Acid Vapor Breakthrough Dramatically Boosts Stability of CO2-to-Fuel Devices

Hello and welcome to our June 15th edition. The STEAM Digest is a curated newsletter that brings you the latest in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics.

In today’s edition:

• Physics - Newly Developed Miniature Spectrometer Could Bring High-Resolution Light Analysis to Smartphones, and more.

• Chemistry - Electron Microscopy Reveals Complex Porous Structure of Natural Red Pigment Carmine, and more.

• Biology - Scientists Reveal Structure of Key Enzyme Complex Linked to Inflammation and Disease,

• Materials & Nanotechnology- New Hydrogel Nanotechnology Cleans Wastewater and Recycles Nutrients into Fertilizer, and more.

• Biotechnology & Biomedical Technology - Nanoplastics Disrupt Gut Integrity in Mice by Altering Microbe–Host Communication.

• Engineering & Technology - Acid Vapor Breakthrough Dramatically Boosts Stability of CO2-to-Fuel Devices, and more..

• Robotics, AI, Hardware, Software, Gadgets - Smart Glasses System Trains Robots to Perform Household Tasks with Zero Robot Data, and more.

• Astronomy, Space, & Astrobiology -

• Health & Medicine - Metabolic Switch Controls Gut Cell Fate and Aids Colitis Recovery.

• Neuroscience - Brain Compensates for Neuron Loss by Rapid Network Reorganization.

• Environment & Earth Sciences - Study Warns Marine CO₂ Removal Methods May Worsen Ocean Oxygen Loss, and more.

• Nature & Ecology - Feather-Legged Lace Weaver Kills with Regurgitated Toxin, Not Venom Fangs, and more.

• Other Sciences & The Arts - Ancient Egyptian Families Were Clan-Based, Not Nuclear—Eldest Sons Held Central Power.

Until Tomorrow,

~The STEAM Digest

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PHYSICS

Newly Developed Miniature Spectrometer Could Bring High-Resolution Light Analysis to Smartphones: Researchers have created an ultra-compact, high-resolution spectrometer using innovative double-layer disordered metasurfaces. Unlike traditional spectrometers, which rely on bulky prisms or gratings, the new device uses nanoscale metasurfaces to generate random speckle patterns from light. A single image capture can then reconstruct precise wavelength information across the 440–1,300 nm range with 1-nm resolution. This fingernail-sized technology is compatible with commercial image sensors, potentially enabling advanced spectral analysis in smartphones, wearables, and everyday machine vision applications—from medical diagnostics to environmental monitoring.

Quantum Simulations Reveal Quasicrystals Are Fundamentally Stable: Researchers at the University of Michigan have used a novel quantum-mechanical simulation to show that quasicrystals—solids with non-repeating atomic patterns—can be energetically stable, resolving a longstanding scientific mystery. Unlike traditional crystals, quasicrystals lack periodic repetition, making standard stability models unusable. The team developed a new nanoparticle-based method to estimate total energy and found that two known quasicrystals (Sc-Zn and Yb-Cd alloys) are enthalpy-stabilized. Their findings suggest quasicrystals are not disordered like glass, but rather uniquely ordered, stable materials. The new computational approach also promises broader applications in modeling complex materials for advanced technologies like quantum computing.

Los Alamos Researchers Identify New Problem Quantum Computers Can Solve Better Than Classical Ones: Scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory have demonstrated that simulating large Gaussian bosonic optical circuits—a system involving beam splitters, phase shifters, and many light sources—can be efficiently handled by quantum computers but not by classical ones. Their study shows that this simulation problem is BQP-complete, meaning it is as hard as the most difficult problems solvable efficiently by quantum computers. This discovery adds a rare new task to the short list of known problems where quantum devices hold a provable advantage, advancing the foundational science needed for practical quantum computing.

CHEMISTRY

Electron Microscopy Reveals Complex Porous Structure of Natural Red Pigment Carmine: Using advanced 3D electron diffraction techniques, researchers at Stockholm University have determined the detailed structure of carmine, a natural red pigment derived from cochineal insects. Long used in foods, cosmetics, and art, carmine was found to be a complex metal-organic structure formed from calcium, aluminum, and carminic acid. Its surprising porous, crystalline architecture—previously undetectable due to limitations in traditional X-ray methods—opens new possibilities for applications in environmental remediation, material science, and food safety. The findings may also aid in identifying carmine in historical artifacts and encourage greater use of natural pigments as alternatives to synthetic dyes.

Quantum-Informed Molecular Graphs Boost Machine Learning in Chemistry:
Researchers have introduced a new machine learning representation for molecules that explicitly encodes quantum-chemical interactions, enhancing the accuracy and interpretability of molecular property predictions. Their stereo-electronics-infused molecular graphs (SIMGs) incorporate orbital-level information, crucial for modeling complex behaviors like reactivity and stability. To overcome the computational cost of traditional quantum chemistry methods, they also developed a fast model to approximate extended graphs for larger molecules. This advancement enables efficient predictions across fields such as drug discovery, catalysis, and spectroscopy—even for systems like proteins where quantum methods are impractical.

BIOLOGY

Fly Flight-Stabilizing Organ Shaped by Internal Cellular Tensors, Study Finds:
A research team from the Institute for Neurosciences (CSIC-UMH) has uncovered how the Drosophila haltere—a gyroscopic organ essential for flight stability—is internally supported by a network of cellular projections, not hollow as previously assumed. During metamorphosis, collagen-rich extracellular matrix between the haltere’s surfaces is degraded, allowing for laminin-based cellular connectors to form. These internal “biological guy ropes” maintain the organ’s shape by balancing opposing mechanical forces. Using mutant models and live imaging, the team demonstrated that without this support system, the haltere deforms and loses function. The findings offer broad insights into organ formation and may inform advances in tissue engineering and biomimetic design.

Scientists Reveal Structure of Key Enzyme Complex Linked to Inflammation and Disease: Researchers at the University of Cincinnati have visualized the atomic structure of the ADAM17 enzyme bound to its regulator iRhom2 for the first time, providing new insight into immune signaling and chronic inflammatory diseases. Using advanced cryogenic electron microscopy, the team uncovered how this complex drives inflammation and identified a crucial structural feature—the “re-entry loop” of iRhom2—necessary for ADAM17’s function. The findings lay groundwork for more precise therapies targeting diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, and COVID-19.

MATERIALS & NANOTECHNOLOGY

New Hydrogel Nanotechnology Cleans Wastewater and Recycles Nutrients into Fertilizer: Engineers at Washington University have developed a novel mineral-hydrogel nanocomposite that removes harmful nutrients—ammonia and phosphate—from wastewater while upcycling them into fertilizers or biorefinery feedstocks. Led by Professor Young-Shin Jun, the team embedded nanoscale struvite and calcium phosphate seeds into a hydrogel, enabling nutrient removal efficiencies of up to 60% for ammonia and 91% for phosphate. The method addresses key limitations of traditional wastewater treatment and helps prevent harmful algal blooms. Successfully tested at scale, the technology offers a sustainable solution for environmental protection and nutrient recovery.

Electrically Tunable Dual-Atom Catalysts Developed Using Vacancy-Rich MoS₂:
Researchers have demonstrated a method to boost the performance of single-atom catalysts (SACs) by creating reversible dual-atom catalysts (DACs) on a 2D MoS₂ substrate. Using electrochemical desulfurization, they generated vacancy-rich regions in 1T'-MoS₂, allowing high-density metal atom loading without aggregation. This approach enables SACs to pair into DACs under an electric field, enhancing catalytic activity—especially in hydrogenation reactions. The team confirmed this dynamic transformation using operando X-ray absorption and electron microscopy. Their work opens the door to tunable catalyst designs that respond to electric fields, improving energy conversion technologies like fuel cells and electrolyzers.

BIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOMEDICAL TECHNOLOGY

Nanoplastics Disrupt Gut Integrity in Mice by Altering Microbe–Host Communication: A new study reveals that nanoplastics can compromise intestinal barrier function in mice by disrupting communication between gut microbes and host cells. Researchers found that 100 nm polystyrene nanoplastics altered the expression of key intestinal proteins (ZO-1 and MUC-13), induced gut microbiota imbalance—particularly an increase in Ruminococcaceae—and interfered with microRNA signaling via extracellular vesicles. Though the study identifies mechanisms of gut dysbiosis linked to nanoplastics, experts stress that the exposure levels were far above typical human intake. Future research must assess long-term, low-dose exposure and develop sensitive detection methods before conclusions can be drawn about human health risks.

ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY

Acid Vapor Breakthrough Dramatically Boosts Stability of CO2-to-Fuel Devices:
Researchers at Rice University have developed a simple yet transformative method to vastly improve the stability of electrochemical systems that convert CO₂ into fuels and chemicals. By humidifying CO₂ gas with trace acid vapors—rather than water—they prevented salt buildup, a common cause of failure in CO₂ reduction reactors. The approach, tested with multiple catalysts, extended system life over 50-fold (up to 4,500 hours) and avoided performance loss in both lab and scaled-up devices. This low-cost, easily adoptable solution could significantly advance carbon utilization technologies for industrial applications.

Dry Electrode Breakthrough Doubles Performance of Zinc–Iodine Batteries: University of Adelaide researchers have developed a dry electrode technique for zinc–iodine aqueous batteries that dramatically improves performance, achieving more than double the capacity of conventional iodine and lithium-ion batteries. Instead of using traditional wet mixing, the team rolled dry powder materials into thick, self-supporting electrodes and added 1,3,5-trioxane to the electrolyte, forming a protective film on zinc that prevents dendrite formation. The new electrodes delivered record-high material loading (100 mg/cm²) and excellent stability—retaining 88.6% capacity after 750 cycles in pouch cells. Benefits include higher energy density, lower self-discharge, and longer lifespan. The team plans to scale up using reel-to-reel manufacturing and explore similar halogen systems like zinc–bromine batteries for grid-scale energy storage.

New Imaging Technique Boosts Promise of Longer-Lasting Lithium-Metal Batteries: UCLA researchers have developed a groundbreaking imaging method, called electrified cryogenic electron microscopy (eCryoEM), that captures lithium-metal batteries in action with nanoscale detail. Unlike lithium-ion batteries, lithium-metal versions could double energy density but suffer from short lifespans. Using eCryoEM, scientists visualized the growth of the corrosion layer during charging, revealing that early-stage reactions—more than later electron diffusion—play a key role in performance differences. This finding shifts focus from just stabilizing the corrosion film to making the electrolyte less chemically reactive. Beyond batteries, the new method could revolutionize material and biological research, including studies of live electrical activity in brain cells.

ROBOTICS, AI, HARDWARE, SOFTWARE, GADGETS

Smart Glasses System Trains Robots to Perform Household Tasks with Zero Robot Data: Researchers have developed EgoZero, a novel system that uses Meta’s Project Aria smart glasses to capture first-person video demonstrations of people completing everyday manual tasks. These recordings allow robots to learn tasks like opening oven doors with no robot-collected training data, using only 20 minutes of human demonstrations. EgoZero converts egocentric 3D data from the glasses into robot-executable policies, tested successfully on a Franka Panda robotic arm. Unlike traditional setups requiring multiple cameras or wearables, EgoZero simplifies the process using just AR glasses. The open-source tool could enable scalable human-to-robot training and accelerate real-world robotic deployment in homes and workplaces.

AI-Generated Podcasts Fool Scientists, Offer New Future for Science Communication: In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers at KU Leuven used Google NotebookLM to generate AI-driven podcasts summarizing scientific articles—half of the original authors believed the hosts were human. The podcasts were praised for clarity, tone, and engagement, though authors noted occasional inaccuracies, overhyped language, and mispronunciations. Most participants agreed the podcasts were ideal for educating patients and the public, and possibly healthcare workers. Transparency and proper referencing were highlighted as essential. The results suggest AI-generated audio summaries could revolutionize science outreach, with potential for hybrid human-AI productions. Future research will explore public reception and conference applications.

Search-and-Rescue Robots Could Revolutionize Disaster Response: A European-Japanese research team has developed SMURF, a compact, two-wheeled robot designed to navigate rubble and detect trapped survivors after disasters like earthquakes. The system uses advanced sensors—including SNIFFER, a chemical detector that can distinguish living from deceased individuals—and thermal, video, and audio tools for two-way communication. Drones deliver SMURFs to hard-to-reach areas, while others map terrain and locate victims using ground-penetrating radar. Tested in large-scale field trials, this technology could reduce rescue times and first responder risks. Though still a prototype, strong interest signals high potential for future deployment.

ASTRONOMY, SPACE, & ASTROBIOLOGY

New ALMA Survey Reveals How Gas and Dust Evolve in Planet-Forming Disks:
An international team of astronomers, including researchers from the University of Arizona, has conducted the first large-scale study of gas evolution in protoplanetary disks using ALMA as part of the AGE-PRO program. Surveying 30 disks around sun-like stars, the team found that gas and dust evolve at different rates: gas disperses quickly in young disks while dust lingers longer. Surprisingly, older disks that survive beyond a few million years retain more gas than previously believed, implying tighter timeframes for gas giant formation. The study also revealed that gas-to-dust ratios are more uniform across disks than expected, challenging previous models. The results provide a legacy dataset for understanding planet formation.

HEALTH & MEDICINE

Metabolic Switch Controls Gut Cell Fate and Aids Colitis Recovery: Researchers have discovered that the enzyme OGDH acts as a metabolic switch determining whether intestinal stem cells become nutrient-absorbing enterocytes or secretory cells like goblet and Paneth cells. Using mouse models and intestinal organoids, they found that suppressing OGDH raises α-ketoglutarate (αKG) levels, promoting secretory cell development, while its activity supports absorptive cell growth. During colitis, OGDH levels increase and αKG declines, disrupting gut recovery. However, OGDH suppression or αKG supplementation reversed this imbalance and improved epithelial regeneration. The findings highlight metabolism as a key driver of cell fate, suggesting metabolic interventions could aid treatment of inflammatory gut diseases like colitis.

NEUROSCIENCE

Brain Compensates for Neuron Loss by Rapid Network Reorganization: Researchers have discovered that the brain quickly reorganizes its neuronal networks to compensate for neuron loss, preserving function despite damage from aging or neurodegenerative diseases. Using animal models, they studied the auditory cortex and found that after targeted neuron loss, neural activity patterns destabilized but re-stabilized within days, as remaining neurons adapted to take over lost functions. This plasticity in the adult cerebral cortex, previously thought limited, may explain the brain’s resilience to neuron degeneration. The findings offer new insights for future treatments aimed at supporting this natural reorganization in conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

ENVIRONMENT & EARTH SCIENCES

Study Warns Marine CO₂ Removal Methods May Worsen Ocean Oxygen Loss:
An international team has found that many marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) methods—especially those involving biological processes like ocean fertilization and seaweed sinking—could significantly worsen ocean deoxygenation. Using global model simulations, the study reveals that oxygen loss from these techniques may outweigh climate benefits by up to 40 times. Only large-scale seaweed farming with biomass harvesting showed potential to reverse oxygen losses, though it may reduce biological productivity. Geochemical approaches like ocean alkalinity enhancement had minimal impact on oxygen levels. The authors urge mandatory oxygen monitoring in mCDR efforts to avoid unintended ecological harm while pursuing net-zero climate goals.

First Nationwide PM1 Pollution Estimates Reveal Hidden Health Risks and Regulation Gaps: Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have produced the first nationwide estimates of PM₁ air pollution—particles smaller than 1 micron—across the U.S. from 1998 to 2022. The study reveals that these submicron pollutants, which can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, likely pose greater health risks than the more widely tracked PM₂.₅ particles. PM₁ pollution, often from diesel engines and wildfires, has declined significantly due to past regulations but progress has stalled since 2010 due to increased wildfire activity. The dataset provides a foundation for future epidemiological studies and could inform more targeted air quality regulations focused on these ultra-fine particles.

NATURE & ECOLOGY

Amazon Trees Reveal Hidden Strategy for Surviving Sunlight and Drought Stress: A new study from Michigan State University reveals how Amazon rainforest canopy trees manage intense sunlight and heat through finely tuned light energy dissipation mechanisms. By climbing 200-foot trees and measuring thousands of leaves over four years, researchers discovered that leaves use fluorescence and heat to safely shed excess light not used for photosynthesis. Under drought and high sunlight, trees shift more energy into protective dissipation, though this strategy becomes overwhelmed under extreme stress, impairing photosynthesis. Importantly, the study shows that solar-induced fluorescence (SIF)—often used in satellite monitoring—may overestimate forest productivity under such stress, highlighting the need for refined models in a warming, drying Amazon.

Feather-Legged Lace Weaver Kills with Regurgitated Toxin, Not Venom Fangs:
Researchers have discovered that the feather-legged lace weaver spider subdues its prey not by injecting venom, but by regurgitating a unique toxin onto silk that wraps its victim. Unlike typical spiders, this species lacks venom glands and fang ducts. Instead, it produces toxic proteins in its midgut and excretes them through the mouth, coating its silk with lethal effect. Genetic and microscopic analyses confirmed this alternative method, first hinted at in a 94-year-old scientific sketch. This finding not only redefines how we understand spider predation but also opens avenues for studying novel toxins with potential biomedical applications.

OTHER SCIENCES & THE ARTS

Ancient Egyptian Families Were Clan-Based, Not Nuclear—Eldest Sons Held Central Power: Contrary to the long-held belief that ancient Egyptian families resembled modern nuclear households, new research by Egyptologist Steffie van Gompel reveals a clan-based system where the eldest son played a dominant role. Based on marriage contracts and demographic analysis, Van Gompel shows that extended families often lived together, with one child—usually the eldest son—continuing the household across generations. While Egyptian women could own property, this did not equate to full independence, as senior men retained authority over marriages and assets. Though women sometimes inherited and maintained lineage, the idea of ancient Egyptian women as feminist icons is more myth than fact.