Researchers at the Salk Institute developed ShortStop, an artificial intelligence framework designed to identify microproteins encoded in genomic regions previously considered noncoding 'dark matter'. By analyzing extensive genetic datasets, the tool predicts biologically relevant microproteins, uncovering 210 new candidates in lung cancer data alone. This breakthrough paves the way for new therapeutic targets by shedding light on elusive but impactful small proteins essential to understanding health and disease mechanisms.