Laser Vibration Sensor Advances Landmine Detection with Greater Speed and Safety

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

In today’s edition:

• Science - Laser Vibration Sensor Advances Landmine Detection with Greater Speed and Safety.

• Technology and AI - Peer Reviewers Struggle to Detect AI-Generated Scientific Essays, Study Finds Bias Against Machine Writing, and more.

• Engineering - Dynamic Interface Printing: A Breakthrough in 3D Light-Based Manufacturing, and more.

• Astronomy & Space - New Insights Reveal Instabilities in Black Hole Interiors, Challenging the Kerr Model.

• Health & Medicine - Human Histones Show Promise Against Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria and Biofilms, and more.

• Neuroscience - New Polymer-Based Therapy Shows Promise in Treating Huntington’s Disease Symptoms in Mice, and more.

• Environment - Thawing Arctic Permafrost Releases Toxic Uranium and Arsenic into Water Supplies, and more.

• Nature - Wilting Flowers: A Resource Recycling Strategy for Future Plant Reproduction, Intermediate Size: The Key to Speed Across Land, Water, and Air?, and more.

• Other Sciences & Arts - New Causality Model Identifies Unique, Redundant, and Synergistic Effects in Complex Systems, and more.

• Industry - NASA Urges SpaceX to Prioritize Safety Over Schedule Following Astronaut Hospitalizations After Ocean Landing.

Until Tomorrow.

~The STEAM Digest

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This newsletter is curated by The STEAM Digest.

SCIENCE

Laser Vibration Sensor Advances Landmine Detection with Greater Speed and Safety: Vyacheslav Aranchuk and his team at the National Center for Physical Acoustics presented a groundbreaking laser multibeam vibration sensor, LAMBDIS, which can detect landmines buried underground at a safe distance. Traditional methods, like metal detectors and ground-penetrating radar, are limited, especially for plastic landmines, which evade metal-based detection. The LAMBDIS system uses a 34x23 matrix array of laser beams to create a vibration map of the ground in under a second. When ground vibrations reveal buried mines, they appear distinctly in the vibration image, enabling faster, more accurate detection from a moving vehicle. This innovation holds promise not only for landmine detection but also for applications in infrastructure assessment, material testing, and biomedical fields. Future research will explore its effectiveness across different soil types and buried objects.

TECHNOLOGY AND AI

Peer Reviewers Struggle to Detect AI-Generated Scientific Essays, Study Finds Bias Against Machine Writing: A study from Yale School of Medicine reveals that peer reviewers have difficulty distinguishing between AI-generated and human-written scientific essays, often misidentifying authorship. In an essay contest for the journal Stroke, AI-generated content was correctly identified by reviewers only half the time, with AI essays rated higher in quality than human submissions. However, when reviewers assumed an essay was AI-written, they were much less likely to rate it as the best. This negative bias highlights the need for clear guidelines on AI use in scientific writing, as LLMs like ChatGPT and Bard become more prevalent tools. Schwamm sees potential in AI’s role, particularly for non-native English speakers, advocating for its acceptance as an assistive tool in scientific communication. The study underscores the evolving landscape of scientific publishing and the importance of developing ethical policies on AI use.

eRAG: A New Cost-Effective Method for Evaluating AI-Driven Search Engines: Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have developed eRAG, a novel tool for evaluating the reliability of AI-powered search engines, specifically tailored for AI agents such as Large Language Models (LLMs). Unlike traditional search engines designed for human use, AI-focused search engines must meet different informational needs, as AI models require exact data rather than approximations. Existing evaluation methods are either costly, rely on human judgments, or lack transparency. eRAG improves on these methods by providing a fast, cost-effective, and nearly as reliable alternative. It evaluates search engine quality based on the utility of documents retrieved for LLMs, running document-level tests that efficiently measure relevance and reliability. This research, recognized with a Best Short Paper Award at SIGIR 2024, may lead to more advanced, AI-optimized search engines and is available publicly for further development and testing.

ENGINEERING

Dynamic Interface Printing: A Breakthrough in 3D Light-Based Manufacturing: Australian researchers have developed a new 3D printing technique, called dynamic interface printing, that improves upon digital light manufacturing by addressing common challenges with precursor flow and heat dissipation. Traditional 3D printing methods use either window-based or top-down laser approaches, which encounter issues with maintaining fluid flow and managing heat. This novel technique moves the printing point to the meniscus, the curved liquid surface, using a tubular pressurized printhead with acoustic vibrations to stabilize the air pressure. By projecting light patterns onto the meniscus, objects grow upward from the tank base with a steady precursor flow facilitated by surface tension and vibration. Testing demonstrated successful prints at 0.7 mm per second with fewer errors and enhanced heat management, showcasing dynamic interface printing as a promising advancement in digital light-based manufacturing.

New Machine Learning Approach Enhances Real-Time Monitoring and Safety of Lithium-Ion Batteries: Researchers from TU Darmstadt and MIT have developed an innovative monitoring method for lithium-ion batteries, combining physical models with machine learning to improve fault detection and enhance safety. Using recursive Gaussian processes, this approach detects changes in battery cells in real-time, processing large datasets for continuous monitoring. The study, led by Joachim Schaeffer and teams at TU Darmstadt and MIT, used a unique dataset containing over 133 million data rows from 224 problematic battery cells, a first in open-access battery data. The findings highlight that a fault in a single cell can compromise an entire battery system. This advancement promises safer battery systems for applications like electric vehicles and energy storage. Schaeffer received the MIT Open Data Prize for his contributions to open-access data.

ASTRONOMY & SPACE

New Insights Reveal Instabilities in Black Hole Interiors, Challenging the Kerr Model: A recent study, conducted by researchers from the University of Southern Denmark and international collaborators, has highlighted potential instabilities within black holes that challenge the widely accepted Kerr model, which describes rotating black holes. The study reveals that even dynamic black holes exhibit exponential energy accumulation within their inner horizon, leading to substantial instability that could alter their overall geometry. Traditionally, the Kerr solution from General Relativity has been considered the best model, defining black holes with two horizons and a stable ring singularity. However, the new findings suggest that black holes may experience internal changes over time, deviating from the Kerr geometry on the timescale of their existence. This discovery suggests a need to refine theoretical models, as these instabilities may offer insights into physics beyond General Relativity, bridging gaps between theoretical and observational studies of black holes.

HEALTH & MEDICINE

Human Histones Show Promise Against Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria and Biofilms: A recent study led by Eduard Torrents from the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) reveals that human histones, proteins usually involved in DNA organization, exhibit antimicrobial activity against multidrug-resistant bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The research shows that specific histone H1 subtypes reduce bacterial counts by up to 70% and decrease bacterial biofilm mass by 30%. When combined with the antibiotic ciprofloxacin, histones demonstrated enhanced effectiveness, suggesting potential for new treatment combinations. Biofilms, protective communities of bacteria on surfaces, are often resistant to antibiotics, making this discovery significant for tackling chronic and acute infections. Tests on wax worms (Galleria mellonella) infected with P. aeruginosa confirmed increased survival without adverse effects, supporting histones as a promising addition to antimicrobial therapies. Further research aims to identify the most potent histone components for clinical applications.

Prolonged Sitting Raises Heart Disease Risks in Millennials, Study Finds: A study by researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder and UC Riverside warns that sitting for over 60 hours per week—common among Millennials due to sedentary work and digital entertainment—may raise the risk of heart disease and signs of premature aging. Analyzing health data from over 1,000 participants, including twins, the researchers found that even meeting minimum physical activity guidelines (20 minutes of moderate exercise daily) didn’t counteract the negative effects of prolonged sitting. Vigorous exercise helped reduce risks, with active participants showing younger cholesterol and BMI profiles, but couldn’t fully offset sitting’s impact. The study emphasizes reducing daily sitting time by using standing desks, taking breaks, and adding regular, vigorous exercise. Researchers hope these findings encourage young adults to adopt healthier habits and prompt policymakers to revisit physical activity guidelines.

SGLT-2 Inhibitors Linked to Reduced Recurrence of Kidney Stones and Gout in Type 2 Diabetes Patients: A Canadian study suggests that SGLT-2 inhibitors, commonly used to manage type 2 diabetes, may also help lower the risk of recurrent kidney stones and gout flare-ups. Analyzing data from over 20,000 adults with diabetes and a history of these conditions, researchers found a 33% reduction in kidney stone recurrence among those using SGLT-2 inhibitors compared to GLP-1 receptor agonists, translating to 51 fewer cases per 1,000 person years. This benefit likely stems from SGLT-2 inhibitors increasing urinary volume and reducing blood uric acid levels, thus lowering crystal concentrations that cause stones and gout. Although observational, the study design minimized bias, making these findings potentially applicable to broader populations, indicating SGLT-2 inhibitors as a promising treatment option for managing type 2 diabetes alongside kidney stones and gout.

NEUROSCIENCE

New Polymer-Based Therapy Shows Promise in Treating Huntington’s Disease Symptoms in Mice: Researchers from Northwestern University and Case Western Reserve University have developed a polymer-based therapy that shows potential for treating Huntington's disease, a debilitating neurodegenerative disorder. The study reveals that the new treatment uses peptide-brush polymers to prevent harmful protein aggregation in the brain, which is characteristic of Huntington's. In mouse models, the therapy preserved neuron health, reversed behavioral symptoms, and proved nontoxic. By protecting peptides from enzymatic breakdown and facilitating their passage across the blood-brain barrier, this therapy stayed active 2,000 times longer than traditional treatments. While further testing is needed, researchers envision this polymer therapy as a possible weekly injection to delay Huntington’s onset or mitigate symptoms. The team, motivated by the urgent need for effective treatments, also plans to explore this approach for other neurodegenerative diseases.

Rastermap: A New Tool for Visualizing Large-Scale Neural Data in High Dimensions: Researchers at HHMI’s Janelia Research Campus have developed Rastermap, a computational tool that organizes and visualizes vast neural datasets, addressing challenges in interpreting high-dimensional recordings of neural activity. As modern neuroscience advances allow for simultaneous recording from tens of thousands of neurons, each neuron adds a dimension to the dataset, making traditional visualization approaches insufficient. Rastermap groups neurons with similar activity patterns, creating ordered, readable "raster plots" that reveal shared neural behaviors and responses more clearly. Applied to data from multiple animal models, including mice and zebrafish, Rastermap organizes neural firing rates spatially, improving clarity and aiding discovery in dense data environments. This tool could become widely adopted, especially as neuroscience shifts toward large-scale recordings, potentially advancing clinical applications such as brain-computer interfaces (BCIs). Pachitariu and his team are now building on Rastermap to create additional visualization methods for complex neural datasets.

ENVIRONMENT

Thawing Arctic Permafrost Releases Toxic Uranium and Arsenic into Water Supplies: As Arctic permafrost thaws due to climate change, toxic elements like uranium and arsenic previously locked in the frozen ground are beginning to leach into water sources. Research by Elliott Skierszkan from Carleton University reveals that permafrost samples from the Yukon contained uranium and arsenic levels above safe limits. Using advanced analysis techniques, the study found uranium associated with organic carbon and arsenic with iron oxides. As permafrost thaws, organic matter decomposes, potentially releasing these elements into groundwater, posing risks for northern communities reliant on such sources. These findings underscore the need for increased water quality monitoring and adjustments in mining waste management to mitigate contamination risks in vulnerable Arctic ecosystems.

The Greening of the Sahara: How Ancient Vegetation Changed Northern Hemisphere Climate: Recent research highlights how the Sahara Desert, once greener due to intensified monsoons, influenced climate patterns across the Northern Hemisphere during the mid-Holocene (5,000–11,000 years ago). Increased solar radiation led to lush vegetation in the Sahara, creating a year-round impact on atmospheric circulation. Climate model simulations by Dr. Marco Gaetani and colleagues show that this "greening" caused warmer, drier summers in Scandinavia and North America, but colder, wetter conditions in the Mediterranean, among other regional effects. These shifts were driven by westward shifts in Walker Circulation and modifications in the North Atlantic Oscillation, while reduced dust and lower albedo further amplified tropical warming. These findings underscore the profound influence of Saharan vegetation on ancient climate, with ongoing climate change possibly setting the stage for similar transformations in the desert today.

Fire Retardants May Contribute to Toxic Metal Contamination in Waterways Post-Wildfire: A study from the University of Southern California reveals that chemical fire suppressants used in wildland firefighting may introduce toxic metals into the environment, potentially contaminating waterways and drinking water. Researchers tested 14 fire suppression products, finding high levels of metals such as chromium, cadmium, and arsenic, often exceeding U.S. EPA's drinking water standards. Fire retardants in particular contained multiple metals in concentrations above regulatory limits, including levels that classify as hazardous waste in California. Analysis of fire suppressant use in the U.S. from 2009 to 2021 showed an increasing trend in metal application, with one case linking a significant rise in cadmium in a stream to nearby fire retardant use. The findings highlight a potential risk from fire suppression activities, suggesting further research is needed to assess the long-term effects on human and environmental health.

NATURE

Wilting Flowers: A Resource Recycling Strategy for Future Plant Reproduction: A study by Macquarie University researchers has discovered that plants reuse resources from wilting flowers to fuel future reproductive cycles. Using the Blandfordia grandiflora, or "Christmas Bells," the research team led by Professor Graham Pyke demonstrated for the first time that wilting flowers allow plants to reclaim energy and nutrients, storing them in roots and corms for the next season. Unlike previous assumptions, these resources are not used immediately but are instead saved to support new flowering stems. The study highlights the sophisticated resource management strategies in plants, paving the way for further research into this long-term "plant economics" approach.

Intermediate Size: The Key to Speed Across Land, Water, and Air?: Research reveals that the fastest animals across various environments share an intermediate body size. On land, cheetahs achieve speeds of 104 km/h; in water, yellowfin tuna and wahoo reach up to 77 km/h; and in the air, the white-throated needletail swift surpasses 112 km/h. Through virtual simulations of human musculoskeletal structures, researchers investigated why intermediate size favors speed. Scaling models from 100 grams to 2,000 kilograms, they found that optimal speed aligns with models around 47 kg—similar to a cheetah's mass. Larger bodies, constrained by muscle structure, cannot produce adequate ground force, while smaller bodies struggle with gravity. This study sheds light on evolutionary adaptations, suggesting that modern humans, at around 62 kg, have achieved close to their maximum speed potential without major muscular changes.

Project CETI Develops Autonomous Method for Tracking Sperm Whales and Predicting Surface Locations: Marine scientists from Project CETI (Cetacean Translation Initiative) and Harvard University have introduced a new method to track and predict sperm whale surfacing, combining autonomous robots with advanced sensor data. This approach leverages an algorithm-driven framework called AVATARS (Autonomous Vehicles for Whale Tracking And Rendezvous by remote Sensing) that uses drones, sensors, and whale tracking tags to optimize whale location tracking. This breakthrough aims to improve whale rendezvous predictions, aiding whale behavior research and conservation by minimizing ship-whale collisions. Project CETI hopes the system will further facilitate understanding of whale communication and social behaviors.

OTHER SCIENCES & THE ARTS

New Causality Model Identifies Unique, Redundant, and Synergistic Effects in Complex Systems: A research team led by Caltech's Adrián Lozano-Durán has developed a novel method, called synergistic-unique-redundant decomposition of causality (SURD), to clarify cause-and-effect relationships in complex systems. This model applies information theory to dissect contributions of variables, separating them into unique, redundant, and synergistic components of causality. Unlike previous methods, SURD avoids false positives by distinguishing redundant causality (where variables independently yield the same effect) and synergistic causality (where variables must combine to create an effect). Validated across multiple scenarios, SURD provides an accurate causal map, revealing hidden causality and enhancing causal inference across disciplines, from climate science to aerospace engineering.

Mystery Solved: Maryland Historical Society Identifies 100-Year-Old Beaten Biscuit Maker in Archives: After decades in storage and a recent call for public input, the Dorchester County Historical Society (DCHS) in Cambridge, Maryland, has identified a mysterious machine in its collection as a mechanical beaten biscuit maker. The device, known for its two spinning rollers on a ceramic countertop, was initially thought to be a clothes wringer or meat tenderizer. However, DCHS executive director Zoe Phillips confirmed it was designed to "beat" the dough for Maryland’s traditional beaten biscuits. The machine’s function dates back to a local invention aimed at easing the labor-intensive process of making biscuits by hand—a technique originating in Maryland’s plantation era.

INDUSTRY

NASA Urges SpaceX to Prioritize Safety Over Schedule Following Astronaut Hospitalizations After Ocean Landing: NASA has raised concerns over SpaceX's emphasis on maintaining a tight mission schedule at the potential cost of crew safety, following a recent incident where all four Crew-8 astronauts required medical evaluation after a water landing off the coast of Florida. During an October 31 meeting of NASA’s Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP), former astronaut and committee member Kent Rominger highlighted a pattern of recent technical malfunctions with SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule. Rominger underscored the need for increased vigilance on aging hardware and expressed concern that the company’s focus on rapid operations might undermine safety. The incident follows a July Falcon 9 malfunction and additional delays in August and September. SpaceX remains NASA’s main private contractor, but sustaining NASA’s trust depends on ensuring that operational efficiency does not overshadow astronaut safety.