A new article published in the Biophysical Journal suggests that new generation supercomputers have the potential to revolutionize the field of biophysics and lead to unexpected discoveries in biology. Dr. Rafael Bernardi, a biophysicist assistant at the Department of Physics of the University of Alburn, and Dr. Marcelo Mel, a researcher at the same group, authored the study.
Scientists from the University of Olburn are exploring the possibilities that arise from combining computational modeling and experimental biophysics. Advanced computing technologies now enable biophysicists to go beyond observation and question established biological assumptions, identify complex details, and even create new proteins or design new molecular schemes.
The researchers specifically focused on the potential of simulating complex biological processes, ranging from subatomic to cellular models. Dr. Bernardi highlighted the capabilities of the new exascale computers, saying, “New exascale computers allow biophysicist-theoreticians to surpass experimental opportunities and simulate biological processes with the highest level of detail. For example, we can now understand how pathogenic bacteria attach to a person during the development of infection at the atomic level.”
The development of the first public exaflops supercomputer, “FronTier,” at the National Laboratory of the UAC Ridge in late 2021 is considered crucial in this field. Combined with the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence tools specifically designed for biophysics, this breakthrough opens up opportunities to seamlessly integrate simulation and observation.
The collaboration between experimental and computational approaches is anticipated to significantly expand scientific knowledge and pave the way for discoveries that could fundamentally transform our understanding of the biological world.