Hi-res microscopes give biologists petabytes of data (news.berkeley.edu)

At UC Berkeley, researchers have introduced MOSAIC (Multimodal Optical Scope with Adaptive Imaging Correction), a cutting-edge microscope that combines multiple high-resolution imaging techniques into one device, significantly advancing the collection of biological data. Operating continuously, these microscopes capture vast amounts of information about living organisms, such as cells and embryos, in five dimensions (3D space, time, and color). This innovation allows for detailed tracking of cellular processes and interactions over time, producing petabytes of data—equivalent to 500 billion pages of text. The development was detailed in a recent article in *Nature Methods*. This breakthrough is pivotal for the AI/ML community as it addresses the challenge of interpreting immensely complex biological data. Researchers at UC Berkeley, led by a team that includes Nobel laureate Eric Betzig, aim to develop a "5D AI" capable of analyzing this wealth of information, akin to a ChatGPT for biology. Such AI models will assist biologists in querying intricate dynamics within living systems, facilitating discoveries that could revolutionize our understanding of biological processes. As the MOSAIC project evolves, building the computational infrastructure necessary to extract meaningful insights from this formidable data will be crucial for advancing biological research.