AI is moving fast — but is life science actually adopting it?

In this episode of Discovery Matters, we explore how artificial intelligence is being used across pharma and life sciences, and where progress is still cautious. Joined by Joe Luminiello, CEO of RCG Intel, we discuss the balance between speed and safety, innovation and regulation, and why human context still matters as much as algorithms.

Cutting through the hype, this conversation asks not just whether the industry should use AI — but how to do it thoughtfully.

In this episode of Discovery Matters, new research using the Swedish Twin Registry reveals that genetics may account for up to 50% of intrinsic lifespan, far more than previously thought. Associate Professor Sara Hegg (Karolinska Institutet) explains what heritability really means, why earlier models underestimated genetics, and what this does (and doesn’t) mean for lifestyle, biohacking, and aging interventions. The result: a more nuanced view of how biology, chance, and choice shape how long we live.

On this episode of Discovery Matters, Conor speaks with Samuel King, a Stanford PhD researcher working at the intersection of AI and biology. Samuel explains how biological language models can be trained on DNA to design entire viral genomes — including bacteriophages that can kill drug‑resistant bacteria.

The conversation explores how AI is accelerating biological discovery, why viruses can be powerful tools for good, and the ethical guardrails needed when working at the frontier of life sciences. It’s a fascinating look at how AI is becoming a partner in research — and what that means for the future of biology.