Accidental Discovery Leads to Breakthrough in Oil Dispersion on Water

Hello and welcome to our February 1st edition. The STEAM Digest is a curated newsletter that brings you the latest news in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics.

In today’s edition:

• Science - Accidental Discovery Leads to Breakthrough in Oil Dispersion on Water, and more.

• Materials - Harnessing Light to Recycle Black Plastic: A Breakthrough in Plastic Depolymerization, and more.

• Biotechnology & Biomedical Technology - Breakthrough in Bionic Limbs: Natural Control of Prosthetic Hands Using Neural Synergies.

• Engineering & Technology - Recycling Lithium-Ion Batteries Offers Environmental and Supply Chain Benefits, and more.

• Astronomy & Space - ASA’s Bennu Asteroid Samples Reveal Building Blocks of Life and Ancient Water.

• Health & Medicine - Discovery of Stem-Like T Cells Offers Hope for Strengthening Immune Responses in Chronic Disease, and more.

• Environment - Earth’s Atmosphere Strengthens Its Ability to Remove Air Pollutants.

• Nature - How Bats Resist Viruses: Insights for Human Medicine, Bridging the Gender Gap in Bird Research: The Importance of Observing Female Birds, and more.

• Other Sciences & The Arts - Breakthrough Study Confirms Organic Molecules in Dinosaur Fossils.

Until Tomorrow,

~The STEAM Digest

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SCIENCE

Accidental Discovery Leads to Breakthrough in Oil Dispersion on Water: Researchers at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) have developed a simple and reproducible technique to create uniform oil lenses on water, with applications in oil spill mitigation, food processing, and textile industries. The study originated from an unexpected result during an experiment, leading to a method where oil is fragmented into monodisperse droplets using a glass plate and water meniscus. High-speed imaging captured the droplet formation process, revealing new insights into how oily substances disperse on water. The technique could improve understanding of oil spill behavior, aid in developing water-repellent coatings, and enhance low-fat food production by precisely incorporating water and air into dairy products.

Breakthrough in Mushroom Chemistry: First Successful Synthesis of Inaoside A: Researchers from Shinshu University, Japan, have developed the first method to synthesize inaoside A, a natural compound from the edible mushroom Laetiporus cremeiporus. The study overcomes challenges in producing α-D-ribofuranosides using an α-selective Schmidt glycosylation reaction. The ability to synthesize inaoside A opens the door for further investigation into its bioactive properties and potential pharmaceutical applications. The research highlights the untapped potential of mushroom-derived compounds in drug development and functional foods, paving the way for future medicinal breakthroughs.

Ultrafast and Energy-Efficient Optical Edge Detection Breakthrough: Physicists at the UvA-Institute of Physics have developed an ultra-efficient method for edge detection in images using optical analog computing. This passive technique processes images at the speed of light without electrical power, significantly reducing energy consumption in computation. Using a simple stack of thin films, the method accurately detects edges of objects as small as 1 micrometer, surpassing current optical coatings in performance. The technique works with various light sources and has potential applications in autonomous vehicles, high-resolution microscopy, and biological imaging. Future developments aim to create switchable optical computing devices for dynamic processing capabilities.

MATERIALS

Harnessing Light to Recycle Black Plastic: A Breakthrough in Plastic Depolymerization: Researchers at Princeton University’s Stache Lab have discovered that black plastic, commonly used in items like coffee cup lids and trash bags, has an overlooked ability to aid in its own recycling. Their study reveals that the pigment carbon black enables photothermal conversion, allowing focused light to break down two of the least recycled plastics—polystyrene and PVC—into reusable monomers. Using only concentrated light, their method depolymerized post-consumer black polystyrene with up to 80% monomer yield in just five minutes, without catalysts or solvents. The same approach successfully upcycled PVC while mitigating harmful byproducts. The discovery offers a scalable, energy-efficient pathway for plastic recycling, potentially transforming black plastic waste into valuable raw materials.

Biochar Proven Effective in Removing and Neutralizing Toxic Chromium: Researchers from the University of Waterloo have discovered that oak-based biochar can effectively absorb and neutralize toxic chromium(VI), converting it into its safer form, chromium(III). The study found that after 120 hours of exposure, approximately 85% of the harmful heavy metal was transformed. Using advanced imaging techniques at the Canadian Light Source, scientists confirmed that biochar not only captures chromium but also facilitates its chemical reduction. Additionally, they observed chromium isotope fractionation, which could serve as a potential tool for monitoring groundwater remediation. This research highlights biochar as a promising, natural solution for mitigating industrial chromium pollution.

Breakthrough in High-Temperature Multiferroics: Terbium Oxide Operates at 160°C: Researchers at Tohoku University have discovered that terbium oxide (Tb₂(MoO₄)₃) remains a functional multiferroic even at 160°C, a significant improvement over the previous limit of 20°C. The study overcomes a major limitation of multiferroics, which typically lose their functionality above room temperature. The team achieved this by combining the piezoelectric and magnetoelastic effects to activate the magnetoelectric effect at high temperatures. This breakthrough paves the way for practical applications in spintronics, energy-efficient memory devices, and advanced optical technologies, marking a major step toward the widespread use of multiferroics in real-world applications.

BIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOMEDICAL TECHNOLOGY

Breakthrough in Bionic Limbs: Natural Control of Prosthetic Hands Using Neural Synergies: Researchers from the Italian Institute of Technology and Imperial College London have developed a prosthetic hand that feels more natural by decoding spinal motoneuron activity to control hand movements. The study demonstrates how neural and postural synergies can be mapped into a soft robotic hand, enabling seamless and intuitive control. By interpreting electric signals from muscles, researchers identified specific neural structures responsible for hand behaviors, allowing prosthetic users to perform dexterous, multidigit tasks. Tested with 11 able-bodied participants and three prosthesis users, the approach enhances prosthetic control, paving the way for more advanced human-machine integration and improving quality of life for amputees.

ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY

Recycling Lithium-Ion Batteries Offers Environmental and Supply Chain Benefits: A study from Stanford University highlights the environmental and economic advantages of recycling lithium-ion batteries over mining new metals. The research found that battery recycling produces less than half the greenhouse gas emissions of conventional mining and requires significantly less water and energy. With global supplies of critical minerals like lithium, nickel, and cobalt at risk of depletion, scaling up recycling could reduce dependence on mining and long-distance transport. Advanced processes, such as Redwood Materials’ reductive calcination, further improve efficiency by lowering energy use. Researchers emphasize the need for a well-designed recycling system to ensure a sustainable battery supply for the future.

Xanadu Unveils First Scalable Photonic Quantum Computer: Canadian company Xanadu Quantum Technologies has introduced what it claims to be the world’s first scalable, photonic quantum computer prototype. The research outlines a modular design where individual quantum server racks, each containing photon-based qubits, can be linked via fiber cables to form an extensive quantum network. Unlike traditional quantum systems, this photonic approach operates at room temperature, eliminating the need for extreme cooling. The prototype, consisting of four interconnected racks with 12 physical qubits, successfully demonstrated a complex entangled state with billions of modes. The results suggest that Xanadu’s system has the potential to perform large-scale computations with high fault tolerance, marking a significant step toward practical quantum computing.

ASTRONOMY & SPACE

ASA’s Bennu Asteroid Samples Reveal Building Blocks of Life and Ancient Water: NASA’s Osiris-Rex mission has returned the most pristine asteroid samples ever collected, providing compelling evidence that asteroids may have seeded Earth with the ingredients for life. The 122 grams of dust and pebbles from asteroid Bennu, analyzed in two studies(1,2) contain amino acids, nitrogen-rich compounds, and sodium-rich minerals—suggesting the presence of ancient saltwater brines. Scientists believe Bennu’s parent body once had underground lakes or oceans, reinforcing the theory that water and organic materials coexisted early in the solar system. Unlike meteorites, which lose delicate salts upon entering Earth's atmosphere, these samples were preserved, allowing for a more accurate analysis of extraterrestrial organic material. The findings underscore the importance of future asteroid and comet sample return missions in the search for life beyond Earth.

HEALTH & MEDICINE

Discovery of Stem-Like T Cells Offers Hope for Strengthening Immune Responses in Chronic Disease: Researchers from the Doherty Institute and Peter MacCallum Cancer Center have identified a rare type of immune cell, called ID3+ stem-like T cells, that can sustain long-term immune responses and resist exhaustion. The study highlights how the protein ID3 enables these T cells to self-renew, offering a potential breakthrough for cancer and chronic infection treatments. By understanding how certain inflammatory signals promote ID3+ T cell formation, scientists hope to enhance immunotherapies, including CAR T cell therapy, which often fails due to T cell exhaustion. The findings could also pave the way for more effective cancer treatments and vaccines that provide longer-lasting protection.

Unlocking the Secrets of a Gut-Friendly Microbe: Akkermansia muciniphila’s Unique Diet: A new study published in Nature Microbiology provides the first comprehensive analysis of how the beneficial gut microbe Akkermansia muciniphila (AM) breaks down mucus sugars in the human gastrointestinal tract. Researchers from the University of Birmingham, led by Dr. Lucy Crouch, identified 66 enzymes that allow AM to completely digest mucin, an essential component of the gut lining. Using mucus from a pig model, the study offers insights into the molecular mechanisms behind AM’s role in gut health. The findings suggest that AM’s ability to modify glycans could influence disease severity, and its presence is linked to overall health, metabolism, and immune response regulation. Reduced AM levels have been associated with inflammatory diseases and diabetes, highlighting the microbe’s importance in gut microbiome balance.

Death Rates Among Early Adults Remain Elevated Post-Pandemic, Driven by Multiple Causes: A study reveals that death rates among adults aged 25–44 surged during the COVID-19 pandemic and remain significantly higher than expected in 2023. The findings indicate that mortality rates for this group were already rising since 2010, with pandemic-related increases exacerbating the trend. Drug-related deaths are the leading cause of excess mortality, but researchers also identified increases in deaths from circulatory and metabolic diseases, car accidents, and other external factors. The study underscores the need for comprehensive public health policies to address systemic issues such as substance abuse, nutrition, and healthcare access. Researchers plan to further investigate the long-term impact of the pandemic on mortality trends.

ENVIRONMENT

Earth’s Atmosphere Strengthens Its Ability to Remove Air Pollutants: A study reveals that the Earth's atmosphere has increased its capacity to remove pollutants, including methane, through the action of hydroxyl radicals (OH), known as the "detergent of the atmosphere." Researchers from New Zealand’s NIWA and collaborating institutions analyzed air samples from New Zealand and Antarctica dating back to the 1980s, finding a long-term rise in OH levels since 1997. Hydroxyl radicals are short-lived but play a critical role in breaking down methane and other harmful gases. The study attributes the increase in OH to nitrogen oxides, ozone depletion, and rising water vapor due to global warming, though methane emissions act as a counterbalance. These findings suggest that without this enhanced atmospheric cleansing, methane would have contributed even more to global warming. The research underscores the complex interplay between human activities and the Earth's self-regulating chemical processes.

NATURE

How Bats Resist Viruses: Insights for Human Medicine: New research from the University of St Andrews reveals that bats possess unique immune system adaptations that allow them to tolerate viruses, including coronaviruses, without falling ill. The study found that bats have more genetic modifications in immune-related genes than other mammals, particularly the ISG15 gene, which can reduce SARS-CoV-2 production by up to 90% in some species. As part of the international Bat1K project, researchers sequenced high-quality genomes of 10 bat species, identifying signs of positive selection in their immune genes. The study suggests that the evolution of bat immunity is closely linked to their ability to fly. These findings offer valuable insights for medical research, potentially leading to new strategies for combating viral infections in humans.

Bridging the Gender Gap in Bird Research: The Importance of Observing Female Birds: A new study highlights how overlooking female birds in research has led to gaps in ecological understanding and flawed conservation strategies. Traditionally, ornithological studies have focused on male birds due to their more vibrant plumage, neglecting key differences in female behavior, survival rates, and habitat use. The research challenges outdated assumptions, revealing that females play equal roles in parenting, sing more than previously believed, and have distinct migration and habitat patterns that are critical for conservation efforts. The study underscores that failing to recognize these differences can hinder species preservation, especially as climate change alters migration timing and habitat availability. Researchers call for better training in female bird identification, more balanced data collection methods, and the inclusion of sex-specific data in ornithological platforms like eBird. The findings stem from the Galbatross Project, a group of scientists and birders advocating for greater recognition of female birds through initiatives like Female Bird Day.

Chameleon Shrimps Adapt to Camouflage in Both Native and Invasive Algae: A study reveals that small shrimps of the genus Hippolyte, known for their ability to change color for camouflage, can also adapt to invasive algae they haven’t evolved with. Researchers from the Federal University of ABC (Brazil) and the University of Exeter (UK) tested the European species Hippolyte varians and found that rather than preferring native algae, the shrimp select the best color match or most complex structure for protection. Experiments showed that when color matching isn’t possible, shrimp favor structurally complex invasive algae like Asian Sargassum, which provides better shelter. The study also found that color change from red to green occurs faster than the reverse due to pigment differences. Researchers are now exploring whether chemical signals influence shrimp-algae interactions and how environmental factors like pollution might impact this ability.

OTHER SCIENCES & THE ARTS

Breakthrough Study Confirms Organic Molecules in Dinosaur Fossils: A Analytical Chemistry study led by the University of Liverpool provides strong evidence that Mesozoic fossils can preserve original organic materials, challenging long-held beliefs about fossilization. Using advanced mass spectrometry and protein sequencing, researchers detected collagen remnants in a well-preserved Edmontosaurus hip bone from the Hell Creek Formation, resolving a decades-long debate. Collaboration with UCLA confirmed the presence of hydroxyproline, a key amino acid found in collagen, proving that these organic molecules are not merely contamination. The findings open new avenues for studying dinosaur biochemistry, potentially revealing unknown evolutionary links and insights into protein preservation in ancient fossils.