URSA: The Universal Research and Scientific Agent

TL;DR

URSA is a modular scientific agent ecosystem leveraging large language models to accelerate research tasks through integration with tools and physics simulations.

Contribution

This paper introduces URSA, a novel modular framework for scientific research that combines LLMs with specialized tools and simulations.

Findings

URSA demonstrates flexible integration of LLMs with scientific tools.

The system can address complex scientific problems.

Examples showcase URSA's potential in research acceleration.

Abstract

Large language models (LLMs) have moved far beyond their initial form as simple chatbots, now carrying out complex reasoning, planning, writing, coding, and research tasks. These skills overlap significantly with those that human scientists use day-to-day to solve complex problems that drive the cutting edge of research. Using LLMs in \quotes{agentic} AI has the potential to revolutionize modern science and remove bottlenecks to progress. In this work, we present URSA, a scientific agent ecosystem for accelerating research tasks. URSA consists of a set of modular agents and tools, including coupling to advanced physics simulation codes, that can be combined to address scientific problems of varied complexity and impact. This work highlights the architecture of URSA, as well as examples that highlight the potential of the system.