Our coolest superpower: Seeing all the atoms
Wouldn't it be great if we could just see all the atoms of all the molecules, any time we wanted?
If we were able to sample something — anything — and just tell what it's made of? Where all its atoms were? Which ones were connected or ready to react?
In about the span of a century, scientists have learned more about molecules and their components than we ever thought possible. In some cases, we can already pick up a bit of dust or a tiny droplet and see where the atoms of its resident molecules are. Or we can calculate predicted structures that are so accurate they can be used to predict function.
In old comic books, this kind of X-ray vision was the stuff of superheroes. Someday, in the not-too-distant future, we might all have it.
Submit an abstract
Abstract submission begins Sept. 14. If you submit by Oct. 12, you'll get a decision by Nov. 1. The regular submission deadline is Nov. 30.
Join us for a glimpse into the challenges and opportunities of building that future, so we can all scrutinize, predict, build, target and react to all the molecules.
Keywords: Structure, cryo-electron microscopy, microcrystal electron diffraction, alpha fold, tomography, artificial intelligence.
Who should attend: Absolutely everyone should attend. Who doesn't want a superpower?
Theme song: “” by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers
This session is literally powered by electrons and photons.
New frontiers in structural biology
The rise of molecular assemblies
Chair: Rebecca Vorhees
Sarah Shahmoradian, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Lorena Saelices, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
New approaches enabling structural science
Chair: Jose Rodriguez
Roger Castells–Graells, University of California, Los Angeles
Hosea Nelson, California Institute of Technology
Hong Zhou, University of California, Los Angeles
Seeing the chemistry of life
Chair: Hosea Nelson
Lindsey R. F. Backman, Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research
Douglas Rees, California Institute of Technology
Enjoy reading ASBMB Today?
Become a member to receive the print edition four times a year and the digital edition monthly.
Learn moreGet the latest from ASBMB Today
Enter your email address, and we’ll send you a weekly email with recent articles, interviews and more.
Latest in Science
Science highlights or most popular articles
Mapping fentanyl’s cellular footprint
Using a new imaging method, researchers at State University of New York at Buffalo traced fentanyl’s effects inside brain immune cells, revealing how the drug alters lipid droplets, pointing to new paths for addiction diagnostics.
Designing life’s building blocks with AI
Tanja Kortemme, a professor at the University of California, San Francisco, will discuss her research using computational biology to engineer proteins at the 2026 ASBMB Annual Meeting.
Cholesterol as a novel biomarker for Fragile X syndrome
Researchers in Quebec identified lower levels of a brain cholesterol metabolite, 24-hydroxycholesterol, in patients with fragile X syndrome, a finding that could provide a simple blood-based biomarker for understanding and managing the condition.
How lipid metabolism shapes sperm development
Researchers at Hokkaido University identify the enzyme behind a key lipid in sperm development. The findings reveal how seminolipids shape sperm formation and may inform future diagnostics and treatments for male infertility.
Mass spec method captures proteins in native membranes
Yale scientists developed a mass spec protocol that keeps proteins in their native environment, detects intact protein complexes and tracks drug binding, offering a clearer view of membrane biology.
Laser-assisted cryoEM method preserves protein structure
University of Wisconsin–Madison researchers devised a method that prevents protein compaction during cryoEM prep, restoring natural structure for mass spec studies. The approach could expand high-resolution imaging to more complex protein systems.