Researchers announced a new record for rapid whole‑genome sequencing, completing a human genome in under four hours. The speed milestone aims to shorten diagnostic timelines for critically ill newborns and accelerate targeted, time‑sensitive care decisions in neonatal and pediatric settings. Teams credited advances in sample preparation, sequencing hardware and informatics pipelines for the breakthrough; the work points to a near‑term opportunity to integrate ultra‑rapid sequencing into hospital workflows for acutely ill patients. Scaling the approach will require validation, cost reductions, and integration with clinical reporting and decision support, but the record demonstrates technical feasibility for same‑day genomic diagnostics.