Environmental Impact of Generative AI Raises Concerns

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 - Breakthrough in Spintronics with Stacked 2D Materials, and more.

• Technology and AI - Environmental Impact of Generative AI Raises Concerns, and more.

• Engineering - New Robotic Leg with "Artificial Muscles" Mimics Human Movement, Korean Researchers Develop New p-Type Semiconductors for Next-Gen Displays, Transparent Solar Cells Enable Smartphone Charging from Screens, and more.

• Astronomy & Space - Early Dark Energy: A Potential Solution to Major Cosmological Mysteries, Envisioning the Future of Human Civilization: New Approaches for SETI and Technosignature Searches.

• Health & Medicine - Study Finds Most Synthetic Nicotine Ads on Social Media Lack Required Health Warnings, and more.

• Environment - Forests Near Residential Areas Most Effective for Reducing Heat-Related Health Risks, and more.

• Nature - Study Reveals Complex Ancestry of Arctic Sled Dogs Dating Back Thousands of Years, and more.

• Other Sciences & Arts - How Cultural Terms Spread Differently in Urban and Rural Areas, Healthy Minds Study Shows Improvement in College Students' Mental Health, and more.

• Industry - Billionaire Jared Isaacman Completes Historic Private Spacewalk and Returns to Earth, and more.

Until Tomorrow.

~The STEAM Digest

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This newsletter is curated by The STEAM Digest.

SCIENCE

Breakthrough in Spintronics with Stacked 2D Materials: Researchers from CIC nanoGUNE, in collaboration with Charles University and CFM, have designed a new material for spintronics by stacking layers of graphene and tungsten selenide (WSe2) at a precise angle. This creates a controlled spin current, overcoming traditional limitations of spintronics, which typically require perpendicular spin transfer. The discovery, published in Nature Materials, offers new flexibility in designing next-generation electronic devices, such as those integrating magnetic memories into processors.

Scientists Prove 50-Year-Old Zel'dovich Effect Using Electromagnetic Waves: Physicists at the University of Southampton have experimentally confirmed the Zel'dovich effect, a theory proposed in the 1970s, using electromagnetic waves. They demonstrated that "twisted waves" with angular momentum can be amplified by a rotating aluminum cylinder, rather than being absorbed, when the cylinder's rotation speed exceeds the wave frequency. This experiment, which builds on previous acoustic wave research, suggests the effect's fundamental nature and opens possibilities for quantum-level observations and applications in technologies like induction generators.

Advancing Precision: Development of Nuclear Optical Clocks Using 229Th Isotope: A study by Assistant Professor Takahiro Hiraki and his team at Okayama University demonstrates advancements toward nuclear optical clocks using the 229Th isotope. By controlling the excitation and decay of the 229Th nucleus with X-rays, the researchers observed rapid radiative decay and an "X-ray quenching" effect. This technology could enhance timekeeping precision, aiding in research on physical constants and potential applications like portable gravity sensors and high-precision GPS systems.

TECHNOLOGY AND AI

Environmental Impact of Generative AI Raises Concerns: Researcher Sasha Luccioni warns that generative AI, like ChatGPT and Midjourney, uses 30 times more energy than traditional search engines due to high computing demands. She advocates for increased transparency and a certification system to measure AI's energy consumption. Luccioni emphasizes the importance of using AI judiciously to reduce its environmental impact, noting that even generating a single high-definition AI image can consume as much energy as recharging a cellphone battery. She calls for government intervention and more informed choices about AI use.

ElasticDiffusion: A New Method to Correct AI Image Generation Issues: Rice University researchers have introduced "ElasticDiffusion," a novel approach for generating images with pre-trained diffusion models to address common issues like deformities and inconsistencies in AI-generated images. This method separates local and global data signals to create cleaner images at various aspect ratios without needing additional training. While effective, ElasticDiffusion currently takes longer than other diffusion models to generate images. Researchers aim to optimize the process to match standard generation times.

ENGINEERING

New Robotic Leg with "Artificial Muscles" Mimics Human Movement: Researchers have developed a robotic leg with "artificial muscles"—oil-filled electrohydraulic actuators that mimic human muscle movements. The leg can jump over various surfaces, demonstrating greater agility than traditional robots with rigid joints. The technology, showcased in Nature Communications, could pave the way for safer and more versatile humanoid robots. While still in early development, these muscles are cost-effective and energy-efficient, offering potential for future mass production and advancements in robotics.

Korean Researchers Develop New p-Type Semiconductors for Next-Gen Displays: A team from the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) in Korea has developed new p-type Se-Te (Selenium-Tellurium) alloy semiconductor materials and thin-film transistors that can enhance next-generation displays and low-power devices. These advancements allow for improved mobility, stability, and energy efficiency in high-resolution displays. The development could also contribute to the commercialization of advanced semiconductor integration techniques, like Monolithic 3D (M3D), by enabling stable operation at lower temperatures.

Transparent Solar Cells Enable Smartphone Charging from Screens: Researchers at UNIST have developed a transparent solar cell that can charge devices directly from screens, windows, or glass surfaces. By employing an "all-back-contact" design and Seamless Modularization technology, these cells maintain high efficiency and aesthetic appeal without visible gaps or wires. The innovation enables energy generation from everyday surfaces, potentially transforming buildings, vehicles, and mobile devices into power sources, contributing to sustainable energy solutions.

Reimagining Swiss Neighborhoods: A Pathway to Net-Zero and Enhanced Well-Being: In a new study published in Frontiers in Sustainability, EPFL scientist Sascha Nick outlines a transformative vision for Swiss neighborhoods to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040 while enhancing residents' quality of life. Nick's scenario includes four main recommendations: prioritizing building renovations over new construction, reducing per capita living space by promoting shared housing arrangements, creating car-free neighborhoods with all essential amenities within walking distance, and reversing urban sprawl to historical levels. These changes aim to double residential capacity, reduce rents, enhance community well-being, and support Switzerland's climate targets for 2050.

Improved Lithium-Sulfur Battery Design Offers Enhanced Stability and Safety: Researchers have developed a lithium-sulfur (Li-S) battery with a polyacrylic acid (PAA) coated iron sulfide cathode, improving stability and preventing capacity loss over 300 charge-discharge cycles. The PAA coating reduces corrosion without compromising battery performance, and the prototype demonstrated resilience even after folding or cutting. The study suggests that this approach could lead to safer, longer-lasting Li-S batteries and could be applied to other metal sulfide cathodes, enhancing battery technology overall.

Environmentally Friendly Binder for Batteries Developed by Korean Researchers: A team from the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI) developed a new siloxane-based binder for battery electrodes that improves performance and is environmentally friendly. Unlike the commonly used PVDF, this binder is free from fluorine, enhancing safety and stability while addressing environmental concerns. The innovation extends battery life by 1.4 times compared to PVDF, making it suitable for high-capacity applications like electric vehicles and reducing dependency on imported materials. This technology could transform the secondary battery industry and comply with emerging EU regulations.

ASTRONOMY & SPACE

Early Dark Energy: A Potential Solution to Major Cosmological Mysteries: MIT physicists propose that "early dark energy," a brief force in the universe's infancy, could resolve two key cosmological puzzles: the "Hubble tension" (discrepancies in the universe's expansion rate) and the unexpected abundance of bright galaxies observed by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) in the early universe. By modeling early galaxy formation, they found that early dark energy could have accelerated expansion, influencing the formation of large, bright galaxies. This theory, if confirmed, may reshape our understanding of the universe's evolution.

Envisioning the Future of Human Civilization: New Approaches for SETI and Technosignature Searches: Scientists from BMSIS and NASA are exploring how humanity's future "technosphere" could look 1,000 years from now to help guide the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI). By modeling multiple scenarios, they challenge the assumption that advanced civilizations must follow a path of continuous growth, suggesting that technosignatures could be more varied and harder to detect than previously thought. This approach broadens the scope for finding signs of extraterrestrial technology by considering diverse future possibilities.

HEALTH & MEDICINE

Study Finds Most Synthetic Nicotine Ads on Social Media Lack Required Health Warnings: A study by Boston University found that most social media ads for synthetic nicotine products fail to include required health warnings, despite FDA regulations. Analyzing over 2,000 Instagram posts, researchers discovered that only 13% complied with warning label requirements. The study suggests stricter enforcement of these rules could reduce the appeal of e-cigarettes, especially among young adults, who are the primary targets of these ads.

New Insights into Pancreatic Cell Diversity Could Advance Treatments for Pancreatic Diseases: A recent study by researchers from the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) and the University of Barcelona (UB), published in Gastroenterology, has identified 15 new cell populations within the pancreas, revealing the complexity and diversity of pancreatic duct cells. The findings, led by Dr. Meritxell Rovira, highlight the potential of these cells in developing treatments for pancreatic diseases such as diabetes and pancreatic cancer. The study used advanced techniques like single-cell transcriptomics (scRNA-seq) to analyze pancreatic cells at a granular level, providing new insights that could pave the way for more precise and personalized therapies for these conditions.

Discovery of "Neoself-Antigens" Sheds Light on Autoimmune Disease Mechanisms: A study published in Cell by researchers from Osaka University has uncovered a key mechanism behind autoimmune diseases, identifying "neoself-antigens" as primary triggers for the immune system's attack on the body's own tissues. These proteins, which have an unusual structure, are presented to T cells when a crucial component of the immune system, the invariant chain (Ii), is missing from the MHC-II complex. The study found that these neoself-antigens provoke an immune response in lupus patients, with about 10% of T cells targeting them. Additionally, the reactivation of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) increases neoself-antigen presentation, potentially explaining its link to lupus. These findings could pave the way for new treatments for autoimmune diseases.

New Drug Shows Promise Against Brain Metastases in Advanced HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: A clinical trial led by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute researchers has demonstrated that trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd), a drug delivering chemotherapy directly to tumors, is effective against brain metastases in patients with advanced HER2-positive breast cancer. The DESTINY-Breast12 study, presented at the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2024 and published in Nature Medicine, found that 71% of participants with brain metastases experienced a measurable reduction in cancer, with a median progression-free survival of 17.3 months. The study underscores T-DXd as a valuable treatment option for this challenging form of cancer, with manageable side effects.

Discovery of Gene UBR4 as Key Driver of Fibromuscular Dysplasia:
Researchers at Mount Sinai have identified changes in the gene UBR4 as a key driver of fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD), a blood vessel disorder that affects up to 5% of the adult population and can cause high blood pressure, heart attack, or stroke. Using the first-ever mouse model of the disease, the team discovered that alterations in UBR4 significantly impact a gene network that regulates vascular function, leading to abnormal artery widening. This finding, published in Nature Cardiovascular Research, provides crucial insights into the genetic underpinnings of FMD and may lead to new therapeutic strategies for managing the condition, particularly in women, who make up 90% of FMD cases.

ENVIRONMENT

Forests Near Residential Areas Most Effective for Reducing Heat-Related Health Risks: A study in Environment International reveals that forests within a 1-kilometer walk of residential areas are particularly effective at mitigating heat-related health risks compared to other types of greenspace. This finding challenges traditional assumptions about urban greening, suggesting that broader-scale planting of trees is more beneficial than smaller greenspaces closer to homes. The study emphasizes the need for urban planning strategies that focus on creating walkable green areas to improve public health outcomes in densely populated cities.

Greenland Landslide Triggers Rare 200-Meter Mega-Tsunami, Signaling Climate Change Impacts: In September 2023, an unusual seismic signal detected globally was traced to a massive landslide in Greenland's Dickson Fjord, causing a 200-meter-high mega-tsunami and a nine-day seiche wave. This unprecedented event, likely driven by climate change, highlights how warming temperatures are destabilizing slopes and glaciers, leading to more frequent, massive landslides. As these phenomena challenge existing scientific understanding, they underscore the urgent need for new research methods and preparedness strategies for increasingly extreme climate events.

Australia's Spring and Summer Weather Outlook: Preparing for a Season of Extremes: Australia faces a challenging spring and summer with heightened risks of extreme weather events, according to the Bureau of Meteorology's latest briefing. The rest of 2024 is expected to be warmer than usual, with a higher chance of extreme heat events. La Niña conditions could develop, leading to increased rainfall and a higher risk of river flooding, particularly in Tasmania. Drought conditions persist in Western and Central Victoria, with no clear signals for relief. The warmer conditions elevate the risk of bushfires, especially in northeastern Australia and drought-affected areas of Victoria and South Australia. Australians are advised to prepare for multiple extreme weather events, including bushfires, floods, and thunderstorms, as the climate continues to warm and weather forecasting capabilities improve.

NATURE

Study Reveals Complex Ancestry of Arctic Sled Dogs Dating Back Thousands of Years: New research co-led by Cornell University has uncovered that Arctic sled dogs, including Siberian and Alaskan breeds, descend from two distinct lineages of Arctic canids that originated in northeastern Siberia over 11,700 years ago. The study, published in "Genome Biology and Evolution," found that approximately half of Siberian huskies bred for racing have mixed DNA with European breeds, complicating efforts to maintain pure Arctic lineages. This genetic diversity is essential for breed health, and the findings may guide future policies for managing sled dog breeds.

Ancient Coelacanth Fossil Reveals Evolution Driven by Tectonic Activity: New research has uncovered the best-preserved coelacanth (deep-sea fish) fossil ever found, from the Devonian Period in Western Australia. This study reveals that tectonic activity, not ocean conditions, was the primary driver of coelacanth evolution, leading to the emergence of new species during periods of intense seismic movement. While coelacanths are often called "living fossils," modern species show subtle genetic changes, suggesting they are still evolving.

OTHER SCIENCES & ARTS

How Cultural Terms Spread Differently in Urban and Rural Areas: A University of Michigan study published in npj Complexity examines how cultural terms, like "sneakers" or "pop," spread in the U.S. The study found that terms spread in urban areas primarily through personal relationships, while in rural areas, they often signify a shared identity. Using data from social media, researchers modeled language diffusion patterns across regions. The study highlights how cultural evolution is influenced by both social connections and identity, with urban areas showing more exposure to diversity, potentially explaining the differences in language adoption.

Healthy Minds Study Shows Improvement in College Students' Mental Health: The latest Healthy Minds Study, surveying over 100,000 U.S. college students, reveals decreases in anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts, alongside increases in mental health care use. Severe depressive symptoms fell to 19% in 2024 from 23% in 2022, and moderate symptoms dropped to 38%. The use of therapy and psychiatric medication rose slightly, while stigma around mental health treatment remains a concern. Experts suggest these positive trends reflect post-pandemic stability and institutional support efforts.

New Fossil Discovery Sheds Light on Coelacanth Evolution Driven by Tectonic Activity: A recent study published in Nature Communications has uncovered the best-preserved fossil of a coelacanth, an ancient "living fossil" fish, from the Devonian Period, around 380 million years ago, in northern Western Australia. This discovery provides new insights into the early anatomy of these unique fish. The research revealed that the primary driver of coelacanth evolution over the past 410 million years was tectonic plate activity, rather than ocean temperature or oxygen levels. While coelacanths have evolved slowly, small changes in their DNA suggest they are not entirely unchanged, challenging their label as "living fossils."

INDUSTRY

Billionaire Jared Isaacman Completes Historic Private Spacewalk and Returns to Earth: Jared Isaacman and his crew returned after a five-day mission that included the first private spacewalk, reaching 460 miles above Earth. The SpaceX capsule splashed down near Florida's Dry Tortugas. The spacewalk, part of Isaacman's Polaris program, tested new spacesuit technology for future Mars missions. Isaacman, who co-financed the mission with SpaceX, plans two more flights under this program. The mission aimed to push the boundaries of private space exploration, with a peak altitude record set at 875 miles.

Australia's New National Hydrogen Strategy Targets Green Hydrogen Leadership: Australia's new National Hydrogen Strategy, released by Federal Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen, aims to position the country as a global leader in green hydrogen production. The strategy sets ambitious production targets of 500,000 metric tons by 2030 and 15 million metric tons by 2050, with "stretch targets" of 1.5 million and 30 million metric tons, respectively. It identifies priority sectors such as iron, alumina, and ammonia for hydrogen use and focuses on industries like aviation, shipping, and electricity storage to cut emissions. However, uncertainties remain about funding allocation, the viability of hydrogen exports, and the strategy's alignment with existing policies and initiatives. The strategy will be reviewed in 2029 to assess its progress and impact on Australia's energy transition.

Storm Boris Causes Fatalities and Widespread Flooding Across Central and Eastern Europe: Storm Boris has brought severe weather to central and eastern Europe, causing one death in Poland and leaving four people missing in the Czech Republic. Since Thursday, torrential rains and high winds have affected Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia, resulting in four deaths in Romania and thousands of evacuations. Flooding has led to road closures, railway suspensions, and emergency interventions across multiple countries. Authorities warn of continued heavy rains and potential further extreme weather in the coming days.