AI-Powered Drug Discovery Offers New Hope for Non-Opioid Chronic Pain Treatment

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

In today’s edition:

• Science - MIT Researchers Mimic Electron 'Edge State' Flow Using Ultracold Atoms, and more.

• Technology and AI - AI-Powered Drug Discovery Offers New Hope for Non-Opioid Chronic Pain Treatment, New Ultra-Thin Subdermal Optical Device Enhances Brain Monitoring and Stimulation, and more.

• Engineering - Electric Flying Taxis Set to Revolutionize Urban Air Mobility by 2025.

• Astronomy & Space - Ceres Could Be a Frozen Ocean World: New Research Suggests Icy Crust Beneath the Surface, and more.

• Health & Medicine - UCLA Researchers Develop Deep Learning-Enhanced Paper-Based Assay for Rapid Cardiac Diagnostics, and more.

• Neuroscience - Neural Patterns in Value-Based Decision-Making Reflect More Than Just Choice-Making, and more.

• Environment - Wealthier EV Owners Still Have Higher Carbon Footprints, Study Finds, and more.

• Nature - Extinct Caribbean Monkey Fossils Unearthed in Underwater Cave Reveal New Insights, and more.

Until Tomorrow.

~The STEAM Digest

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This newsletter is curated by The STEAM Digest.

SCIENCE

MIT Researchers Mimic Electron 'Edge State' Flow Using Ultracold Atoms: Researchers at MIT have successfully simulated the elusive electron 'edge state' effect using ultracold sodium atoms, offering new insights into a phenomenon critical for technologies like superconductors and quantum computers. By using lasers to trap and cool millions of sodium atoms, the team recreated the conditions needed for edge state behavior—where electrons move in resistance-free, one-way currents along a material's edge. The system's slower timescale allowed for detailed observation, revealing coherent, frictionless motion that matches theoretical predictions. This breakthrough opens new possibilities for studying quantum phenomena and developing advanced technologies.

Scientists Capture Water Formation on a Molecular Scale Using Palladium: For the first time, researchers at Northwestern University have observed the formation of water molecules in real-time on a molecular scale. By leveraging the catalytic properties of palladium, a metal known to facilitate water synthesis, the team captured this process using a specially designed nanoreactor membrane and advanced electron microscopy. Hydrogen atoms were absorbed into the palladium, and when oxygen was introduced, the hydrogen emerged to combine and form tiny water droplets. This breakthrough offers potential applications in creating water from scratch for space exploration and habitats where water is scarce.

TECHNOLOGY AND AI

AI-Powered Drug Discovery Offers New Hope for Non-Opioid Chronic Pain Treatment: Cleveland Clinic's Genome Center, led by Dr. Feixiong Cheng, in collaboration with IBM, has developed an AI-based deep learning framework to identify non-addictive, non-opioid treatments for chronic pain. The algorithm, LISA-CPI, predicts how molecules, including FDA-approved drugs and gut microbiome metabolites, interact with pain receptors. The findings suggest that several compounds could be repurposed to treat chronic pain. This innovative approach aims to reduce the reliance on opioids, addressing both effectiveness and addiction concerns, while also opening doors to treat other conditions like Alzheimer's.

Machine Learning Model Effectively Diagnoses Meniere Disease and Predicts Endolymphatic Hydrops: A study published in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery reveals that a machine learning model based on pure-tone audiometry data can diagnose Meniere disease (MD) and predict endolymphatic hydrops (EH). Researchers from Fudan University developed a light gradient boosting (LGB) model that demonstrated 87% accuracy in diagnosing MD and 78% accuracy in predicting EH, surpassing other models and matching the performance of experienced clinicians. Key audiometry features for diagnosis included standard deviation, mean of whole-frequency hearing, and low-frequency hearing, especially at 250 Hz. The findings suggest the potential for machine learning to aid in MD screening.

New Ultra-Thin Subdermal Optical Device Enhances Brain Monitoring and Stimulation: Researchers from Columbia University and New York University have developed a breakthrough optical device that enables precise monitoring and stimulation of the mammalian brain. The device utilizes a CMOS-based optical probe called SCOPe, which is ultrathin and flexible enough to fit within the subdural space of a primate's brain. This innovative tool offers a less invasive alternative for imaging and optogenetic stimulation, improving on the limitations of bulky lab instruments. Early tests on mice and non-human primates demonstrated its ability to correlate neural activity with movements, opening up new possibilities for neuroscientific research with greater precision and flexibility.

Breakthrough in Post-Quantum Cryptography Hardware for Enhanced Security: Researchers at TU Graz have developed new hardware for implementing post-quantum cryptography (PQC) algorithms, designed to protect against future quantum computer threats. The study presents a unified cryptographic coprocessor, KaLi, which supports both Kyber KEM and Dilithium signature algorithms—key standards chosen by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The compact, efficient design, critical for low-resource devices like IoT systems, incorporates the "Kavach" data randomization technique to counteract physical side-channel attacks. This innovation marks an important step in transitioning to quantum-safe cryptography.

ENGINEERING

Electric Flying Taxis Set to Revolutionize Urban Air Mobility by 2025: Urban Air Mobility (UAM) is poised to become a reality by 2025 with the launch of electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOLs), offering a solution to urban traffic congestion by transporting passengers at low altitudes. Researchers at the University of Maryland's Smith School of Business analyzed the logistics of operating these flying taxis, focusing on challenges like passenger demand, battery management, and scheduling. Their findings highlight the potential for UAM to enhance urban transportation by reducing commute times and integrating air and ground transit, all while contributing to sustainable and efficient travel in dense urban areas.

Breakthrough in Optical Fiber Communications: 336 Tb/s Transmission Capacity Achieved with Single Light Source: An international research team led by the Photonic Network Laboratory at Japan's National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) has demonstrated a groundbreaking coherent optical fiber communication system that achieves a total transmission capacity of 336 Tb/s using a single light source. This system simplifies traditional wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) communications by eliminating the need for hundreds of built-in light sources in transponder modules. The system uses optical comb generation and frequency reference distribution over the S-, C-, and L-bands, reducing costs and accelerating the commercialization of multiband WDM systems.

ASTRONOMY & SPACE

Ceres Could Be a Frozen Ocean World: New Research Suggests Icy Crust Beneath the Surface: Ceres, the largest object in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, may have a crust composed of over 90% water ice, according to new research from Purdue University. Once thought to contain only around 30% ice, recent simulations suggest that a small amount of rocky material mixed into the ice could give Ceres's surface the structural integrity needed to maintain its craters. This discovery implies Ceres may have once been an ocean world that froze over, potentially offering insights into similar icy bodies like Europa and Enceladus. The findings make Ceres a compelling target for future space exploration.

Discovery of a Record-Breaking Triple Star System Bound for a Spectacular Collision: Astronomers using NASA’s TESS telescope have discovered a record-breaking triple star system, TIC 290061484, located just under 5,000 light-years away. This rare system consists of a closely-orbiting binary star pair and a third star that orbits them all within a space smaller than Mercury's orbit. The trio of stars is destined to collide and eventually form a single neutron star in about 20 million years. A potential fourth distant companion star has also been detected. This discovery, led by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, suggests that such tightly bound multi-star systems could be more common than previously thought.

Astronomers Detect Complex Tidal Tails Around Old Globular Cluster NGC 288: By analyzing astronomical survey data, astronomers have identified multiple extended tidal tails associated with the old globular cluster NGC 288, located 29,200 light-years away in the Milky Way. These tidal tails, stretching up to 80 degrees, were found to consist of distinct stellar streams, with a wider leading tail and a narrower trailing tail. The discovery offers new insights into the cluster’s internal dynamics and its gravitational interactions with the Milky Way, potentially revealing the influence of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) on these features. Further studies, including radial velocity measurements, are needed to confirm the association of the stars in these tails with NGC 288.

Meteor Impact 66 Million Years Ago Sparked the Evolution of Fungus-Farming Ants: A study published in Science suggests that the meteor impact that wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago also led to the emergence of fungus-farming ants. As plants and animals died off, fungi thrived in the low-light conditions, and some ant species began cultivating these fungi as a reliable food source. By analyzing ultraconserved elements (UCEs) from 475 fungal species cultivated by ants, researchers traced the origins of two fungal lineages back to the time of the meteor impact. This mutualistic relationship between ants and fungi predates human agriculture by millions of years, highlighting how ants adapted to environmental pressures by relying on fungi for survival. The study also sheds light on the potential biotechnological applications of enzymes produced by these fungi for degrading organic matter and even plastics.

HEALTH & MEDICINE

UCLA Researchers Develop Deep Learning-Enhanced Paper-Based Assay for Rapid Cardiac Diagnostics: UCLA researchers have developed a high-sensitivity vertical flow assay (hs-VFA) that combines deep learning with nanoparticle amplification chemistry to detect cardiac troponin I (cTnI) with remarkable precision. This paper-based diagnostic platform, capable of delivering results in just 15 minutes with a detection limit as low as 0.2 picograms per milliliter, offers a cost-effective, portable alternative to traditional lab-based cardiac testing. Ideal for resource-limited settings, the hs-VFA could significantly improve access to early detection of heart attacks. Its affordability, at less than $4 per test and $170 for the portable reader, positions the technology for wide global adoption in diverse healthcare settings.

mRNA Vaccine Shows Promise in Protecting Mice Against Clostridioides difficile Infections: A team of U.S. researchers has developed an mRNA vaccine that effectively protects mice from lethal Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) infections, according to a study published in Science. The vaccine, designed using mRNA technology similar to that used for COVID-19 vaccines, targets multiple proteins critical to the bacteria's life cycle. When tested on mice, the vaccine enabled the immune system to fight off C. difficile, which typically infects the gut following antibiotic treatments. All vaccinated mice recovered from normally fatal doses, while control group mice died, demonstrating the vaccine's potential in combating this persistent bacterial infection.

New Study Links Histone Modification to Stress Vulnerability in Mice: Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have identified a histone modification, H3K27me1, that increases stress susceptibility in mice. Published in Neuron, the study shows that this post-translational modification, found in the brain’s nucleus accumbens (NAc), plays a key role in regulating stress responses. By manipulating the SUZ12 protein, which controls the H3K27me1 modification, researchers were able to make mice more vulnerable to stress, exhibiting behaviors linked to social avoidance and low motivation. This discovery could pave the way for new treatments for stress-related disorders and depression in humans.

NEUROSCIENCE

Neural Patterns in Value-Based Decision-Making Reflect More Than Just Choice-Making: A study by researchers at Brown University and the University of Birmingham reveals that neural activity during value-based decision-making is influenced by factors beyond the choice itself. Using EEG, the researchers found distinct neural signatures corresponding to both how much participants liked their options and how difficult it was for them to make a decision. Surprisingly, the activity linked to decision difficulty did not match expected patterns, suggesting that neural signals previously associated with decision-making might reflect choice-independent processes. These findings could inform future studies on decision-making, with potential implications for conditions like depression or OCD.

Scientists Create First Complete Brain Map of Adult Fruit Fly, Advancing Neurobiology Research: A team of scientists, supported by the NIH's BRAIN Initiative, has successfully mapped the entire brain of the adult fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster), marking a significant achievement in neurobiology. The study provides a comprehensive guide, or "consensus cell type atlas," detailing the 130,000 neurons and 50 million synaptic connections within the fly's brain. This breakthrough will help researchers explore neural circuits controlling behaviors like motor control, decision-making, and memory. While scaling this approach to larger mammalian brains, such as humans, is still beyond current capabilities, the study represents a crucial step towards understanding complex brain functions.

ENVIRONMENT

Wealthier EV Owners Still Have Higher Carbon Footprints, Study Finds: A study conducted by psychologists and an economist from the University of Turku, Finland, revealed that wealthier electric vehicle (EV) owners still have larger carbon footprints compared to the average population. Despite EVs being seen as environmentally friendly, the study found that wealthier individuals tend to drive more and consume more goods, contributing to higher overall emissions. The findings, based on data from the CLIMATE NUDGE survey, show that while EVs themselves produce no emissions while driving, the lifestyle and consumption habits of their owners negate these benefits. The research underscores the complexity of reducing individual carbon footprints through technology alone.

Enzyme Discovered in Sewage Microbes Could Help Combat Plastic Pollution: Researchers have identified a novel enzyme in Comamonas testosteroni, a microbe found in sewage sludge, that breaks down polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a common plastic used in bottles and containers. The study shows that C. testosteroni can degrade PET into its monomers, which can then be upcycled by environmental microbes into other useful molecules. The enzyme was particularly effective when acetate, a common ion in wastewater, was present. This discovery offers potential for reducing microplastic pollution in wastewater by utilizing natural plastic-degrading bacteria.

Large-Scale Afforestation Can Help Limit Global Warming, Study Shows: A study led by LMU scientists Yiannis Moustakis and Julia Pongratz, reveals that large-scale afforestation and reforestation (AR) could significantly contribute to reducing global temperatures. Simulations suggest that AR could lower peak mid-century temperatures by 0.08°C and end-of-century temperatures by 0.2°C, while shortening the period during which global temperatures exceed the 1.5°C target by 13 years. The study emphasizes the potential of AR as part of climate mitigation strategies, while noting the need for careful socioeconomic consideration to minimize negative impacts on local communities and biodiversity.

NATURE

Extinct Caribbean Monkey Fossils Unearthed in Underwater Cave Reveal New Insights: A team of cave divers and scientists has uncovered a significant cache of Hispaniola monkey (Antillothrix bernensis) fossils deep within the underwater cave system of Cueva Macho in the Dominican Republic. These well-preserved remains include four new skulls and several mandibles, adding crucial details to our understanding of this extinct species. The fossils, submerged for millennia, offer insights into the monkeys' diet, social structure, and size, suggesting they lived in small, monogamous groups with a fruit-based diet. The discovery sheds light on Caribbean primate evolution and may help inform current conservation efforts.

Novel Antimicrobials from Citrus Trees Offer Hope for Fighting Citrus Greening Disease: Researchers in Florida have discovered novel antimicrobials produced by bacteria found in citrus trees that show natural tolerance to citrus greening disease (HLB). HLB, caused by Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus and spread by the Asian citrus psyllid, has devastated Florida's citrus industry, reducing production by over 92% since 2005. The new study, published by agroecology experts, identifies five bacterial endophytes capable of producing antimicrobial compounds that effectively kill HLB pathogens in lab tests. Further research will test these compounds on infected citrus plants, potentially providing a sustainable alternative to current treatments like pesticides and antibiotics.