Donkey Skin Compound Shows Promise as Natural Tick Repellent, Rivals DEET

Hello and welcome to our June 5th 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 - Heaviest Proton-Emitting Nucleus Discovered After 30 Years: Astatine-188 Breakthrough, and more.

• Biotechnology & Biomedical Technology - Stanford’s Milli-Spinner Doubles Success of Clot Removal, Offering Breakthrough in Stroke and Heart Attack Treatment, and more.

• Engineering & Technology - RMIT Engineers Transform Low-Grade Clay into Sustainable Cement Alternative, and more.

• Robotics, AI, Hardware, Software, Gadgets - AI Still Falls Short in Grasping Sensory-Rich Human Concepts, Study Finds, and more.

• Astronomy, Space, & Astrobiology - “Extreme Nuclear Transients” Identified as Brightest Cosmic Explosions to Date, and more.

• Health & Medicine - P2Y12 Inhibitors Outperform Aspirin in Preventing Cardiac Events After PCI, Study Finds, and more.

• Neuroscience - Boosting Brain’s “Dishwasher” System Clears Alzheimer’s Toxins and Improves Cognition in Mice.

• Pediatrics - Early Gut Bacteria May Shield Infants from Respiratory Infections, Study Finds.

• Environment & Earth Sciences - Wind Collapse and Climate Change Drove 2023 North Atlantic Marine Heat Wave, Study Finds.

• Nature & Ecology - Donkey Skin Compound Shows Promise as Natural Tick Repellent, Rivals DEET, and more.

• Other Sciences & The Arts - AI-Powered Dating Model Redefines Timeline of Dead Sea Scrolls, Reveals Earliest Biblical Manuscript Evidence, and more.

Until Tomorrow,

~The STEAM Digest

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PHYSICS

Heaviest Proton-Emitting Nucleus Discovered After 30 Years: Astatine-188 Breakthrough: For the first time in nearly three decades, scientists have measured the heaviest known nucleus to decay via proton emission: the newly discovered isotope astatine-188 (¹⁸⁸At), containing 85 protons and 103 neutrons. Produced at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland, through a fusion-evaporation reaction, this exotic nucleus was identified using advanced recoil separation techniques. The research reveals the nucleus’s unique prolate (“watermelon-like”) shape and suggests a shift in valence proton binding energy, possibly indicating a new type of nuclear interaction. This marks a rare and significant advancement in nuclear physics, expanding the known boundaries of matter stability.

Memory Effects in Quantum Systems Unlock New Potential for Work Extraction: In a breakthrough study, researchers have developed a unified framework linking quantum thermodynamics with non-Markovian dynamics—quantum processes where memory of past states affects future evolution. The work shows that non-Markovian memory effects can be harnessed to enhance work extraction, offering a clear thermodynamic advantage over traditional Markovian processes. The team introduced a hierarchy of four strategies—sequential, joint, global, and comb optimization—revealing increased efficiency with higher degrees of non-Markovianity. By modeling processes as "quantum combs" and using thermal operations resource theory, they quantitatively linked extra extractable work to measurable memory effects. The findings could inform future quantum thermal technologies, including quantum batteries and computing, and guide experimental exploration of quantum energy systems.

Quantum Tornadoes Reveal Universal Law of Turbulence in Superfluid Helium:
An international team has uncovered a universal principle governing how quantum vortices—microscopic whirlpools in superfluid helium—interact and separate after collisions. The study reveals that when these vortices reconnect, they always move apart faster than they approached, generating bursts of energy that mirror turbulent dynamics seen in classical fluids like air and water. Using high-speed imaging and laser visualization techniques, the team visualized these quantized vortices and demonstrated time-asymmetry in their behavior, a fundamental trait of energy transfer in all fluid systems. This breakthrough provides a clearer understanding of turbulence and may lead to advances in engineering, quantum technology, and even weather modeling.

BIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOMEDICAL TECHNOLOGY

Stanford’s Milli-Spinner Doubles Success of Clot Removal, Offering Breakthrough in Stroke and Heart Attack Treatment: Stanford researchers have developed the milli-spinner, a groundbreaking blood clot removal device that is over twice as effective as current methods, offering new hope for treating strokes, heart attacks, pulmonary embolisms, and related conditions. The milli-spinner uses a rotating, finned catheter to apply compression and shear forces that shrink clots without breaking them apart—unlike existing vacuum or snare-based methods. In tests, it achieved first-pass success in 90% of hard-to-treat clots, compared to only 11% with conventional devices. Originally inspired by robotic propulsion technology, the milli-spinner’s success has led to the formation of a startup to fast-track clinical trials. Researchers are also exploring additional applications, such as kidney stone removal, making this technology a potential game-changer across multiple medical fields.

Engineered Nanostructures Boost CAR T-Cell Therapy for Cancer by Mimicking Natural Immune Activation: Researchers have significantly advanced CAR T-cell therapy by designing artificial nanostructured surfaces that mimic the soft, complex surfaces of natural immune-activating cells. Unlike conventional plastic beads, these engineered surfaces enhance T-cell activation, reduce exhaustion, and promote the generation of long-lasting "central memory" CAR T cells—crucial for effective cancer immunotherapy. By testing a library of nanogeometries and elasticities, and analyzing data across donors and metrics with computational tools, the team identified a top-performing surface that improved both gene expression and therapeutic potency. The technology, now scaled for clinical use with partner company ADVA Bio, marks a major step toward more durable, personalized cancer treatments.

Graphene Foam and Electrical Stimuli Guide Cartilage Cell Growth in Breakthrough Tissue Engineering Study: Researchers have developed a novel bioengineering platform that uses 3D graphene foam and targeted electrical stimulation to enhance cartilage formation from chondrogenic progenitor cells. The study introduces a modular system that delivers precise, repeatable electrical cues to ATDC5 cells cultured on conductive graphene scaffolds. This stimulation significantly improved cell growth and mechanical properties, crucial for lab-grown cartilage. The technology could pave the way for innovative osteoarthritis treatments, a condition that currently affects over 595 million people globally. The research also contributes to broader understanding of the “electrobiome”—how electrical signals influence cell behavior and tissue development.

ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY

RMIT Engineers Transform Low-Grade Clay into Sustainable Cement Alternative:
Engineers at RMIT University have developed a novel process that converts low-grade illite clay, combined with kaolinite, into a high-performance cement supplement—offering a sustainable solution for reducing cement-related CO₂ emissions. The study demonstrates that co-calcining the clays at 600°C boosts binding properties, increasing compressive strength by 15% and reducing porosity by 41%. This approach enables a 20% replacement of cement in concrete, while also improving durability. The team also introduced a computational tool to virtually test and optimize clay blends, supporting faster adoption of eco-friendly materials in construction.

MIT Develops Light-Sensitive Resin for Fast, Waste-Free 3D Printing: MIT engineers have created a dual-phase resin that enables faster and more sustainable 3D printing by eliminating wasteful support material. The study introduces a resin that solidifies into two distinct forms: a strong, UV-cured phase for the printed part, and a visible-light-cured phase that forms dissolvable supports. After printing, the supports can be washed away in food-safe solutions and recycled into fresh resin. The method was successfully used to print complex structures like gear trains and dental implants. This innovation could significantly streamline personalized product manufacturing and reduce 3D printing waste.

Boise State Researchers Develop Eco-Friendly Laser-Printed Flexible Circuits: Researchers at Boise State University have introduced a sustainable method for manufacturing flexible hybrid circuits using laser-induced graphene (LIG). By embedding palladium nanoparticles into a polymer matrix, they enabled copper deposition onto LIG scaffolds, creating conductive interconnects for flexible PCBs without harmful chemicals or material waste. The resulting circuits can integrate with microelectronics and remain functional under repeated bending, making them ideal for wearable sensors and IoT devices. The breakthrough promises cost-effective, rapid, and environmentally friendly PCB production, aligning with the growing demand for flexible electronics in a $90 billion global market.

ROBOTICS, AI, HARDWARE, SOFTWARE, GADGETS

AI Still Falls Short in Grasping Sensory-Rich Human Concepts, Study Finds: A new study led by The Ohio State University shows that large language models (LLMs) like GPT-4 and Gemini struggle to represent human concepts rooted in sensory and motor experiences—such as "flower"—despite their powerful linguistic capabilities. By comparing human and AI ratings of 4,442 words using two cognitive measures (Glasgow and Lancaster Norms), researchers found that while LLMs accurately captured abstract or emotion-based concepts, they diverged significantly on concepts tied to smell, touch, and bodily actions. The findings suggest current LLMs lack the embodied experience necessary for full human-like understanding, though models trained with both text and images performed slightly better. Future advances combining AI with sensorimotor input could help bridge this conceptual gap.

New Multi-Expression Method Boosts AI's Emotional Awareness from Facial Cues: Researchers at Edith Cowan University (ECU) have developed a more human-like method to improve AI emotional recognition by training systems to analyze groups of facial expressions rather than isolated images. The approach allows machines to interpret emotions more accurately across varied conditions such as lighting and angles. The technique enhances pattern learning and computational efficiency, offering potential benefits for emotionally aware systems in mental health, customer service, and education. The team is now focusing on creating artificial empathy and exploring explainable AI to make emotional intelligence in machines more transparent and intuitive.

Neural Networks Reduce Waste in Textile Dyeing by Accurately Predicting Color Changes: A new study shows that machine learning—particularly neural networks—can significantly reduce textile manufacturing waste by accurately predicting how fabric colors change from wet to dry. Led by Warren Jasper of the Wilson College of Textiles, the research involved training five models on visual data from 763 fabric samples. The neural network model achieved the highest accuracy, with color prediction errors well below industry tolerance levels (CIEDE2000 median error of 0.7 vs. a baseline of 13.8). This advancement could help manufacturers detect dyeing errors earlier, minimizing waste in the continuous dyeing process, which represents over 60% of textile production.

ASTRONOMY, SPACE, & ASTROLOBIOLOGY

“Extreme Nuclear Transients” Identified as Brightest Cosmic Explosions to Date: Astronomers from the University of Hawaiʻi have discovered a new class of ultra-energetic cosmic explosions, dubbed extreme nuclear transients (ENTs), caused by massive stars being torn apart by supermassive black holes. NTs are nearly 10 times brighter than previously known tidal disruption events and can outshine the energy of 100 suns over a single year—surpassing even the most powerful supernovae. These rare events, such as Gaia18cdj, produce smooth, long-lived flares from galaxy centers, signaling gradual accretion of stellar material by black holes. ENTs offer a novel way to study black hole growth and galactic evolution in the early universe.

HEALTH & MEDICINE

P2Y12 Inhibitors Outperform Aspirin in Preventing Cardiac Events After PCI, Study Finds: A large pooled analysis shows that patients with coronary artery disease who continue P2Y12 inhibitor therapy after dual antiplatelet treatment post-PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention) have significantly lower rates of cardiovascular death, heart attack, and stroke compared to those switched to lifelong aspirin. Involving over 16,000 patients across five randomized trials, the study found a 23% reduction in major cardiovascular events with P2Y12 inhibitors like clopidogrel or ticagrelor, with no increased risk of major bleeding. The findings support the use of P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy for medium-term secondary prevention, though further long-term studies are recommended to confirm its sustained benefits.

Low-Cost Diagnostic Pen Detects Parkinson’s Disease with 96% Accuracy: Researchers at UCLA have developed a diagnostic pen that detects Parkinson’s disease (PD) with 96.22% accuracy, offering a low-cost, objective alternative to traditional assessments. The device converts handwriting motions into electrical signals using a magnetoelastic pen tip and ferrofluid ink, capturing subtle motor impairments in real time. In a pilot study involving PD patients and healthy controls, a neural network classifier effectively distinguished disease presence based on writing tasks. Compact and minimally reliant on infrastructure, the pen holds promise for early diagnosis, remote monitoring, and use in low-resource settings, marking a major advance in accessible neurological care.

NEUROSCIENCE

Boosting Brain’s “Dishwasher” System Clears Alzheimer’s Toxins and Improves Cognition in Mice: Columbia University researchers have shown that enhancing the brain’s glymphatic system—a waste-clearing mechanism often dubbed the "brain’s dishwasher"—can remove toxic amyloid and tau proteins in mice and improve cognition, offering a promising direction for Alzheimer’s disease treatment. The study found that in Alzheimer’s-affected mice, the glymphatic system malfunctions due to misplaced AQP4 water channels in astrocytes, caused by overactive PERK protein. Using PERK inhibitors, already in cancer trials, the team restored proper channel placement, accelerated toxin clearance, and improved memory. The study suggests that targeting the glymphatic system may help treat not only Alzheimer’s but other neurodegenerative diseases linked to impaired brain waste removal.

PEDIATRICS

Early Gut Bacteria May Shield Infants from Respiratory Infections, Study Finds: A major UK study led by the Wellcome Sanger Institute and University College London has found that newborns with a specific mix of gut bacteria—particularly Bifidobacterium longum—within the first week of life were less likely to be hospitalized for viral respiratory infections in their first two years. The study analyzed microbiome samples from over 1,000 infants and linked them with hospital records. The protective microbiome profile was found in some, but not all, babies born vaginally. While the study shows only an association, it underscores the potential of early gut microbiome composition to influence childhood health and supports further research into targeted infant probiotics as part of the upcoming 4M study.

ENVIRONMENT & EARTH SCIENCES

Wind Collapse and Climate Change Drove 2023 North Atlantic Marine Heat Wave, Study Finds: A study led by UNSW Sydney attributes the unprecedented 2023 marine heat wave in the North Atlantic to a collapse in wind strength and increased solar radiation, exacerbated by long-term climate change. The thin upper ocean layer—only 10 meters deep in places due to record-weak winds—allowed rapid warming equivalent to two decades of typical ocean temperature rise in just one summer. Reduced sulfur pollution from ships further cleared skies, enhancing sunlight absorption. The heat wave triggered continental heat extremes in Europe, coral bleaching in the Caribbean, and more intense hurricanes, including Hurricane Idalia. Researchers warn such extreme marine heat events will intensify unless fossil fuel use is urgently phased out.

Gas Leaks in One State Raise Pollution in Others, Study Warns: A nationwide study reveals that natural gas pipeline leaks—including methane and its by-products like PM2.5—can negatively impact air quality in neighboring states, not just where the leak occurs. Using 2009–2019 data from the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and pollution metrics from Columbia University's CIESIN, researchers found that incidents in energy-intensive states like Texas and Kentucky increased PM2.5 in adjacent regions. Even environmentally proactive states like California and New York are vulnerable to cross-border pollution. The study underscores the need for interstate collaboration on pipeline safety and pollution control to achieve truly cleaner air nationwide.

NATURE & ECOLOGY

Donkey Skin Compound Shows Promise as Natural Tick Repellent, Rivals DEET:
Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have identified a naturally occurring compound, (E)-2-octenal, secreted by donkey skin, that effectively repels deer ticks (Ixodes scapularis), the primary carriers of Lyme disease in the U.S. The study found that the compound disrupts tick host recognition and prevents movement, performing as well or better than DEET in lab tests. The work opens the door to developing a natural tick repellent for humans and animals. A commercial formulation is now being explored in partnership with Gearjump Technologies.

Female Earwigs Show Weapon-Like Trait Growth, Suggesting Sexual Selection in Both Sexes: A new study from Toho University reveals that female maritime earwigs (Anisolabis maritima) exhibit positive allometry in their forceps—pincer-like appendages—similar to the exaggerated growth seen in males. The research is the first to quantify female forceps traits and suggests that both sexes may have evolved their distinct forceps through sexual selection. While males use thick, curved forceps in rival combat, females possess long, straight forceps that may serve as weapons in competition for mates. The findings challenge male-centric perspectives in insect morphology and highlight the evolutionary role of female traits.

OTHER SCIENCES & THE ARTS

AI-Powered Dating Model Redefines Timeline of Dead Sea Scrolls, Reveals Earliest Biblical Manuscript Evidence: An international research team has developed a groundbreaking date-prediction model called Enoch, which combines radiocarbon dating, paleography, and artificial intelligence to more accurately date the Dead Sea Scrolls. The model bridges a longstanding chronological gap and reveals that many scrolls are older than previously thought. Most notably, it establishes that two fragments—4QDanielc and 4QQoheleta—originate from the presumed time of their biblical authors in the second and third centuries BCE, respectively. Enoch uses deep learning on digitized handwriting and delivers date estimates with ~30-year precision, bringing unprecedented empirical rigor to paleography. This advancement reshapes our understanding of Jewish script evolution and provides fresh insights into the political and religious landscape of ancient Judaea.

Brutal Death and Liminal Burial: Early Medieval Woman’s Remains Reveal Rare Execution in 8th-Century London: A new study analyzes the remains of a woman discovered in 1991 on the Thames River foreshore, revealing a rare early medieval execution between 680–810 AD. The woman, aged 28–40, was placed on a reed mat between bark sheets with moss pads, her body left exposed at high tide—likely as a public warning. Isotopic data shows she was a local, with a diet possibly affected by starvation or dietary change in childhood. Two weeks before death, she suffered over 50 injuries from beatings, culminating in a fatal blow to the head. Scholars interpret her burial in the liminal Thames setting as symbolic of legal punishment and social deviance under evolving Anglo-Saxon law codes, making this one of the few documented female executions from the period.

Why We Follow Rules—Even When It Costs Us: New Study Reveals Intrinsic Drivers of Compliance: A large-scale behavioral study introduces a new framework, CRISP, to explain why people follow rules—even when there are no consequences for breaking them. Across four experiments involving over 14,000 participants, researchers found that 55–70% complied with a costly and arbitrary rule despite anonymity and lack of impact on others. The CRISP model identifies four drivers of rule-following: Conformity, Respect for rules, Incentives, Social expectations, and Preferences for others' welfare. Surprisingly, 23% adhered to the rule unconditionally, suggesting that intrinsic respect and perceived social norms are powerful motivators—more so than fear of punishment. The findings provide new insights for shaping policies, improving compliance strategies, and understanding social order.