As artificial intelligence seeps into some realms of society, it rushes into others. One area it's making a big difference is protein science — as in the "building blocks of life," proteins! Producer Berly McCoy talks to host Emily Kwong about the newest advance in protein science: AlphaFold3, an AI program from Google DeepMind. Plus, they talk about the wider field of AI protein science and why researchers hope it will solve a range of problems, from disease to the climate.

Have other aspects of AI you want us to cover? Email us at shortwave@npr.org.

What do you eat to support muscle strength? NPR is reporting on diet and strength-building and we'd love to hear your suggestions for protein-rich snacks and meals.

We start to lose muscle in our 30s, and the loss accelerates with age, putting us at risk of frailty later in life. But what you eat — specifically how much protein — is a big part of the solution.