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BTI, Cornell Develop AI Tool to Map Hidden Universe of Small Molecules
Ithaca, NYResearchers at the Boyce Thompson Institute and Cornell University have developed AIMe (AI Molecule Explorer), a neuro-symbolic AI tool that predicts, organizes, and searches mass spectra for more than 100 million known small organic molecules—creating a searchable map of chemical space roughly a thousand times larger than existing experimental libraries. Applying AIMe to gut microbiome data, the team identified a previously unknown, ring-shaped polyamine compound also found in human fecal samples, and used the tool to annotate millions of unidentified spectra in a major public mass spectrometry database.
Researchers at the Boyce Thompson Institute and Cornell University have developed AIMe (AI Molecule Explorer), a neuro-symbolic AI tool that predicts, organizes, and searches mass spectra for more than 100 million known small organic molecules—creating a searchable map of chemical space roughly a thousand times larger than existing experimental libraries. Applying AIMe to gut microbiome data, the team identified a previously unknown, ring-shaped polyamine compound also found in human fecal samples, and used the tool to annotate millions of unidentified spectra in a major public mass spectrometry database.
Ithaca, NY
Researchers at the Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI) and Cornell University unveiled AIMe (AI Molecule Explorer), a neuro-symbolic artificial intelligence tool that predicts and maps the mass spectra of more than 100 million known small organic molecules. The tool tackles a long-standing bottleneck in biomedical science—more than 80% of small molecules detected in a typical biological sample cannot be matched to a known structure—a gap that has stalled discoveries linking the gut microbiome, immunity, and metabolism.
The work is a collaboration between Frank Schroeder, Professor at BTI and in Cornell’s Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, and Carla Gomes, Professor of Computing and Information Science and director of Cornell’s AI for Science Institute.
A different approach to an old problem
Mass spectrometry is the workhorse for small molecule identification used in a wide range of applications from toxicology to food analysis. When a compound is analyzed, the instrument fragments it and records the masses of the resulting pieces. That pattern of fragments, the tandem mass spectrum (or MS2 spectrum), functions as a molecular fingerprint. To identify an unknown compound, researchers compare its spectrum against a reference library of spectra from known compounds or develop hypotheses as to what the structure of a compound may be based on manual analysis of the fragmentation pattern.
The problem is that experimental reference libraries remain sparse, while expert, one-by-one interpretation is labor-intensive and slow. Collectively, available libraries cover fewer than 1% of known compounds, and resolving the structure of a single unknown can take days to months of iterative analysis and experimental validation. As a result, spectra without close library matches usually remain unannotated.
AIMe takes a different approach. Rather than waiting for experimental spectra to accumulate in libraries, it predicts spectra computationally—then organizes those predictions into a searchable resource called MS2KOSMOS. AIMe generated more than 800 million predicted spectra covering essentially all known small organic molecules in PubChem, the largest publicly available chemical database. That represents roughly a thousandfold expansion of searchable chemical space relative to existing experimental libraries.
“At the core of AIMe is DeepMS2Reasoner, a model that simulates how molecules fragment inside a mass spectrometer,” explained Gomes. “It builds fragmentation pathways step by step, using symbolic chemical rules to enumerate physically plausible fragmentation steps and a neural network to assign likelihoods to each step. The result is a predicted spectrum and an annotated map of how a molecule came apart—a feature that makes AIMe’s outputs interpretable in chemical terms, not just computationally useful.”
From mouse gut to human biology
To demonstrate what AIMe can do in practice, the researchers applied it to a comparative metabolomics dataset from mice. The experiment compared germ-free mice, animals raised without any gut microbiota, against mice with a normal complement of gut bacteria. Several thousand chemical features differed between the two groups, and most of the abundant ones could not be identified using standard methods.
The team used AIMe to query MS2KOSMOS with spectra from the 111 most abundant unidentified microbiota-dependent compounds. For roughly a third, AIMe retrieved close predicted spectral matches and related structural candidates, providing chemically interpretable leads for follow-up. For the rest, AIMe mapped the unknown spectra to molecular neighborhoods—sets of structurally related compounds whose shared fragmentation patterns could inform hypotheses about what the unknowns might be.
“Two compounds in particular became a case study in what AI-guided structure elucidation can accomplish,” said Schroeder. “Both produced spectra that suggested they were polyamine derivatives, a well-studied class of molecules, but the fragment patterns didn’t match anything previously described. Using AIMe’s output as a guide, our team assembled candidate structures combinatorially, predicted spectra for each candidate, and used the comparison to narrow the field.”
For the first compound, the best candidate was a linear putrescine derivative, which was then easily verified by synthesizing an authentic standard. For the second, the predicted spectra of potential candidates consistently failed to explain two prominent peaks—until the team expanded the search to include cyclized variants.
Synthesis confirmed what the predictions suggested. The second compound turned out to be a structurally unusual macrocyclic polyamine—a ring-shaped variant unlike any previously reported from mouse or human biology. Searches of a large public mass spectrometry database subsequently found the same compound in samples of human origin, detected in 57 of 99 human fecal samples examined.
Polyamines occupy an important position in biology. They sit at the intersection of diet, the gut microbiome, and immune function—and these findings suggest that the catalog of microbiota-dependent polyamines is far less complete than scientists assumed.
Annotation at scale
The researchers also tested AIMe at repository scale, applying it to more than 7 million spectral clusters from the Global Natural Products Social Molecular Networking database, one of the largest publicly available repositories of mass spectrometry data. Prior annotation efforts had annotated roughly 416,000 of those clusters. AIMe returned putative annotations for approximately 2.69 million, using the same similarity threshold applied in that earlier effort.
AIMe is accessible at https://www.cs.cornell.edu/gomes/udiscoverit/kosmos/ and the source code will be made publicly available upon publication of the study. The preprint is available on bioRxiv (DOI: 10.64898/2026.08.05.743095).
About the Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI)
As an independent nonprofit research institute affiliated with Cornell University, our scientists are committed to advancing solutions for global food security, agricultural sustainability, and human health. Through groundbreaking research, transformative education, and rapid translation of discoveries into real-world applications, BTI bridges fundamental plant and molecular science with practical impact. Discovery inspired by plants since 1924. Learn more at BTIscience.org.
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CZUR StarryHub Announces New Website to Showcase Its Meeting Hub Solutions
New York USACZUR, a technology company specializing in smart office solutions, has announced the launch of its dedicated StarryHub website, providing a central resource for businesses exploring its meeting-room collaboration technology. The website introduces the StarryHub Core Series, a range of meeting hubs designed to simplify video conferencing, wireless content sharing, and hybrid collaboration. Visitors can explore […]
New York USA
CZUR, a technology company specializing in smart office solutions, has announced the launch of its dedicated StarryHub website, providing a central resource for businesses exploring its meeting-room collaboration technology.
The website introduces the StarryHub Core Series, a range of meeting hubs designed to simplify video conferencing, wireless content sharing, and hybrid collaboration. Visitors can explore product capabilities, compare available models, review technical specifications, and access official information to evaluate solutions for meeting spaces of different sizes.
Addressing Common Meeting-Room Challenges
As organizations continue to support in-person and remote collaboration, meeting-room technology often involves multiple devices, complicated connections, and varying audio and video requirements.
Traditional setups may require separate cameras, microphones, speakers, computers, and display equipment, creating additional installation and management considerations for IT teams.
The StarryHub Core Series addresses these challenges by combining essential conferencing components into a single meeting hub. Designed to connect with an existing HDMI-compatible television, monitor, or projector, the system allows businesses to upgrade their meeting rooms without necessarily replacing their current display equipment.
Introducing the StarryHub Core Series
The StarryHub Core Series integrates video conferencing cameras, microphones, speakers, wireless screen sharing, and meeting software into compact meeting-room devices.
Powered by the built-in StarryOS 6.0 operating system, the hubs support conferencing applications including Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet. Users can launch and manage supported meetings directly through the device or connect their computers when needed.
The series offers two primary operating modes:
Host Mode: Enables users to conduct meetings through the hub’s built-in operating system without requiring a dedicated computer. This approach can simplify routine conferencing and reduce dependence on separate room PCs.
Bring Your Own Meeting (BYOM) Mode: Allows participants to connect a compatible laptop and use the hub’s conferencing peripherals with their preferred meeting software. This provides flexibility for organizations using different collaboration platforms.
Both modes require an external HDMI-compatible display to present meeting content to participants.
The Core Series includes three models designed for different meeting environments:
StarryHub Core20 : For Small Meeting Rooms
Designed for huddle spaces and smaller teams, Core20 combines a 4K wide-angle camera, 360-degree audio pickup, wireless screen sharing, and built-in conferencing capabilities. It provides a compact option for businesses seeking to introduce hybrid meeting functionality into smaller spaces.
StarryHub Core30: For Medium-Sized Conference Rooms
Core30 adds a dual-camera system featuring wide-angle and telephoto views, alongside AI-assisted speaker tracking and extended audio pickup. Its wireless casting and dual-display capabilities support presentations and collaboration in standard conference rooms.
StarryHub Core50: For Larger Meeting Rooms and Boardrooms
Core50 is designed for larger meeting environments requiring more advanced collaboration controls. It features dual 4K cameras, extended audio coverage, and an integrated touchscreen for meeting management, whiteboarding, and annotation. The touchscreen functions as a control and collaboration interface, while external HDMI displays present meeting content.
Across the series, features such as AI-assisted framing, noise reduction, and wireless content sharing aim to improve meeting accessibility and reduce setup complexity.starryhub.czur.com
CZUR’s approach to meeting-room technology emphasizes simplicity, flexibility, and the ability to work with existing office infrastructure.
Kang Zhou, Founder and CEO of CZUR, has previously emphasized the company’s vision of using artificial intelligence and integrated hardware and software to simplify workplace technology.
This philosophy is reflected in the StarryHub Core Series, which aims to make advanced conferencing capabilities more accessible while minimizing unnecessary equipment and complex installation requirements.
By offering different models and operating modes, CZUR seeks to accommodate the evolving collaboration needs of businesses and organizations.
Explore the New StarryHub Website
Businesses, IT professionals, and technology buyers can visitstarryhub.czur.com to explore the Core Series, compare models, review specifications, and contact the StarryHub team for additional information.
About CZUR
CZUR is a technology company focused on developing smart office and digital productivity solutions. Known for its book scanners, document scanners, and imaging technologies, the company has expanded its portfolio into intelligent meeting-room collaboration.
StarryHub is CZUR’s meeting-room collaboration product line, combining conferencing hardware, software, and AI-assisted capabilities to support modern workplace communication.
For more information, visitwww.czur.com.
Media Contact
CZUR StarryHub
Site: https://starryhub.czur.com/
Email：[email protected]
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CZURTechnology
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/czurtech/
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Hire Virtue Introduces Adult Literacy and Employment Readiness Initiative
The Woodlands, TXThe Light & Literacy Bridge by Leslea Scott would help Texas adults strengthen reading skills and prepare for meaningful work.
The Light & Literacy Bridge by Leslea Scott would help Texas adults strengthen reading skills and prepare for meaningful work.
The Woodlands, TX
Hire Virtue LLC is introducing the concept for The Light & Literacy Bridge by Leslea Scott, a proposed adult literacy and employment readiness initiative that the firm intends to sponsor. The initiative would support Texas adults seeking greater confidence in reading, writing, everyday communication, and the practical skills involved in finding and navigating employment.
Engineered by Leslea Scott, President & Chief Talent Officer of Hire Virtue LLC, the concept connects adult literacy instruction with useful workplace and job search activities. The proposed program would help participants understand job postings, complete applications, organize their work history, prepare for interviews, use basic digital tools, and interpret workplace information.
The initial program design calls for a small, 12-week pilot combining instruction from a qualified adult literacy educator with guided practice and career preparation. Individual learning goals would recognize each participant’s existing strengths, experience, and priorities. Hire Virtue’s proposed contribution includes career guidance, recruiting expertise, and community and employer relationship development.
The Light & Literacy Bridge is grounded in the belief that adults deserve learning opportunities that preserve their dignity and recognize their potential. Its faith-rooted purpose would be expressed through compassionate service and respect, with participation open regardless of religious affiliation. The program’s guiding message is “Elevating confident readers, one human, and one word at a time.”
The initiative remains in the planning stage. Its operating structure, initial service location, funding commitments, instructional team, enrollment process, and launch date have not been finalized. The announcement introduces the idea and invites conversations with adult literacy educators, community organizations, potential host sites, and employers interested in contributing to its development.
Organizations and individuals interested in discussing the proposed initiative may contact our Press Manager at [email protected].
About Hire Virtue LLC
Hire Virtue LLC is a global RPO and talent solutions firm led by Leslea Scott, President & Chief Talent Officer. The firm supports employers and candidates through a human-focused approach to talent acquisition, transparent communication, and respectful candidate engagement.
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PepperBall® Puts Use-of-Force Results and Patrol Readiness at the Center of IACP 2026
Lake Forest, ILVisit PepperBall at IACP 2026 Booth 1775
Visit PepperBall at IACP 2026 Booth 1775
Lake Forest, IL
A PepperBall analysis of a major metropolitan police department in the western United States found that reported use-of-force incidents declined, including a reduction in deadly-force incidents, following adoption of the PepperBall non-lethal system. PepperBall will highlight these findings at IACP 2026 in Orlando, Florida, October 24–27, alongside the TAC-PATROL™ and VKS PHANTOM™ launchers introduced earlier this year at SHOT Show. Attendees can meet the PepperBall team at Booth #1775.
What the Data Means for Patrol
For chiefs evaluating ways to reduce uses of force, those numbers deserve attention. They show why giving patrol officers access to non-lethal tools belongs in the conversation about response options, training and accountability.
Patrol officers are often first to arrive at calls involving armed individuals, barricaded subjects or escalating behavior. Giving those officers a means of responding from a distance can create more time to assess conditions, communicate and make decisions about the level of force needed. PepperBall continues to work with agencies to bring these capabilities into everyday patrol, backed by training and practical equipment choices.
The complete use-of-force analysis will be available at the PepperBall booth.
Two Launchers Built Around Patrol Needs
PepperBall will also feature two launchers brought to market at SHOT Show 2026. The TAC-PATROL and VKS PHANTOM offer different configurations for agencies considering how non-lethal tools fit into their patrol response.
PepperBall TAC-PATROL™
Designed specifically for daily patrol, the TAC-PATROL combines a compact, lightweight design with features that make it easier to carry, access and operate from a patrol vehicle. Its push-button folding stock allows officers to maneuver in tighter spaces, while a 60-round hopper and lightweight 4500 PSI carbon fiber air tank support extended use. The semi-automatic .68-caliber launcher was developed with the realities of patrol work in mind, providing a readily accessible non-lethal option for officers responding to changing conditions.
PepperBall VKS PHANTOM™
The VKS PHANTOM offers a compact, magazine-fed alternative for situations where mobility and maneuverability are priorities. Featuring a six-inch barrel, compatibility with both standard PepperBall round projectiles and VXR™ projectiles, and a maximum range of 150 feet, the VKS PHANTOM gives officers and tactical teams another option for operations in confined spaces. Its lightweight construction and flexible air-source configurations support a variety of operational requirements.
Both launchers expand the choices available to agencies looking for equipment that fits the way patrol officers work.
Supporting the Officers Who Respond First
“The numbers matter because chiefs need to know whether the tools they put in officers’ hands are making a difference,” said Michael Lee, Vice President of State and Local Sales at PepperBall. “We see an opportunity to keep building on these results by making non-lethal options more accessible to patrol. When an officer can address a threat from a distance, there may be more time to communicate, reassess and avoid a more serious outcome. The TAC-PATROL and VKS PHANTOM reflect the practical side of that commitment. They give departments more ways to equip the officers who respond first.”
Attendees can visit PepperBall at Booth #1775 during the IACP Exposition, October 25–27, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.
For more information, visit pepperball.com or contact Naomi Schware at [email protected] for media inquiries.
About PepperBall®
PepperBall is dedicated to creating the highest quality non-lethal law enforcement solutions that de-escalate confrontations, safely change behavior and ultimately save lives. For over two decades, PepperBall has been the trusted non-lethal partner for law enforcement, correctional and military professionals worldwide, and over 20 million PepperBall projectiles have been safely deployed. Based in the US heartland, PepperBall stands behind each product with an industry-leading commitment to training and service. To learn more about PepperBall, visit pepperball.com.
CZUR StarryHub Announces New Website to Showcase Its Meeting Hub Solutions
Hire Virtue Introduces Adult Literacy and Employment Readiness Initiative
PepperBall® Puts Use-of-Force Results and Patrol Readiness at the Center of IACP 2026
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