Many are bizarre and live in salt lakes, hydrothermal vents and other extreme environments.

Researchers have used artificial intelligence (AI) to uncover 70,500 viruses previously unknown to science on many of them weird and nothing like known species. The RNA viruses were identified using metagenomics, in which scientists sample all the genomes present in the environment without having to culture individual viruses. The method shows the potential of AI to explore the ‘dark matter’ of the RNA virus universe.

  • @[email protected]
    4•6 days ago

    Hold back a second there, science! Don’t you think you should have a handle on the ones we already got before finding more?

    Sheesh.

  • snooggumsEnglish
    3•6 days ago

    Yay, a good use for AI that will have validation and human involvement in confirming the accuracy of the output!

    This is awesome.