[
  {
    "id": "1b6cb37e-2a00-8000-adc6-f1fe226a4b22",
    "name": "Neuroscience",
    "slug": "neuroscience",
    "description": "\nThe brain is responsible for an enormous portion of human disease burden.\n\nWe need new tools to access the brain more broadly and deeply to illuminate the molecular, cellular and circuit mechanisms underlying the brain’s functions and its disorders.\n\n> “To understand in depth what is going on in a brain, we need tools that can fit inside or between neurons and transmit reports of neural events to receivers outside. We need observing instruments that are local, non-destructive and non-invasive, with rapid response, high band-width and high spatial resolution… There is no law of physics that declares such an observational tool to be impossible.” – _Freeman Dyson, Imagined Worlds, 1997_\n"
  },
  {
    "id": "1b6cb37e-2a00-804b-bc98-d3e20805a016",
    "name": "Immunology",
    "slug": "immunology",
    "description": "\nIn principle, the immune system surveys essentially the entire body and stores a memory of much of what it finds. The system is theoretically highly programmable by inserting or removing DNA-encoded adaptive immune receptor molecules. However, our current ability to read-write this system is limited and new tools and datasets are needed to harness its power. While [data suggest](https://www.nature.com/articles/35008096) that antigens displayed on the cell surface may not be well predicted by DNA sequences and genetic code, the ability to unbiasedly identify and _de novo_ sequence antigens remains limited. \n\n"
  },
  {
    "id": "1b6cb37e-2a00-8052-8d77-fa7ebf8cc8c0",
    "name": "Cellular and Molecular Biology",
    "slug": "cellular-and-molecular-biology",
    "description": "\n Cells, organs, organisms and notably brains could be observable and perturbable with far greater spatiotemporal precision, multiplexing of targets/variables and 3D access through better physical and chemical tools.\n\n"
  },
  {
    "id": "1c0cb37e-2a00-8098-aa05-edbd8838763d",
    "name": "Physiology and Medicine",
    "slug": "physiology-and-medicine",
    "description": "\nOur ability to advance medicine is limited by the rate at which we can conduct human experiments and the translatability of our experimental models. Improving medicine by expanding our understanding of and ability to modulate living humans. Aging research requires that we understand what’s happening in humans over long timescales, and that we can identify biomarkers that can proxy these trends.\n\n"
  },
  {
    "id": "1c1cb37e-2a00-8018-9437-eaafd782ddbb",
    "name": "Materials Science",
    "slug": "materials-science",
    "description": "\nOur ability to build breakthrough technologies is fundamentally limited by the materials we have at our disposal. By accelerating the discovery of novel materials and advancing fabrication methods, we can overcome these constraints.\n\n"
  },
  {
    "id": "1c1cb37e-2a00-8072-8069-fe4247544341",
    "name": "Synthetic Biology",
    "slug": "synthetic-biology",
    "description": "\nSome of the long-standing holy grails in designing and customizing biological systems may now be coming into reach due to generative AI and high-throughput testing. We are beginning to design not only static protein structures but also functional enzymes, and even customize entire phages (viruses that infect bacteria) based on desired functions or host ranges.\n\n"
  },
  {
    "id": "1c1cb37e-2a00-80ad-b0ba-fe2564508931",
    "name": "Chemistry",
    "slug": "chemistry",
    "description": "\nWhile biology has taken the lead in leveraging large-scale open data and robotics, chemistry still has significant untapped potential. Biology’s early adoption of these approaches has accelerated discoveries and streamlined workflows, demonstrating that similar transformations in chemistry could revolutionize the field. By embracing open data practices and integrating robotics into high-throughput synthesis and experimentation, chemists can increase reproducibility and efficiency.\n\n"
  },
  {
    "id": "1c1cb37e-2a00-80e1-afda-fcf935b88476",
    "name": "Biophysics",
    "slug": "biophysics",
    "description": "\nThere are many open questions in biophysics, especially regarding how to simulate and engineer complex biomolecular matter—such as the intricate networks found in tissues and neural systems. By developing advanced data collection techniques that capture spatial and temporal dynamics, implementing precise control mechanisms to modulate key variables, and deliberately narrowing the design space to focus on the most critical parameters, we can better simulate, control, and engineer complex biological systems.\n\n"
  },
  {
    "id": "1c1cb37e-2a00-80e4-9e6e-ec1d2e30d87f",
    "name": "Nanoscale Fabrication",
    "slug": "nanoscale-fabrication",
    "description": "\nOur processes of fabricating materials have remained static over recent decades. Despite bold predictions from 1980s nanotechnology theorists that revolutionary changes were imminent, many traditional fabrication methods persist. What can we do to unlock new capabilities? \n\n"
  },
  {
    "id": "1c2cb37e-2a00-803b-ba20-f4c68cf9d0ab",
    "name": "Computation",
    "slug": "computation",
    "description": "\nOur exploration of the computational universe is still in its infancy, constrained by traditional von Neumann architectures and energy-intensive processing. Emerging approaches—ranging from low-energy and neuromorphic systems to reversible and thermodynamic computing—promise to radically improve efficiency. At the same time, advanced AI safety, interpretability, and robust software synthesis are needed to ensure trustworthy and broadly capable computational systems.\n\n"
  },
  {
    "id": "1c2cb37e-2a00-80be-b01e-e0fcc67dcf05",
    "name": "Mechanical Engineering",
    "slug": "mechanical-engineering",
    "description": "\nOur ability to design and manufacture complex physical systems is still in its infancy when it comes to fully leveraging AI and automation. New approaches promise to transform mechanical system design, architectural planning, bioengineering, miniaturized robotics, mechanical simulation, and the real-world deployment of robots.\n\n"
  },
  {
    "id": "1c3cb37e-2a00-80b6-aff1-fb757c640349",
    "name": "Astrophysics",
    "slug": "astrophysics",
    "description": "\nWe can liberate astrophysics and astronomy from a legacy model constrained by high launch costs and decadal government megaprojects. By leveraging reduced launch expenses, modular assembly techniques, and advances in commercial components, we can revolutionize telescope design and space missions to transform our understanding of the universe—uncovering new astrophysical phenomena and advancing fundamental physics. Moreover, exploring novel methods for detecting high-frequency gravitational waves may reveal unprecedented cosmic insights, especially as scaling up particle accelerators offers diminishing returns in probing new physics.\n\n"
  },
  {
    "id": "1c3cb37e-2a00-80c7-8695-d48636945bea",
    "name": "Physics",
    "slug": "physics",
    "description": "\nPhysics is an ancient field, yet advances in technology are enabling more compact and innovative experimental platforms to tackle key scientific challenges. By rethinking traditional, large-scale infrastructures, we can accelerate our understanding of physical phenomena and their applications in cost-effective and agile ways.\n\n"
  },
  {
    "id": "1c3cb37e-2a00-80f8-b6e6-d80f648bdd6e",
    "name": "Geophysics and Climate",
    "slug": "geophysics-and-climate",
    "description": "\nWe still lack robust ground truth measurements and reliable models to underpin the most pivotal climate strategies (although fully reliable models for multidecadal climate prediction [may](https://research-portal.uu.nl/files/234721221/Reviews_of_Geophysics_-_2020_-_Sherwood_-_An_Assessment_of_Earth_s_Climate_Sensitivity_Using_Multiple_Lines_of_Evidence.pdf) be asking for too much). Critical challenges include quantifying natural carbon removal, characterizing aerosol–cloud interactions, monitoring atmospheric processes, predicting climate tipping points, and developing direct interventions. Addressing these bottlenecks will require integrated computational and experimental platforms, advanced observation systems, and innovative intervention strategies.\n\n"
  },
  {
    "id": "1c4cb37e-2a00-8000-9b59-d75e163b4e8c",
    "name": "Space Engineering",
    "slug": "space-engineering",
    "description": "\nOur current space infrastructure is constrained by legacy models and high costs. By leveraging commercial approaches, innovative construction methods, and new research in planetary engineering and interstellar exploration, we can break free from these limitations and open the door to a new era of space development. Some of these projects are larger than “bridge scale”.\n\n"
  },
  {
    "id": "1c4cb37e-2a00-8052-8884-fe94bcb4d564",
    "name": "Biosecurity",
    "slug": "biosecurity",
    "description": "\nBiosecurity confronts the dynamic challenge of rapidly evolving microbes and the potential for malicious misuse of biotechnology. As pathogens and bad actors continuously adapt, it is critical to develop innovative approaches—from next-generation antibiotics and vaccines to advanced early-warning systems—to safeguard public health and critical infrastructure. Biosecurity  is currently receiving very few resources relative to the level of unmet need, particularly with the proliferation of AI capabilities that could increase the number of capable bad actors.\n\n"
  },
  {
    "id": "1c4cb37e-2a00-80cb-8b3c-e28684425c8b",
    "name": "Ecology",
    "slug": "ecology",
    "description": "\nOur understanding of the living world remains incomplete—from mapping unexplored biodiversity to engineering closed ecosystems. By building and deploying novel monitoring technologies, creating comprehensive datasets and machine learning models, we can unlock new insights into animal behavior, ecosystem dynamics and tipping points, and the potential for ecosystem restoration.\n\n"
  },
  {
    "id": "1c7cb37e-2a00-8060-84f0-fdaac2dab6d9",
    "name": "Global Health",
    "slug": "global-health",
    "description": "\nGlobal health continues to face immense challenges from infectious diseases and inadequate diagnostic and therapeutic systems. Major gaps remain in our ability to develop effective vaccines and treatments, rapidly diagnose diseases, and prevent pathogen transmission. Addressing these issues is essential to reduce global morbidity and mortality, especially in low-resource settings, and ensure a resilient, interconnected world.\n\n"
  },
  {
    "id": "1c7cb37e-2a00-806b-a9e9-fbec288c4ed2",
    "name": "Metascience",
    "slug": "metascience",
    "description": "\nMetascience aims to improve and diversify the social processes of scientific research. With challenges ranging from fraud in the literature to the overwhelming volume of scientific publications, new approaches are needed to expand the scientific enterprise.\n\n"
  },
  {
    "id": "1c7cb37e-2a00-80ac-986a-ede079165668",
    "name": "Social Science",
    "slug": "social-science",
    "description": "\nSocial science is increasingly challenged by the overwhelming flood of information and misinformation, outdated economic models, and primitive methods for collective coordination. Innovative approaches—from AI-enhanced recommendation systems and digital tutors to decentralized governance and advanced simulation models—are needed to better understand human behavior, improve decision-making, and design more robust public institutions. Better epistemic infrastructure is needed to improve human reasoning, coordination, and truth-seeking.\n\n"
  }
]