This discovery is expected to greatly improve research into nature, energy, and environmental protection.
Microalgae are extremely important for the planet, but studying them has always been difficult. Their proteins are often mixed with proteins from other tiny organisms, which makes them hard to identify. Older computer programs either miss many of these proteins or take several weeks to complete the analysis.
To overcome this problem, the NYU Abu Dhabi research team trained an advanced AI system to read protein sequences in the same way language models understand text. This approach allows LA⁴SR to clearly separate real algal proteins from background data with very high accuracy. The tool works around 10,000 times faster than traditional methods, saving time and resources for scientists.
This breakthrough will help researchers discover new natural compounds and enzymes that could support future clean energy solutions. It will also improve understanding of how microscopic life adapts to environmental changes, helping scientists monitor water quality and study how ecosystems react to climate change.
Researchers at NYU Abu Dhabi say the tool makes it possible to see biological information that was previously invisible. LA⁴SR represents a major step forward in marine and environmental science and strengthens the university’s role as a global leader in scientific innovation.
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