# research blog (blogs) — RSS Amplifier Recent posts from the 2 feeds in the RSS Amplifier directory that cover research blog. Page: Feed: --- ## [Broadening access to Skala creates a faster path to predictive DFT](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/blog/broadening-access-to-skala-creates-a-faster-path-to-predictive-dft/) _2026-08-20 · Sebastian Ehlert, Stefano Battaglia, Thijs Vogels, Jan Hermann, Jens Wehner, Giulia Luise, Klaas Giesbertz, Chin-Wei Huang, Aaron Kaplan, Kate Milton, Stephanie Marisa Lanius, Derk Kooi, P. Bernát Szabó, Gregor Simm, Rianne van den Berg, Paola Gori Giorgi · Microsoft Research_ Skala 1.1, the updated deep-learning exchange-correlation functional from Microsoft Research, provides greater accuracy, expanded accessibility across the computational chemistry ecosystem, and a living benchmark to track computational performance. The post Broadening access to Skala creates a faster path to predictive DFT appeared first on Microsoft Research . ## [MindTopo reveals VLMs’ spatial reasoning abilities](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/blog/mindtopo-reveals-vlms-spatial-reasoning-abilities/) _2026-08-12 · Yunfei Ge, Anbang Liu, Qineng Wang, Johnalbert Garnica, Zihan Wang, Reuben Tan, Jianfeng Gao, Ruohan Zhang, Yining Hong, Jiajun Wu, Manling Li · Microsoft Research_ A path, a fence, a knot. MindTopo sets a new benchmark for testing how AI understands topological relationships and highlights new opportunities to strengthen spatial reasoning and planning. The post MindTopo reveals VLMs’ spatial reasoning abilities appeared first on Microsoft Research . ## [Introducing CARE-X: Towards Clinically Useful Radiology VLMs with Auxiliary Supervision, Reward-Aligned Learning, and Tool-Augmented Measurement](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/blog/introducing-care-x-towards-clinically-useful-radiology-vlms-with-auxiliary-supervision-reward-aligned-learning-and-tool-augmented-measurement/) _2026-08-11 · Mercy Ranjit, Nikhilesh E, Dr. Abhyuday Kumara Swamy, Tanuja Ganu · Microsoft Research_ Radiology AI is evolving beyond report generation. CARE-X explores a unified approach that combines flexible reasoning, calibrated predictions, and measurement-based tools for chest X-ray interpretation. The post Introducing CARE-X: Towards Clinically Useful Radiology VLMs with Auxiliary Supervision, Reward-Aligned Learning, and Tool-Augmented Measurement appeared first on Microsoft Research . ## [Orchard: An open framework for scalable agentic AI](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/blog/orchard-an-open-framework-for-scalable-agentic-ai/) _2026-08-03 · Baolin Peng, Wenlin Yao, Qianhui Wu, Hao Cheng, Jianfeng Gao · Microsoft Research_ Orchard is an open-source framework for the research community to train and evaluate AI agents across task types. It reduces complexity while supporting strong performance from smaller models by enabling researchers to reuse the same infrastructure. The post Orchard: An open framework for scalable agentic AI appeared first on Microsoft Research . ## [Echoverse: Deep, evolving environments for computer-use agents](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/blog/echoverse-deep-evolving-environments-for-computer-use-agents/) _2026-07-30 · Akshay Nambi, Yash Pandya, Sahil Gupta, Sarthak Harne, Kavyansh Chourasia, Yash Lara, Ahmed Awadallah, Ece Kamar · Microsoft Research_ Computer-use AI agents struggle with multi-step workflows like email and customer support. Echoverse trains agents in realistic environments rather than simply providing more training tasks, helping them improve as the tasks, tests, and environments evolve. The post Echoverse: Deep, evolving environments for computer-use agents appeared first on Microsoft Research . [Listen](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Hero-video.mp4) ## [EvoLib: Turning experience into evolving knowledge](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/blog/evolib-turning-experience-into-evolving-knowledge/) _2026-07-30 · Weijia Xu, Alessandro Sordoni, Zelalem Gero, Michel Galley, Eric Yuan, Jianfeng Gao · Microsoft Research_ LLMs do not get smarter just by remembering more. EvoLib turns experience into evolving knowledge, taking reusable skills and insights that help models learn and adapt across tasks long after deployment. The post EvoLib: Turning experience into evolving knowledge appeared first on Microsoft Research . ## [Verifying Rust cryptography in SymCrypt, from standards to code](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/blog/verifying-rust-cryptography-in-symcrypt-from-standards-to-code/) _2026-07-13 · Son Ho, Cédric Fournet, Antoine Delignat-Lavaud, Samuel Lee, Jason Fisher, Jessica Krynitsky · Microsoft Research_ Cryptographic code supports vital protections in modern computing systems. Learn how a new method helps verify code as developers write it while preserving speed and adaptability as it gets implemented and evolves. The post Verifying Rust cryptography in SymCrypt, from standards to code appeared first on Microsoft Research . ## [Aurora 1.5: Extending open foundation models for weather and Earth-system applications](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/blog/aurora-1-5-extending-open-foundation-models-for-weather-and-earth-system-applications/) _2026-07-09 · Kenji Takeda, Haiyu Dong, Jonathan Weyn, Amit Misra, Matt Corey, Kevin White, Shannon Monroe, Juan M. Lavista Ferres, Ashley Llorens, Bonnie Kruft · Microsoft Research_ Aurora 1.5 adds 22 more variables, hourly temporal resolution, and probabilistic ensemble forecasting to the Aurora foundation model, making it more useful for real-world weather, climate, and energy applications. The post Aurora 1.5: Extending open foundation models for weather and Earth-system applications appeared first on Microsoft Research . ## [Flint: A visualization language for the AI era](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/blog/flint-a-visualization-language-for-the-ai-era/) _2026-07-08 · Chenglong Wang, Alper Sarikaya, Scott Tsukamaki, Michel Galley, Jianfeng Gao · Microsoft Research_ Short chart specifications are easy to write, but often produce uninspiring results. Flint is an open-source visualization language that offers a middle path, letting AI agents create expressive charts from compact, human-editable specifications. The post Flint: A visualization language for the AI era appeared first on Microsoft Research . ## [SkillOpt: Agent skills as trainable parameters](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/blog/skillopt-agent-skills-as-trainable-parameters/) _2026-06-30 · Yifan Yang, Xuemei Gao, Qi Dai, Bei Liu, Kai Qiu, Dongdong Chen, Chong Luo · Microsoft Research_ AI agents often fail because their instructions, or skills, are manually modified with no guarantee of improvement. Learn how SkillOpt turns skill editing into a training process, making agent behavior more reliable without changing model weights. The post SkillOpt: Agent skills as trainable parameters appeared first on Microsoft Research . [Listen](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/skillopt_teaser-1.mp4) ## [From any door to your door (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/OqpldkU25ohS) _2026-06-30 · **Sponsored**_ Book rides, errands, deliveries, groceries and home help in one app ## [BigAnt RCE CVE-2025-0364](https://hosakacorp.net/p/bigant-cve-2025-0364.html) _2025-06-05 · poptart · HosakaCorp.net_ BigAnt Server RCE Walkthrough.