Microfluidic Breakthrough Could Revolutionize Leukemia Treatment in Children

Hello and welcome to our March 19, 2025 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 - Curcumin Boosts Antibiotic Power Against Drug-Resistant Lung Infections, Study Finds, and more.

• Materials - Platinum Electrode Stability Tied to Electrolyte Cation Size, New Study Finds.

• Biotechnology & Biomedical Technology - Microfluidic Breakthrough Could Revolutionize Leukemia Treatment in Children, and more.

• Engineering & Technology - Inspired by Squirrels: UC Berkeley Engineers Design Agile One-Legged Robot for Precision Landings, and more.

• Astronomy & Space - New Study Shows Dyson Spheres and Ringworlds Could Be Stable Around Binary Stars, and more

• Health & Medicine - Statin Use Linked to Reduced Liver Cancer and Complications in Chronic Liver Disease Patients, and more.

• Neuroscience - Why Night Owls Face Higher Depression Risk: The Roles of Sleep, Mindfulness, and Alcohol, and more.

• Environment - Sunlight-Driven Abiotic Process Found to Boost Potent Greenhouse Gas Emissions, and more.

• Nature - New Optical Sensor Reveals How Dogs' Brains Process Smells, Paving the Way for Human-Dog Communication in Scent Detection, Genetic Discovery Solves Longstanding Mystery Behind Thorny Skate Size Differences, and more.

• Agriculture - Kyushu University Researchers Develop Sunlight Prediction Model to Boost Agricultural Efficiency.

• Other Sciences & The Arts - New Genetic Study Reveals Modern Humans Descended from Two Ancient Populations.

Until Tomorrow,

~The STEAM Digest

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SCIENCE

Curcumin Boosts Antibiotic Power Against Drug-Resistant Lung Infections, Study Finds: A new study reveals that curcumin—the natural compound in turmeric—enhances the effectiveness of the antibiotic bedaquiline against Mycobacterium abscessus, a drug-resistant bacterium that causes serious lung and skin infections. The researchers found that combining curcumin with bedaquiline suppressed bacterial growth in lab cultures and significantly improved infection control in mice, including those with weakened immune systems. The results suggest curcumin could act as a resistance-breaking agent, opening the door to safer, more effective treatment options for hard-to-treat infections, particularly in immunocompromised patients.

Breakthrough Method Enables Creation of Atomically Thin 2D Metals at Angstrom Scale: In a major advancement for materials science, researchers have developed a novel method called van der Waals (vdW) squeezing to fabricate atomically thin 2D metals at the angstrom thickness limit. The technique involves melting and pressing pure metals between two ultra-strong, flat MoS₂ monolayers grown on sapphire, producing stable 2D forms of Bi, Sn, Pb, In, and Ga. This new class of non-vdW 2D materials exhibits exceptional electrical and quantum properties, such as strong conductivity and nonlinear Hall effects. The method allows for precise control of thickness and could unlock transformative applications in quantum computing, electronics, and photonics.

New Computationally Identified Inhibitors Target Key Enzyme in Inflammation and Cell Death: Researchers (Redoxoma) have identified new inhibitors of the enzyme human 15-lipoxygenase-2 (h15-LOX-2) using advanced computational modeling and virtual screening. The study screened 8 million compounds for drug-like properties, ultimately selecting structurally diverse candidates predicted to inhibit h15-LOX-2—an enzyme involved in inflammation, atherosclerosis, cholesterol metabolism, and ferroptosis (iron-dependent cell death). Experimental validation confirmed promising inhibitor candidates. The team now aims to enhance the compounds’ potency and solubility and move toward cellular and animal testing to assess therapeutic potential.

MATERIALS

Platinum Electrode Stability Tied to Electrolyte Cation Size, New Study Finds:
A collaborative study by researchers has uncovered how the type of cations in an electrolyte affects the degradation of platinum electrodes in electrochemical devices like batteries and fuel cells. Real-time monitoring and simulations revealed that larger cations (like cesium) suppress platinum dissolution better than smaller, more acidic cations (like lithium). This is because smaller cations increase hydroxide ion concentration near the electrode, which promotes platinum leaching. These insights offer a promising direction for improving the durability of future electrochemical technologies.

Gold-Linked π-Electronic Systems Offer Breakthrough for Solution-Processed Organic Semiconductors: A team of researchers has developed a novel π-electronic system using gold(III)-benzoporphyrin complexes paired with bulky counteranions, achieving enhanced solubility and tunable conductivity—two long-standing challenges in organic semiconductors. The study demonstrates that pairing expanded π-cationic structures with anions like PF₆⁻, FABA⁻, BArF⁻, and PCCp⁻ yields soluble ion pairs that self-assemble into either crystalline or less-crystalline (LeC) polymorphs, both showing conductive behavior. This advancement opens the door for solution-processed fabrication of next-generation electronic materials, with potential applications in flexible electronics, sensors, and energy storage.

BIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOMEDICAL TECHNOLOGY

Microfluidic Breakthrough Could Revolutionize Leukemia Treatment in Children:
Researchers have developed a microfluidic device that may significantly improve the safety of leukapheresis for children with hyperleukocytosis, a life-threatening complication of leukemia. Traditional leukapheresis machines pose risks to pediatric patients due to their high extracorporeal blood volume (ECV) and fast flow rates. The new microfluidic system uses controlled incremental filtration to efficiently remove ~85% of leukocytes and ~90% of cancerous blasts from undiluted blood—without platelet loss or adverse effects—at a fraction (~1/70th) of the ECV of current systems. The study suggests a safer, more effective treatment option for young leukemia patients.

Yale Researchers Develop Nanoscale Toolkit to Map Membrane Proteins and Accelerate Drug Discovery: In a major step toward next-generation disease treatments, researchers have created a molecular library and nanoscale toolkit that allows scientists to study how membrane proteins—key targets for over 60% of current drugs—function within their spatial cellular environment. The platform gives researchers access to ~2,000 membrane proteins and introduces a programmable chemical "scoop" that captures molecular interactions at the nanometer scale. Developed by Kallol Gupta’s lab at Yale’s Nanobiology Institute, this innovation helps identify how proteins are regulated by their surroundings, potentially revealing new drug targets for diseases like cancer and improving our understanding of cell signaling and resistance mechanisms.

New Wearable Plant Patch Detects Stress in Crops Within Minutes: Researchers have developed a low-cost, reusable wearable patch for plants that detects hydrogen peroxide, an early chemical signal of plant stress caused by drought, pests, or infection. The patch, designed by Liang Dong and colleagues, uses a micro-needle array and a chitosan-based hydrogel to convert hydrogen peroxide into an electrical signal measurable in under a minute. Tested on soybean and tobacco leaves, the sensor accurately distinguished healthy from stressed plants and could be reused up to nine times. This innovation offers farmers a fast, practical method to detect plant stress and optimize crop care in real time.

ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY

Inspired by Squirrels: UC Berkeley Engineers Design Agile One-Legged Robot for Precision Landings: Engineers and biologists have developed a one-legged robot capable of jumping and landing on narrow perches—an agility inspired by the biomechanics of squirrels. The study details how researchers adapted squirrel landing strategies to improve the robot "Salto," originally designed in 2016. By mimicking how squirrels use their limbs and adjust torque during landings, the team enhanced Salto’s balance and precision, even on slender rods. This breakthrough could inform future agile robots for use in disaster zones, construction sites, or planetary exploration.

MIT’s VIK Platform Transforms Prototyping with Modular Building Blocks and Integrated Electronics: MIT researchers have unveiled the Voxel Invention Kit (VIK), a rapid prototyping platform that enables users to build large, interactive structures using modular, reconfigurable building blocks called voxels. These lightweight, recyclable blocks integrate structural strength with electronics, eliminating the need for traditional fabrication methods like 3D printing and wiring. VIK's snap-fit voxels can be easily assembled into functional devices—such as smart chairs or robotic systems—by users with little engineering experience. With a built-in simulation tool to test structural integrity and support for sensors, actuators, and microcontrollers, VIK offers a sustainable, user-friendly way to create and iterate interactive systems.

MIT’s “Xstrings” 3D Printing System Revolutionizes Cable-Driven Robotics and Design: MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) has developed Xstrings, a groundbreaking 3D printing method that simplifies the creation of cable-driven mechanisms—systems where pulling embedded strings causes motion, such as curling or twisting. Presented at the upcoming CHI2025 conference, Xstrings integrates design and fabrication in a single step, drastically reducing assembly time by 40%. The technique enables users to design intricate moving objects—like robotic claws, coiling tentacles, or dynamic art pieces—by embedding cables and joints directly into their printed structure. This innovation holds promise for fields ranging from robotics and fashion to space exploration.

New Photonic Neural Network Breakthrough Speeds Up Real-Time Infrastructure Monitoring: Researchers have successfully integrated photonic neural networks with Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) systems, significantly enhancing real-time data processing for infrastructure monitoring. Their innovation—the Time-Wavelength Multiplexed Photonic Neural Network Accelerator (TWM-PNNA)—uses light instead of electricity to process the vast data generated by DAS. By leveraging optical convolution and advanced modulation techniques, the system achieves speeds up to 1.6 trillion operations per second with exceptional energy efficiency. This advancement could revolutionize earthquake detection, oil exploration, and transportation safety by enabling ultra-fast, low-power analysis of massive sensor data streams.

ASTRONOMY & SPACE

New Study Shows Dyson Spheres and Ringworlds Could Be Stable Around Binary Stars: In a new study demonstrates that Dyson spheres and ringworlds—once deemed gravitationally unstable—can achieve stable configurations in binary star systems. Using mathematical models of restricted three-body problems, McInnes identified specific equilibrium points where such megastructures could exist without drifting or collapsing. For rings, seven stable locations were found, depending on the ring's orientation and position relative to the stars. For Dyson spheres, stability arises when the shell encloses only one star of a two-star system. These insights may inform future SETI searches by identifying gravitationally plausible sites for advanced extraterrestrial engineering.

Far Side Moon Soil Supports Theory of Ancient Global Magma Ocean: A team of Chinese geologists analyzing soil from the far side of the Moon—collected by China’s Chang’e-6 mission—has found strong evidence supporting the long-standing theory that the Moon was once covered by a global magma ocean. The study reveals that basalt samples from the far side share similar isotopic ratios and ages with those from the near side, suggesting both regions formed under the same molten conditions. These findings strengthen the hypothesis that, early in its history, the Moon experienced a planet-wide melting event, leading to the formation of distinct layers such as the KREEP layer. Minor differences in isotopes likely reflect post-solidification geological evolution.

Euclid Space Telescope Releases First Data, Offers Glimpse into the Dark Universe: Europe's Euclid space telescope, launched in 2023 to explore dark matter and dark energy, has released its first scientific data, marking a major milestone in its six-year mission to map one-third of the sky. Though the release covers just 0.5% of Euclid's ultimate target, it includes images of 26 million galaxies, some over 10 billion light-years away, and hints at the structure of the cosmic web—a vast network of galaxy clusters and filaments shaped by dark forces. The data also revealed 500 gravitational lenses, far more than expected. AI and over 10,000 volunteers helped process the data, which lays the groundwork for future discoveries about the invisible 95% of the universe. The full data catalog is expected in 2026.

HEALTH & MEDICINE

Statin Use Linked to Reduced Liver Cancer and Complications in Chronic Liver Disease Patients: A study finds that statin use—especially lipophilic statins like atorvastatin and simvastatin—significantly reduces the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and hepatic decompensation in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). Analyzing data from over 16,000 patients between 2000 and 2023, the study shows a 33% lower risk of liver cancer and a 22% reduction in liver failure among statin users. Prolonged statin use further enhances these benefits, with high cumulative doses linked to a 40% lower risk of HCC. The findings support considering statins as a preventive therapy in CLD management.

UNC Charlotte Study Warns of Worsening Vaccine Efficacy Against Evolving H5N1 Bird Flu: A new study reveals that the H5N1 avian influenza virus is rapidly evolving, weakening the effectiveness of antibodies produced by prior infection or vaccination. Using high-performance computational modeling of over 1,800 viral protein-antibody interactions, the team found a decline in antibody binding affinity over time, highlighting the virus’s increasing potential to cross into human populations. The study raises alarms about an impending pandemic threat, particularly as H5N1 continues spreading among birds, mammals, cattle, and farmworkers. These findings support the urgent need for updated vaccines and ongoing computational surveillance to keep pace with the virus's evolution.

Large-Scale Study Finds No Evidence of Decision Fatigue Among Nurses: A new study challenges the idea that decision fatigue—a decline in decision quality after prolonged decision-making—impairs medical judgment in nurses. Researchers analyzed over 203,000 medical decisions made by 200 nurses working on a national telephone triage service and found no evidence that fatigue from long shifts or time since breaks affected their decision-making accuracy. The study, which followed a rigorous Registered Reports format, suggests that while general fatigue remains important to address for worker well-being, its influence on real-time medical decision-making may be less than previously thought.

NEUROSCIENCE

Why Night Owls Face Higher Depression Risk: The Roles of Sleep, Mindfulness, and Alcohol: A new study suggests that late-night habits may increase depression risk due to lower mindfulness, poorer sleep quality, and higher alcohol consumption. Surveying 546 university students, the research found that "evening chronotypes"—people who stay up late—reported more depression symptoms than early risers. While the study's cross-sectional design limits causal conclusions, the authors highlight that targeting sleep habits, alcohol use, and mindfulness could help reduce depression risk in young adults.

Study Confirms Menstrual Cycle Does Not Affect Women’s Cognitive Abilities:
A new meta-analysis by researchers finds no evidence that women's cognitive abilities change during their menstrual cycle. Analyzing 102 studies involving 3,943 participants, the team examined performance on cognitive tasks across different menstrual phases. Despite challenges like inconsistent definitions and small sample sizes in some studies, the researchers found no link between menstruation and diminished intellectual performance. The findings aim to dispel long-held myths and stigmas surrounding women’s cognitive function during menstruation.

Refined Lab Test Enhances Detection of Protein Aggregates in Parkinson’s and Related Disorders: A team including researchers from RIKEN has improved a seed amplification assay used to detect misfolded alpha-synuclein protein aggregates, which are hallmarks of synucleinopathies like Parkinson’s disease and dementia with Lewy bodies. The study introduces methodological upgrades—such as optimizing dilution steps, increasing replicate counts, and refining statistical algorithms—to more accurately quantify aggregate levels in patient samples. These improvements boost the assay’s reliability and precision, potentially advancing earlier diagnosis, improving clinical monitoring, and accelerating drug development by allowing better evaluation of disease progression using less invasive samples like skin or nasal swabs.

ENVIRONMENT

Sunlight-Driven Abiotic Process Found to Boost Potent Greenhouse Gas Emissions: A new study reveals a previously unknown abiotic pathway—called photochemodenitrification—for the production of nitrous oxide (N₂O) in surface waters, which may explain why atmospheric N₂O levels are rising faster than predicted. Researchers from Denmark and Spain found that sunlight triggers this non-biological process, producing N₂O at higher rates than known microbial sources like ammonia oxidation. Using isotopic tracers and biocides in water samples, they confirmed nitrite as the key substrate and ruled out microbial involvement. This discovery highlights the need to revise climate models to include this potent, sunlight-driven source of greenhouse gas emissions.

NATURE

New Optical Sensor Reveals How Dogs' Brains Process Smells, Paving the Way for Human-Dog Communication in Scent Detection: A groundbreaking study by researchers has remotely recorded real-time brain activity in dogs during scent detection, using a novel laser-based optical sensor. The research reveals that the amygdala plays a key role in how dogs emotionally and cognitively process odors, offering new insights into their extraordinary sense of smell. Unlike traditional imaging techniques, this non-invasive, remote method allows for monitoring dogs without sedation or confinement. The findings could lead to the creation of a wearable device that interprets dogs’ olfactory perceptions, revolutionizing scent-based work in law enforcement, medicine, and search-and-rescue operations.

Genetic Discovery Solves Longstanding Mystery Behind Thorny Skate Size Differences: Researchers have uncovered a genetic inversion on chromosome two that explains why thorny skates in the North Atlantic come in two distinct adult sizes—a puzzle that has baffled scientists for nearly a century. The study used full-genome sequencing and identified the inversion only in larger skates, suggesting it influences growth and maturity. This breakthrough will help develop better conservation strategies, particularly as thorny skate populations continue to decline despite fishing bans. Researchers now aim to study how these two morphs interact, reproduce, and respond to climate change-driven environmental pressures.

AGRICULTURE

Kyushu University Researchers Develop Sunlight Prediction Model to Boost Agricultural Efficiency: Researchers have created a machine learning-based model to accurately predict how sunlight intensity and quality change under different weather conditions—a breakthrough that could help farmers optimize crop growth. The study goes beyond measuring sunlight energy, incorporating wavelength distribution and scattering patterns to classify sunlight into five categories, from clear skies to overcast. Data collected using a spectroradiometer throughout 2021 allowed the team to achieve 94% prediction accuracy using basic weather data. The model can help farmers adapt greenhouse operations and planting strategies, especially in regions with seasonal climate variations like Japan.

OTHER SCIENCES & THE ARTS

New Genetic Study Reveals Modern Humans Descended from Two Ancient Populations: A groundbreaking study reveals that modern humans are the result of a genetic merger between two ancient populations that diverged 1.5 million years ago and reunited around 300,000 years ago. Using full-genome data from the 1000 Genomes Project and a new algorithm called cobraa, researchers discovered that one group contributed 80% of our genetic makeup, while the other contributed 20%, particularly influencing brain-related genes. This early admixture event predates the well-known Neanderthal and Denisovan interbreeding and challenges the long-held belief that Homo sapiens evolved from a single lineage. The findings also underscore that interbreeding and complex ancestry likely shaped not just humans but many species across the animal kingdom.