The rapid pace of scientific progress is exciting but keeping up with all the new developments can be overwhelming. CAS has a unique view of the historical and current scientific landscape, allowing insight into emerging trends. Recently, experts from the University of California, Berkeley, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, POLARISqb, and CAS joined together for a webinar to highlight the scientific breakthroughs and trends we’re excited to be keeping an eye on in 2025.
Key highlights from the webinar
Janet discussed the key scientific trends highlighted in this year’s article to set the stage for the panel discussion.
- Data quality in AI: The importance of high-quality, specific datasets for successful AI-driven scientific experiments.
- Precision medicine: Customized healthcare based on individual genetic profiles.
- Battery innovation: Advancements in sustainable energy solutions.
- Material science: Developments in materials with various applications.
- Environmental sustainability: Innovations in waste management and the circular economy.
- Biotechnology: Progress in areas like CRISPR and single-cell analysis.
- Quantum computing: The potential to solve complex optimization problems.
- Omniomics: The next revolution in single-cell analysis.
To expand on these trends, Dr. Aaron Streets, Dr. Yongtao Liu, and Dr. Shahar Keinan joined Janet for a wide-ranging panel discussion that touched on a number of related subjects.
Data quality and AI
All panelists emphasized the critical role of high-quality data in AI. Yongtao highlighted the need for accessible and standardized data, noting the importance of the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) principles in ensuring that high-quality data is accessible to researchers. He also discussed the potential of autonomous labs to generate large amounts of high-quality data. Shahar highlighted the difficulties in obtaining clean and balanced datasets in drug design, where much data comes from many publications that use different measurement standards. Aaron continued the conversation pointing out how the accuracy of AI predictions hinges on the quality of the data that trains the models. He also discussed the vast amount of biological data generated and the need for efficient data collection methods to minimize resource consumption and computational power required for analysis.
Quantum computing
Shahar elaborated on the applications of quantum computing in drug discovery and other fields, noting its potential to solve large optimization problems efficiently. She explained that while quantum computers are not yet ready for everyday tasks, they hold great promise for specific, complex problems. She also shared that quantum annealers, which are good at solving large optimization problems, can be used in various fields such as supply chain optimization, portfolio balancing, and cryptography.
Single-cell analysis
Aaron explained the benefits of multi-layered single-cell analysis, which provides a holistic view of cellular functions and interactions. This approach can help show how genetic variations impact cell behavior and disease progression. He discussed the current state of single-cell genomic analysis, where high-throughput single-cell RNA sequencing allows researchers to cluster cells by their gene expression. Dr. Streets emphasized the importance of integrating multiple layers of molecular information, such as the proteome and epigenome, to gain a more comprehensive understanding of cell states and information flow within cells.
Material science
Yongtao shared insights into the applications of ferroelectric materials, which have a wide range of uses from memory devices to energy harvesting and medical technologies. He emphasized the importance of considering the entire lifecycle of materials to minimize environmental impact. He explained that ferroelectric materials can spontaneously develop electric polarization, which can be switched using an external electric field. This property makes them suitable for applications such as ferroelectric random-access memory (FeRAM), sensors, and energy harvesting devices.
Environmental sustainability
Across the board, our panelists emphasized the importance of incorporating ecological considerations into their work. Shahar highlighted the efficiency of using quantum computers to save time and energy. She mentioned how using computers for simulations can save time, resources, and energy compared to traditional lab experiments. Aaron and Yongtao also emphasized the need for sustainable practices in data collection and material production. Aaron continued by sharing the need for efficient data collection methods to reduce resource consumption and computational power. Yongtao finally shared a story about perovskites in solar cell technology, emphasizing the importance of considering the entire lifecycle of materials to minimize environmental impact.
Learn more
Read more valuable insights into the scientific breakthroughs and trends to watch in 2025 in our article. See the full webinar recording here.
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