AlphaFold 3 predicts the structure and interactions of all of life's molecules

Re:AlphaFold 3 predicts the structure and interactions of al... by interroboink on Wednesday May 08, 2024 @03:03PM (#40301746)

I agree the how/why is the main driving goal. That's kinda why I feel like this is not depressiong news — there's a new frontier to discover and attempt to explain. Scientists love that stuff (:

Knowing how to predict the motion of planets but without having an underlying explanation encourages scientists to develop their theories. Now, once more, we know how to predict something (protein folding) but without an underlying explanation. Hurray, something to investigate!

(Aside: I realize that there are also more human factors at play, and upsetting the status quo will always cause some grief. I just wanted to provide a counterpoint that there is some exciting progress represented here, too).

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Re:AlphaFold 3 predicts the structure and interactions of al... by variadix on Wednesday May 08, 2024 @04:57PM (#40302650)

I was mainly responding to the claim that these black boxes produce a hypothesis that is useful as a basis for scientific theories. I don’t think it does, because it offers no explanation as to the how and why, which is as we agree the primary goal. It doesn’t provide a hypothesis per se, just a prediction, which is useful technologically and should indicate that there is more to be discovered (see my response to the sibling reply) scientifically but offers no motivating explanation.

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