Engineers Develop World's Smallest, Light-Activated, Dissolvable Pacemaker

Hello and welcome to our April 2, 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 - Scientists Create Exotic Quantum Material with Breakthrough Potential for Computing and Sensor, and more.

• Materials - New Nanomechanical Sensor Array Detects Gases in Real Time—from Spoiled Fish to Toxic Leaks, and more.

• Biotechnology & Biomedical Technology - Battery-Free Wearable Sensor Maps Skin Temperature to Detect Inflammation and Infection.

• Engineering & Technology - Elephant-Inspired Mycelium Tiles Offer Eco-Friendly Cooling for Buildings, and more.

• Astronomy, Space, Astrobiology - Lichens Found to Survive Mars-Like Radiation and Conditions, Boosting Astrobiology Hopes, and more.

• Health & Medicine - Engineers Develop World's Smallest, Light-Activated, Dissolvable Pacemaker, and more.

• Neuroscience - Study Reveals How Chronic Alcohol Use Damages Brain Circuits and Impairs Decision-Making, and more.

• Environment -Geologists Spot “Dripping” Rock Beneath North America, Linked to Ancient Tectonic Plate, and more.

• Nature - Why Fruit Flies Drink Alcohol: Study Reveals Booze Boosts Mating Success in Male Flies, and more.

• Other Sciences & The Arts - 19th-Century French Child Likely Died from Mercury Treatment for Rickets and Scurvy, Study Finds.

Until Tomorrow,

~The STEAM Digest

If you would like to share The STEAM Digest newsletter with others, please use the following link: https://thesteamdigest.beehiiv.com/subscribe

SCIENCE

Scientists Create Exotic Quantum Material with Breakthrough Potential for Computing and Sensors: In a major breakthrough, researchers have created a novel synthetic quantum structure by combining dysprosium titanate and pyrochlore iridate—two lab-synthesized materials once thought too complex to merge. The structure, built atom-by-atom using a custom-designed quantum phenomena discovery platform (Q-DiP), exhibits exotic properties such as magnetic monopoles and Weyl fermions. These unique features make it a promising candidate for future applications in quantum computing, spintronics, and advanced quantum sensors.

Engineers Develop Bilayer Metasurface to Transform Optical Technology:
Researchers at Harvard SEAS have developed a groundbreaking bilayer metasurface—a stacked nanostructure of titanium dioxide that manipulates light in unprecedented ways, advancing beyond previous single-layer designs. The device resembles a dense field of “stepped skyscrapers” under a microscope and enables precise control over wavelength, phase, and polarization of light. This innovation overcomes previous limitations and could enable multifunctional optical devices, such as lenses that project different images from each side, or miniaturized optical systems for use in AR, imaging, and sensing technologies.

Frontier Molecular Orbital Theory Unlocks New Era in Single-Atom Catalyst Design: Researchers at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) and the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (CAS) have applied frontier molecular orbital (FMO) theory to revolutionize the design of single-atom catalysts (SACs), offering a unified framework to understand and optimize both activity and stability. The study evaluated 34 Pd-based SACs on 14 semiconductor supports, revealing that LUMO energy levels of supports directly correlate with catalytic performance in acetylene semi-hydrogenation. Pd1 on 1.9 nm ZnO achieved a record TOF of 25.6 min⁻¹ at 80 °C with exceptional durability. This breakthrough enables predictive SAC design and high-throughput screening aided by AI-driven materials discovery.

MATERIALS

New Nanomechanical Sensor Array Detects Gases in Real Time—from Spoiled Fish to Toxic Leaks: In a breakthrough, researchers have developed a miniaturized nanomechanical sensor array capable of detecting and analyzing complex gases in real time. Using four distinct polymers that swell when exposed to specific gas molecules, the system creates unique electrical “fingerprints” for each gas type. The array successfully distinguished between gases like ethanol and water vapor and even monitored fish spoilage over time. With its compact, highly sensitive design, this sensor array offers potential for widespread applications in food safety, healthcare, and environmental monitoring.

Magnetically Oscillating Micropillar Arrays Pave the Way for Next-Gen Soft Robots and Fluid Control: Researchers have developed micropillar arrays capable of rapid, synchronized oscillations under a rotating magnetic field, demonstrating groundbreaking potential in soft robotics, fluid transport, and dynamic surface control. The system uses hard magnetic microparticles embedded in silicone to achieve complex motions like bending, twisting, and torsion—even at high frequencies (up to 15 Hz) without performance loss. Applications include microfluidic mixing, magnetically powered soft robots, and cargo transport, all controlled wirelessly via a standard magnetic stirrer.

Researchers Develop Durable, Recyclable 3D-Printed Foam for Custom Applications: Scientists have created a durable and recyclable 3D-printed polymer foam that could transform manufacturing in industries such as insulation, helmets, and protective gear. The study showcases a lightweight foam made using dynamic covalent chemistry, allowing it to self-repair and last longer than traditional thermoset foams. The material can form complex shapes via 3D printing, demonstrated with a balloon-dog model. This innovation addresses major sustainability issues by enabling repairability and offering future potential for recyclability and high-impact uses.

BIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOMEDICAL TECHNOLOGY

Battery-Free Wearable Sensor Maps Skin Temperature to Detect Inflammation and Infection: Researchers have developed a flexible, battery-free skin sensor that continuously and accurately monitors skin temperature to detect inflammation and infection. The device uses a thermoelectric system with a network of thermocouples that generate electrical signals in response to temperature changes as small as 0.4°C, responding in under three seconds. It is printed like a tattoo, durable through bending, sweat-resistant, and displays color-coded thermal maps for easy interpretation. The innovation enables real-time wound monitoring and supports personalized healthcare, with future plans to integrate biosensors for broader clinical use.

ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY

Elephant-Inspired Mycelium Tiles Offer Eco-Friendly Cooling for Buildings:
Researchers have developed innovative "fungi tiles"—3D-textured wall tiles made from mycelium (fungal roots) and organic waste—that passively cool buildings without using energy. Inspired by elephant skin, the tiles’ bumpy texture improves heat regulation by up to 25% in dry conditions and up to 70% in simulated rain, compared to flat tiles. The study highlights the potential of biodegradable, hydrophobic materials for sustainable insulation, particularly in tropical climates. The team is now working to scale production and enhance the tiles’ durability for real-world applications.

Twisted Rod Metamaterials Store Record Levels of Elastic Energy, Study Finds:
An international team has developed mechanical metamaterials made of helically deformed, twisted rods that exhibit extraordinarily high elastic energy density—up to 160 times greater than conventional designs. The study demonstrates how torsional buckling allows stress to be more evenly distributed throughout the material, enabling high stiffness, strength, and recoverable strain. These metamaterials could revolutionize spring-based energy storage, shock absorption, robotics, and flexible mechanical systems, offering a new path toward energy-efficient mechanical components.

Cornell Study Reveals Supersonic Speed Limit for Strongest Metal Bonding:
New research shows that tiny metal particles bond most effectively at a precise supersonic speed, challenging assumptions in high-speed manufacturing processes like cold spray coating and additive manufacturing. The study found that aluminum particles launched at increasing velocities formed stronger bonds—until surpassing a critical speed of 1,060 meters per second. Beyond that, bonding weakened due to intensified elastic recovery, where excess energy caused particles to rebound and damage the interface. The findings may help optimize industrial techniques and apply broadly to other metals and alloys.

ASTRONOMY, SPACE, ASTROBIOLOGY

Lichens Found to Survive Mars-Like Radiation and Conditions, Boosting Astrobiology Hopes: In a groundbreaking study researchers have shown that certain lichen species can survive and remain metabolically active under Mars-like conditions, including exposure to ionizing X-ray radiation. The study focused on Diploschistes muscorum and Cetraria aculeata, exposing them to simulated Martian atmosphere, pressure, temperature, and radiation. Notably, D. muscorum maintained metabolic activity and activated defense mechanisms, challenging the idea that Mars' harsh radiation makes life impossible. The findings offer new insights into extremophile biology, astrobiology, and the potential for life on Mars.

TESS Discovers Eccentric Warm Jupiter Exoplanet TOI-2005 b Over 1,000 Light Years Away: Astronomers using NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) have discovered a new warm Jupiter exoplanet, named TOI-2005 b, located around 1,070 light years from Earth. Orbiting a rapidly rotating F-type star, TOI-2005 b is roughly the size of Jupiter and completes an orbit every 17.3 days in a highly eccentric path. With a radius of 1.07 Jupiter radii and a mass under 6.4 Jupiter masses, the planet experiences extreme temperature variations due to its elliptical orbit, ranging from 2,100 K at its closest approach. Researchers believe the planet may be undergoing tidal migration, potentially leading to a more circular orbit over time. Its parent star is nearly twice the size of the Sun and estimated to be 1.6 billion years old.

Unique Multicellular Bacteria Offer Clues to Evolution of Complex Life: A new study uncovers surprising complexity in multicellular magnetotactic bacteria (MMB)—the only known bacteria that exhibit obligate multicellularity, meaning their cells cannot survive independently. These bacteria form consortia of specialized, non-identical cells that work together like a single organism, echoing multicellular behavior seen in animals. Each cell has a unique metabolic role, and the consortium reproduces by duplicating and splitting as a unit. The findings offer insight into one of life's key evolutionary transitions and could help astrobiologists understand the origins of multicellular life on Earth.

HEALTH & MEDICINE

Engineers Develop World's Smallest, Light-Activated, Dissolvable Pacemaker: Researchers at Northwestern University have created the world’s smallest pacemaker, just 1.8 mm wide, that can be injected via syringe and safely dissolves in the body after use—eliminating the need for surgical removal. Designed for temporary pacing, especially in newborns with congenital heart defects, the device is activated by infrared light from a wearable patch and powered by a biofluid-activated galvanic cell. In animal and human heart studies, the pacemaker showed effective heart stimulation and opens new paths for synchronized pacing and integration with other implants.

Rutgers Develops Promising COVID-19 Antiviral That Avoids Paxlovid’s Drug Interaction Risks: Rutgers Health researchers have developed a second-generation oral antiviral, Jun13296, which outperforms existing treatments like Paxlovid in animal studies while avoiding harmful drug interactions. Targeting the virus’s papain-like protease (PLpro) instead of the main protease, Jun13296 showed 90% survival in mice at lower doses and remained effective against Paxlovid-resistant variants. Unlike Paxlovid, it doesn't require co-administration with ritonavir and doesn’t inhibit major drug-metabolizing enzymes. While results are promising, moving to human trials will require substantial funding and industry partnerships.

New Noninvasive Glucose Monitor Offers Faster Calibration and Promising Accuracy: Researchers from RSP Systems (Denmark), in collaboration with German institutions, have developed a Raman spectroscopy–based noninvasive glucose monitoring (NIGM) device that significantly reduces calibration time from several weeks to just two days using 10 measurements. Tested on 50 individuals with type 2 diabetes, the system showed strong accuracy compared to standard finger-prick methods. The study highlights the device’s potential for pain-free, wearable glucose monitoring, with ongoing efforts to miniaturize it for daily use.

Double-Ring Discovery in RAD52 Protein Offers New Hope for Targeted Cancer Therapy: A University of Iowa-led study has uncovered an unexpected double-ring structure formed by the DNA repair protein RAD52 as it binds and protects stalled DNA replication forks. Using cryogenic electron microscopy, researchers revealed that RAD52 forms two stacked rings that engage all arms of the DNA fork, helping to prevent degradation and promote cancer cell survival. This structural insight offers new targets for drug development, especially for cancers with defective DNA repair mechanisms, such as those with BRCA1/2 mutations. Because RAD52 is non-essential in healthy cells but vital for these cancer cells, inhibiting it could lead to highly selective and less toxic treatments. The findings pave the way for developing more effective RAD52 inhibitors and expanding therapeutic options, particularly in combination with existing PARP inhibitors.

NEUROSCIENCE

Study Reveals How Chronic Alcohol Use Damages Brain Circuits and Impairs Decision-Making: For the first time, researchers have shown in an animal model how heavy alcohol use leads to long-term cognitive impairments by damaging brain circuits responsible for strategic decision-making. In a study rats exposed to high levels of alcohol showed persistent deficits in complex reward-based tasks even after three months of sobriety. The impairments were linked to disrupted function in the dorsomedial striatum, a key brain region for decision-making. These findings may help explain high relapse rates in people with alcohol-use disorder and underscore the lasting neural damage caused by alcohol.

Brain Receptor Balance May Explain Why ADHD Medications Like Ritalin Don’t Work for Everyone: A new NIH-backed clinical trial, co-led by the University of Maryland School of Medicine, reveals that individual differences in brain dopamine receptor ratios may explain why over 30% of adults with ADHD do not respond well to stimulant medications like Ritalin. The study showed that individuals with a higher D2-to-D1 dopamine receptor ratio had worse baseline cognitive performance but responded better to Ritalin. In contrast, those with more D1 receptors performed better without medication and saw no improvement with Ritalin. The findings suggest potential for personalized ADHD treatments and raise concerns about the non-prescribed use of stimulants for cognitive enhancement.

NEPTUNE Model Unifies Science Behind Near-Death Experiences:
Researchers from the University of Liège have proposed the NEPTUNE model, a comprehensive theory explaining near-death experiences (NDEs) through disrupted brain activity during extreme physiological stress. The study found that reduced blood flow and oxygen levels trigger a surge in neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins, leading to vivid perceptions such as out-of-body experiences, time distortion, and emotional calm. The model also draws parallels between NDEs and psychedelic states, and suggests evolutionary and psychological factors may influence who experiences them.

ENVIRONMENT

Geologists Spot “Dripping” Rock Beneath North America, Linked to Ancient Tectonic Plate: For the first time, researchers have observed “cratonic dripping”—a process where blobs of rock detach and sink from the underside of a continent—beneath the Midwestern U.S. This phenomenon was uncovered using advanced seismic imaging by scientists at The University of Texas at Austin. The North American craton, known for its ancient stability, appears to be thinning due to the lingering effects of the Farallon Plate, a long-subducted oceanic plate. The plate’s influence may be redirecting mantle flow and weakening the craton from below, offering new insights into the evolution and recycling of continents.

New Mobile Raman Sensor Enables Real-Time Soil Mapping for Sustainable Farming: Researchers have advanced soil analysis technology by integrating a mobile Raman spectroscopy system into the RapidMapper platform, enabling real-time, on-the-move identification of soil components. Using Shifted Excitation Raman Difference Spectroscopy (SERDS) and a custom dual-wavelength laser, the system can detect substances at 5–10 cm soil depth, providing high-resolution soil data paired with GPS coordinates. This innovation could replace traditional lab-based soil sampling, significantly improving efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and precision fertilization, thereby promoting environmentally friendly agriculture.

Stronger Westerly Winds Fuel Ice Sheet Melting in East Antarctica, New Study Finds: A research team has found that global warming–driven westerly winds are intensifying clockwise ocean circulations along East Antarctica’s coast, transporting more heat to vulnerable ice sheets. The study shows that this mechanism—previously undocumented in real-time—could accelerate ice loss in areas like the Totten Glacier, contributing significantly to sea level rise. Using advanced satellite altimetry, reanalysis data, and in situ observations, the team linked these circulations to shifts in the Southern Annular Mode (SAM), projecting that continued wind intensification will heighten melting through the late 21st century.

Scientists Urge Immediate Fossil Fuel Phase-Out to Avert Climate, Health, and Biodiversity Crises: A sweeping review warns that fossil fuels and the fossil fuel industry are driving multiple interlinked crises—including climate change, biodiversity loss, environmental injustice, and public health harms. The study spotlights the United States as the world’s largest fossil fuel producer and a key contributor to global emissions. The review calls for an urgent phase-out of fossil fuels, highlighting available clean energy solutions and exposing the industry’s disinformation campaigns and disproportionate harm to marginalized communities. Without decisive action, scientists warn of millions of deaths, widespread species extinction, and worsening pollution.

NATURE

Why Fruit Flies Drink Alcohol: Study Reveals Booze Boosts Mating Success in Male Flies: A new study from the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology shows that male fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) consume alcohol because it enhances their mating success. Alcohol—especially methanol—triggers increased production of sex pheromones, making males more attractive to females. Researchers identified three neural circuits that regulate the flies' response to alcohol's smell: two that drive attraction and one that signals aversion at high doses, helping flies balance the benefits of pheromone-boosted mating with the risks of intoxication. The findings provide rare insight into how brain, behavior, and ecology interact in animal models.

Cloning Snake Breaks the Rules of Reproduction and Evolution: The flowerpot snake, also known as the Brahminy blind snake, is unique for having three sets of chromosomes and reproducing without a mate. Researchers at the University of Texas at Arlington have studied its genome and discovered that it uses a rare process called premeiotic endoreplication to clone itself. Despite concerns that asexual reproduction leads to harmful mutations, the snake appears to maintain genetic stability through slow evolution and limited chromosome exchange. The findings offer new insights into DNA repair, genetic diversity, and conditions like Down syndrome.

Monkeys Out-Yodel Humans: Study Reveals Primate “Ultra-Yodels” in Latin American Rainforests: A new study reveals that New World monkeys from Latin America produce vocalizations more complex than human yodeling. The study found that these primates use vocal membranes—structures above their vocal folds—to create rapid frequency shifts, or “ultra-yodels,” spanning over three octaves, far exceeding human vocal range. The findings help explain the evolutionary loss of these membranes in humans, likely in favor of pitch stability needed for speech and song.

OTHER SCIENCES & THE ARTS

19th-Century French Child Likely Died from Mercury Treatment for Rickets and Scurvy, Study Finds: A study reveals that a 3–4-year-old child buried in mid-19th-century Rouen, France, suffered from rickets and scurvy, and likely died from mercury poisoning due to medical treatment. Using advanced techniques like X-ray fluorescence and atomic absorption spectrometry, researchers detected abnormally high mercury levels in the child’s bones and teeth. While mercury was historically seen as a medicinal cure, its toxicity—now well understood—likely caused fatal side effects. The findings offer rare insight into historic pediatric healthcare practices during the Industrial Revolution and their unintended consequences.