Springer Nature’s Digital Life Science Solutions Team is proud to announce ‘Methods Muse’, a new platform that supports experimental work by streamlining protocol design, implementation, validation, and optimization. Integrated with protocols.io, Methods Muse offers prompt-based protocol generation and troubleshooting to save valuable time, effort, and material costs. 

Methods Muse – Functionality Overview 

In the intitial release, the beta version of Methods Muse offers four major functions: 

Answer engine: Get fast and accurate responses to scientific questions (e.g, cell incubation temperatures, PCR primers data, literature review and summary, etc.). Relevant citations to original sources are always included. 

Protocol Generation and Optimization: Using prompts, easily create new protocols ready for use in the lab. Protocols can be also easily modified and visualized. 

Experimental Troubleshooting: Quickly diagnose unwanted or unexpected results experimental results to quickly solve problems and make faster progress. 

Analyze Data: Use Methods Muse to better understand and contextualize experimental outcomes. 

The Technology Powering Methods Muse 

• Trusted, High-Quality Content: Methods Muse is built on a curated selection of over 100,000 articles and book chapters from across Springer Nature’s leading protocols and methods portfolio. Covering all major life science areas, Methods Muse draws on content from titles such as: 

-Nature Protocols 

-Nature Methods 

-Springer Protocols, including. Methods in Molecular Biology 

-Nature Reviews Methods Primers 

-BMC Bioinformatics 

-Stem Cell Research & Therapy 

• Artificial Intelligence: Methods Muse uses OpenAI's GPT-4o mini large language model (LLM) and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG). Combined with Springer Nature’s proprietary knowledge models and knowledge graphs, Methods Muse delivers scientifically sound, contextually relevant guidance almost zero hallucinations. Direct links to relevant source citations are always included.  

• Ethical AI Management and Compliance: All data stored on Methods Muse is encrypted, strictly confidential, and never shared outside of Springer Nature to train AI models. We continuously monitor and refine the Methods Muse system to ensure alignment and compliance with relevant technology regulations and data protection (e.g., European Artificial Intelligence Act and GDPR).  

protocols.io Integration 

Methods Muse is integrated with protocols.io, the cutting-edge researcher tool and open access platform for seamless development, sharing, optimization, and publishing of research method protocols alongside manuscripts. Methods Muse users can easily export generated protocols to protocols.io for further use while protocols.io users can access Methods Muse directly (more on access below). 

Accessing Methods Muse 

Methods Muse is in open beta testing and is currently free to use. A quick signup and login are all that’s required. Methods Muse can be accessed several ways: 

Direct: https://methodsmuse.springernature.com/ 

via protocols.io: links to Methods Muse are available to registered protocols.io users 

Springer Nature Experiments: Links to Methods Muse are live on Springer Nature Experiments 

Huge thanks to our protocols.io colleagues in making the Methods Muse integration possible. We also thank all Methods Muse testers in advance for feedback and support. 

For any support, questions, or feedback, please contact the Digital Life Science Solutions Team directly at methodsmuse@springernature.com.