AI Outperforms Majority of Students in Medical Informatics Course, Raising New Educational Challenges

Hello and welcome to Monday’s STEAM newsletter! We bring you summaries of the latest news in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics.

In today’s edition:

• Science - New Fabric-Like Filter Removes Microplastics and Lead from Tap Water, and more.

• Technology and AI - AI Outperforms Majority of Students in Medical Informatics Course, Raising New Educational Challenges, and more.

• Engineering - Engineers Develop Bone-Inspired Concrete for Enhanced Durability, Using AI Language Models to Enhance Autonomous Vehicle Interaction, and more.

• Astronomy & Space - James Webb Telescope Confirms Black Holes Can Starve Galaxies of Star-Forming Material.

• Health & Medicine - Study Reveals Widespread Human Exposure to Food Contact Chemicals, Immunotherapy Combination Shows 10-Year Survival Benefit for Metastatic Melanoma Patients, and more.

• Neuroscience - Patient with ALS Controls Amazon Alexa Using Brain Implant, and more.

• Environment - New Model STRIDE Enhances Wildfire Evacuation and Travel Time Predictions, Shared CO2 Infrastructure Could Reduce Costs and Environmental Impact in Louisiana, and more.

• Nature - Young Golden Eagles Learn to Fly by Mastering Air Currents, Study Finds, Bumblebees Exhibit Human-Like Memory Errors, Study Finds, and more.

• Other Sciences & Arts - Storytelling Boosts Engineering Students' Confidence and Sense of Belonging, .

• Industry - Amazon to Require Corporate Employees to Return to Office Full-Time in 2025, and more.

Until Tomorrow.

~The STEAM Digest

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This newsletter is curated by The STEAM Digest.

SCIENCE

New Fabric-Like Filter Removes Microplastics and Lead from Tap Water: Researchers at the University of Missouri, led by Maryam Salehi, have developed a new fabric-like filter made from polyvinyl alcohol fibers to remove microplastics and lead from tap water. The inexpensive filter attaches to faucets and was found to eliminate nearly 100% of larger microplastics, 80% of smaller microplastics, and 70% of lead in lab tests. The team aims to further test its durability and potential for commercialization to improve water safety.

New Terahertz Technique Reveals Insights into Superconducting Disorder: Researchers from the Max Planck Institute and Brookhaven National Laboratory have developed a new method using terahertz pulses to study disorder in superconductors near their transition temperature. By adapting nuclear magnetic resonance techniques to terahertz spectroscopy, they discovered that superconducting transport in the cuprate La1.83Sr0.17CuO4 was less disordered than previously observed. This new approach, "angle-resolved 2D terahertz spectroscopy," offers a deeper understanding of superconductors and opens new avenues for investigating transient states of quantum materials.

Study Shows How Chemical Modifications Enhance Light Absorption in Iron Compounds: Researchers from Leibniz IPHT and the Universities of Jena and Ulm discovered that modifying the chemical structure of iron compounds can influence their light absorption properties. By altering the second coordination sphere of these iron complexes through the addition of protons, they can better control electron transfer after light absorption. This breakthrough offers an eco-friendly alternative to rare metals like iridium or ruthenium for applications in photocatalysis and photovoltaics, paving the way for sustainable technologies.

TECHNOLOGY AND AI

AI Outperforms Majority of Students in Medical Informatics Course, Raising New Educational Challenges: Dr. William Hersh, a medical informatics professor at Oregon Health & Science University, conducted an experiment to assess the performance of six generative AI models, like ChatGPT, in his introductory biomedical and health informatics course. The AI models scored in the top 50th to 75th percentile, outperforming up to three-quarters of his students on quizzes and exams. This study, is the first to compare AI to students in a full academic course in the biomedical field. Hersh acknowledges the benefits of AI in knowledge-based assessments but raises concerns about its impact on genuine learning and skill mastery. He emphasizes the need for students to think critically and adapt to newer, more nuanced tests that AI cannot easily navigate. Despite these challenges, Hersh believes maintaining the "human touch" is crucial in medicine, where judgment and broader perspectives are vital in complex situations.

Human and AI Abilities in Detecting Deepfake Environmental Sounds Explored: Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University and École Centrale Nantes found that AI detectors of deepfake environmental sounds, such as background noises, often make errors. Human listeners, in some cases, outperformed the AI, accurately identifying real sounds mistakenly labeled as fake. The study highlights the challenge of detecting AI-generated content and suggests that humans may perceive subtle cues that AI misses. Improving these detectors is crucial to combatting sophisticated deepfake technologies, which could impact public perception and decision-making in the future.

AI Models Show 'Arrow of Time' Bias in Language Prediction:Researchers at EPFL and Goldsmiths (London) found that large language models (LLMs) like GPT-4 perform better predicting the next word in a sentence than predicting the previous one, a phenomenon termed the "Arrow of Time" bias. This asymmetry, found across different LLM architectures, highlights a fundamental property of language processing that challenges the theoretical expectation of equal difficulty in both directions. The discovery may help develop more advanced AI models and provides insights into the nature of intelligence and the concept of time.

ENGINEERING

Engineers Develop Bone-Inspired Concrete for Enhanced Durability: Inspired by human bone architecture, Princeton engineers have created a cement-based material that is 5.6 times more damage-resistant than standard options. The design uses a tube-like structure to improve toughness and prevent sudden failure, mimicking the way cortical bone resists cracking. This method focuses on internal architecture, enhancing material properties without needing additional fibers or plastics. The researchers introduced a new framework to quantify material disorder, potentially revolutionizing construction materials by making them more resilient and adaptable.

Using AI Language Models to Enhance Autonomous Vehicle Interaction: Purdue University researchers tested how AI language models like ChatGPT can help autonomous vehicles (AVs) interpret passenger commands more naturally. The study showed that these models could assist AVs in understanding and personalizing responses to passenger needs, such as navigating faster routes or accommodating comfort. While effective in many scenarios, challenges like processing speed and occasional misinterpretations ("hallucinations") remain. Future directions include exploring AI communication between AVs and using visual models for better performance in extreme weather.

Researchers Develop Ultrafast, Magnetically Driven Soft Jumper Robot: Researchers at Zhejiang University have created an ultrafast, magnetically driven soft robot that excels at jumping, reaching heights over 108 times its body size with a takeoff speed exceeding 2 meters per second. The robot's design, inspired by bistable states and rapid elastic energy release, allows for robust jumping and hopping in various directions and distances. Tests demonstrated its effectiveness in complex environments, suggesting potential applications in challenging terrains, such as pipeline maintenance and cleaning.

New Electrochemical Cell Converts Captured Carbon to Green Fuel Efficiently: Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University developed an electrochemical cell that efficiently converts bicarbonate solutions from captured carbon into formate, a green fuel. The cell features a porous cellulose ester membrane, improving selectivity for formate production and achieving 85% faradaic efficiency. The design operates smoothly for over 30 hours with nearly complete conversion. This advancement addresses challenges in carbon capture technology by adding value to waste streams, potentially aiding efforts to achieve net-zero emissions.

ASTRONOMY & SPACE

James Webb Telescope Confirms Black Holes Can Starve Galaxies of Star-Forming Material: Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have confirmed that supermassive black holes can halt star formation in their host galaxies. The study, led by the University of Cambridge, observed "Pablo's Galaxy," a massive galaxy from the early universe that has ceased forming new stars. The findings show that the black hole at its center expels large amounts of gas, depleting the material needed for star formation and effectively "starving" the galaxy to death, challenging previous theories on galaxy evolution

HEALTH & MEDICINE

Study Reveals Widespread Human Exposure to Food Contact Chemicals: A new study has found that 3,601 food contact chemicals (FCCs) from packaging and contact articles are present in human samples, including urine, blood, and breast milk. The study reveals gaps in biomonitoring and toxicity data and highlights that many hazardous chemicals in food packaging are transferred to humans. The findings emphasize the need for improved safety regulations and the development of safer alternatives. The data is available in the FCChumon database for further research.

Immunotherapy Combination Shows 10-Year Survival Benefit for Metastatic Melanoma Patients: A 10-year follow-up of the CheckMate 067 trial shows that nearly half of metastatic melanoma patients treated with nivolumab and ipilimumab remain cancer-free, significantly improving survival rates. The study reveals no new safety concerns and suggests the combination therapy turns metastatic melanoma into a manageable condition. The data may help refine care protocols, offering hope to patients about long-term treatment success and potential reductions in follow-up frequency.

New Research Extends Ovarian Healthspan by Targeting Fibrosis: A Northwestern Medicine study found a way to extend ovarian healthspan in mice by using Pirfenidone, a drug for pulmonary fibrosis, to reduce ovarian fibrosis and improve function. The research aims to maintain healthy ovarian function, not just extend fertility, which could prevent age-related conditions like osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and cognitive decline. While the current drug isn't suitable for clinical use due to side effects, it demonstrates potential for future therapies targeting ovarian aging to enhance overall health in women.

Study Reveals How COVID-19 Triggers Diabetes Through Immune Response: Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine discovered that SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19, can trigger diabetes by activating immune cells that destroy pancreatic beta cells responsible for insulin production. Using pancreatic islet organoids, they observed that proinflammatory macrophages kill beta cells through pyroptosis, a type of cell death. The findings provide insight into how severe COVID-19 affects the pancreas and may lead to future therapies to protect against organ damage, potentially shedding light on long COVID and its effects.

NEUROSCIENCE

Patient with ALS Controls Amazon Alexa Using Brain Implant: A 64-year-old patient with ALS successfully controlled Amazon's Alexa using his mind through a brain implant, announced by Synchron, the company behind the innovation. The implant, placed in a blood vessel on the brain's surface, enabled the patient to tap icons on an Amazon Fire tablet mentally. This allowed him to make video calls, play music, control smart home devices, and shop online. The technology showcases how brain-computer interfaces can help regain independence for those with degenerative diseases.

Neurons Balance Learning and Memory Retention by Stabilizing Key Synapses: MIT researchers discovered that specific synapses in pyramidal neurons stabilize early in life to preserve essential visual information, while others remain flexible to enable new learning. These stable synapses, lacking NMDA receptors, resist changes that affect most synapses, ensuring that fundamental visual features are consistently recognized. This balance between stability and flexibility could help improve artificial neural networks, which currently struggle with retaining prior knowledge when learning new tasks.

Dual Spatial Maps in the Brain's Secondary Motor Cortex Aid in Navigation: Researchers have discovered that the brain's secondary motor cortex has two distinct maps—self-centered and world-centered—that facilitate spatial planning and navigation. By studying rats performing a task, the team found that the frontal orienting field (FOF) combines these two coordinate systems in individual neurons. This discovery enhances understanding of spatial attention and could inform treatments for neurological conditions like hemispatial neglect in stroke patients.

Study Reveals Multidimensional Approach to Human Object Perception Beyond Categorization: Researchers from the Max Planck Institute and Justus Liebig University, with the NIH, have shown that human object perception is more complex than just categorizing objects. Their study, demonstrates that brain activity when observing objects can be explained by multiple behaviorally relevant dimensions, such as color, shape, and associated actions, not just recognition or categorization. This multidimensional framework provides a deeper understanding of how our visual system processes a broad range of object properties, enhancing our perception and interaction with the world.

ENVIRONMENT

New Model STRIDE Enhances Wildfire Evacuation and Travel Time Predictions: Researchers from the University of Utah developed the STRIDE model, which uses LiDAR data to predict travel times by incorporating terrain roughness, vegetation density, and slope steepness. This model provides more accurate routes for firefighters, disaster responders, and others, surpassing traditional slope-only models. STRIDE identified the most efficient paths, such as roads and trails, and is publicly available for broader application, improving safety and efficiency across various fields.

Shared CO2 Infrastructure Could Reduce Costs and Environmental Impact in Louisiana: Researchers at the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment found that sharing CO2 transport and storage infrastructure across multiple industrial facilities in Louisiana could cut costs by over 60% and reduce pipeline buildout by 75%. This approach also minimizes the environmental impact on disadvantaged communities. Federal incentives, such as tax credits and clean energy hubs, could promote such shared systems, offering a more sustainable and economical path for carbon capture and storage projects.

New Mechanism Found in C4 Crops Enhances Drought Survival and Water Efficiency: Scientists have discovered that certain C4 crops, such as maize, sorghum, and proso millet, can survive dry conditions by controlling water loss through a nonstomatal mechanism, rather than relying solely on stomata. This mechanism allows these plants to maintain photosynthesis and growth while conserving water, even in high temperatures and increased atmospheric water demand. The study, challenges the traditional understanding of plant transpiration and suggests a shared evolutionary trait among plant types. These findings have significant implications for improving water-use efficiency in crops, which is vital for global food security under climate change.

SandAI: Stanford's AI Tool Unlocks Millions of Years of Sand Grain History:
Stanford researchers have created SandAI, an artificial intelligence tool capable of tracing the history of quartz sand grains back hundreds of millions of years. By using machine learning, SandAI accurately identifies whether sand grains were shaped by wind, rivers, waves, or glaciers, enhancing geological and archaeological studies where traditional clues are scarce. The tool uses microtextural analysis, a process previously done manually, to offer more precise and objective insights. SandAI can also assist in forensic investigations into illegal sand mining and resource tracing. The tool's effectiveness was demonstrated by correctly analyzing sand grains from environments dating back to the Jurassic and Cryogenian periods, providing new insights into ancient landscapes.

NATURE

Young Golden Eagles Learn to Fly by Mastering Air Currents, Study Finds: Researchers from the Max Planck Institute, Swiss Ornithological Institute, and University of Vienna found that juvenile golden eagles in the Alps expand their flight range as they learn to navigate air currents more effectively. Using GPS data from 55 eagles, they observed that the young birds initially stayed close to predictable uplifts near mountain ridges but gradually ventured into open areas as they honed their flight skills. This learning process increases their habitat range over time, with implications for wildlife management and conservation efforts.

Bumblebees Exhibit Human-Like Memory Errors, Study Finds: Psychologists at the University of Stirling discovered that wild bumblebees make similar memory errors to humans, suggesting the presence of episodic memory, once thought to be uniquely human. In experiments, bees frequently chose stimuli with similar but incorrect features, resembling human memory conjunction errors. These findings indicate that bees may have constructive memory processes, enabling them to merge elements from past experiences. The study opens new avenues for researching episodic memory across species.

Newly Discovered Grumpy Dwarfgoby Adds to Red Sea's Unique Biodiversity: Researchers from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology and the University of Washington have discovered a new species of fish, the grumpy dwarfgoby, in the Red Sea. Despite its small size of less than 2 centimeters, the fish's large canines and fierce expression give it a menacing appearance. The grumpy dwarfgoby is adapted to blend into coral reefs covered in red algae. Its discovery highlights the Red Sea's still-undiscovered biodiversity and underscores the urgency of conservation amid environmental changes

OTHER SCIENCES & ARTS

Storytelling Boosts Engineering Students' Confidence and Sense of Belonging: A Boise State University study suggests that storytelling can help engineering students overcome self-doubt and strengthen their sense of belonging. By sharing personal stories of overcoming challenges, students felt more confident in their abilities and more connected to the engineering community. The storytelling project, supported by The Story Collider, showed promising results: students identified more strongly as engineers and were more likely to stay in their major. The approach could help retain more students in engineering and STEM fields, addressing a societal need for diverse talent.

INDUSTRY

Amazon to Require Corporate Employees to Return to Office Full-Time in 2025: Amazon CEO Andy Jassy announced that corporate employees must return to the office five days a week starting January 2, 2025, reverting to a pre-pandemic policy. The decision follows internal discussions about improving collaboration and customer service by having employees work together in person. Previously, Amazon had implemented a hybrid model, requiring three days in the office, which led to some protests. Jassy emphasized the benefits of in-office work for fostering company culture and productivity, noting strengthened conviction over the past 15 months.

Critique of AI Impact Report: Realities Versus Corporate Hype: Statistics Canada's report on AI's impact on various professions presents an optimistic outlook for education and healthcare but suggests a negative future for finance, insurance, and creative roles. However, the report may oversimplify AI's impact by focusing on exposure and complementarity without considering business models and hidden human labor behind AI systems. The article argues for a critical approach to AI analysis, emphasizing the importance of transparency and accurate data to guide policy decisions and avoid amplifying corporate-driven hype.

TikTok Faces Legal Pushback Over U.S. Ban Based on Chinese Ownership: TikTok is challenging a U.S. law that mandates it to divest from its Chinese parent, ByteDance, or face a ban. Arguing that the ban violates free speech, TikTok's legal team compared it to earlier cases involving foreign ownership. The U.S. government claims TikTok enables data collection and propaganda by Beijing. The court's decision is pending, and experts believe the case could reach the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, political leaders remain divided, with mixed public support for a ban, according to a Pew Research survey.