Local News
Little Rock resident and Pulaski Academy alumnus receives Chemistry Nobel Prize

Little Rock, Arkansas – One of three scientists sharing the 2024 Chemistry Nobel Prize was born in Little Rock.
Born in Little Rock John Jumper, a computational biologist, is a director of Google DeepMind, an artificial intelligence project, and currently resides in London. His work with proteins and artificial intelligence earned him the Nobel Prize.
The Nobel Committee said that Jumper collaborated with Demis Hassabis in 2020 to create the AlphaFold2 artificial intelligence model. Together, AlphaFold and the other researchers were able to predict the 3D structures of around 200 million proteins.
According to officials, protein structure prediction was a difficult and time-consuming procedure prior to AlphaFold.
According to Nobel officials, AlphaFold2 has been utilized by over 2 million people in 190 countries since 2020, and it has improved their understanding of proteins and their potential.
Jumper, a Pulaski Academy alumnus born in 1985, is the youngest chemistry laureate in almost 70 years, according to Nobel officials.
David Baker was the third recipient announced by the Noble Committee. Baker is developing novel protein types with a wide range of uses by utilizing the building blocks of amino acids.
The committee declared that the three have brought science to the greatest advantage of humanity by deciphering the code pertaining to protein structures, which are essential to life as we know it.
When Jumper got his prize notice, the committee quoted him saying he loved what he had done.
Jumper stated, “We need this to work. I’ve been a computational biologist for a long time. I like to say that in talks.” You know, computation is required to solve biological problems. And I really like that it’s beginning to work. It’s amazing that we’re receiving acclaim for it so quickly.
Officials from Pulaski Academy were thrilled to share the news that one of their alumni had won the esteemed prize.
In a blog post, administrators announced that John Jumper, a 2003 alumnus of Pulaski Academy, was won the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. “This esteemed award acknowledges John’s critical contribution to the creation of AlphaFold2, an artificial intelligence system that has resolved the long-standing problem of protein structure prediction.”
One of the most cited papers ever is the AlphaFold document from 2021, according to Google DeepMind.
-
Local News2 weeks ago
City officials in Little Rock hold a briefing to discuss recent crimes
-
Local News2 weeks ago
This is how Arkansas is being affected by the egg shortage
-
Local News2 weeks ago
Operations in Pulaski County are still being halted by computer issues
-
Local News2 weeks ago
The woman who was killed in the Park Plaza shooting is honored by her family and friends with a balloon release
-
Local News2 weeks ago
A pro-immigration demonstration draws dozens of people
-
Local News2 weeks ago
Arkansans gain $5.1 million thanks to the Arkansas Lotto
-
Local News1 week ago
A man from Arkansas wins a record-breaking $5.123 million lottery prize
-
Local News1 week ago
The new “Baby Olivia Act” elicits divisive responses from both sides