"Uncovering Neural Network-like Abilities in Physical Processes through Self-Assembling DNA Recognition"

A new study suggests that physical processes, specifically nucleation, can exhibit complex pattern recognition abilities similar to neural networks. The research, published in Nature, challenges the traditional view of cells' molecular circuits and proposes that the molecules responsible for building structures within cells can also perform the functions of sensing, decision-making, and response. The study demonstrates how the physics of nucleation can recognize subtle chemical combinations and build different molecular structures in response, indicating hidden computational abilities in physical processes. The findings may lead to new perspectives on computation and have implications for understanding multi-component systems in various fields.