California’s San Joaquin Valley Land Sinking at Record Rates Due to Groundwater Depletion

Hello and welcome to Monday’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 Tissue-Friendly Bioelectronics Using Light-Created Conductive Materials, Microscale Acoustic Metamaterials Enable Tailored Ultrasound Wave Control, and more.

• Technology and AI - Energy-Efficient AI Sensors Inspired by Human Synapses and Solar Cells, and more.

• Engineering - Hawk-Inspired Drone Banks with Tail Movements, Not Wings, and more.

• Health & Medicine - Genetically Modified Malaria Vaccine Shows 89% Efficacy in Early Clinical Trial, and more.

• Neuroscience - Wireless Brain Neural Signal Recorder Developed for Primate Behavior Studies, and more.

• Environment - California’s San Joaquin Valley Land Sinking at Record Rates Due to Groundwater Depletion, and more.

• Nature - Chimpanzee Tool Use Evolves Through Social Connections and Migration, Bats Compensate for Hearing Loss with Innate Adaptive Behaviors, and more.

• Other Sciences & The Arts - Oldest U.S. Firearm Found: Coronado Expedition Cannon Unearthed.

Until Tomorrow.

~The STEAM Digest

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This newsletter is curated by The STEAM Digest.

SCIENCE

Breakthrough in Tissue-Friendly Bioelectronics Using Light-Created Conductive Materials: Researchers at Lund University, Sweden, have developed a groundbreaking method for creating biocompatible, electrically conductive materials directly within the body. The study demonstrates a photopolymerization process using light-sensitive materials to form soft, conductive hydrogels that integrate seamlessly with tissues like the brain. Unlike traditional bioelectrodes, which can cause inflammation and scarring, these tissue-friendly bioelectronics show potential for safer treatments of neurological and neurodegenerative diseases. The light-activated process, taking only 5–30 minutes, offers a minimally invasive alternative, as the electrodes naturally degrade after use. While early trials in zebrafish and chicken embryos show promise, the next phase involves testing in larger animal models, paving the way for future advancements in bioelectronic therapies.

Microscale Acoustic Metamaterials Enable Tailored Ultrasound Wave Control:
Researchers at MIT and the U.S. Department of Energy have developed a design framework for controlling ultrasound wave propagation in microscale acoustic metamaterials. The study demonstrates how precisely positioning microscopic spherical masses within a lattice can tune ultrasound wave velocities, enabling wave guiding and focusing. The team used advanced laser-ultrasonics techniques to showcase dynamic wave control and developed an acoustic demultiplexer, highlighting potential applications in ultrasound imaging, medical devices, and mechanical computing. The framework's reliance on simple geometric changes and a single base material broadens its scalability and adaptability to diverse fabrication methods, paving the way for innovative acoustic metamaterial technologies.

Japanese Cyanobacterium Offers Promising Anti-Aging Potential for Skincare Industry: Researchers have discovered that the cyanobacterium Aphanothece sacrum (Suizenji-nori), native to Japan, produces compounds called saclipins A and B under drought stress. These compounds exhibit UV-absorbing, antioxidative, and antiglycative properties, making them suitable for skincare and cosmetic applications. A 2024 study demonstrated saclipins' ability to enhance skin firmness, moisture, and pigmentation through elastase inhibition, collagen, and hyaluronic acid production, as well as tyrosinase inhibition. The study found saclipin-containing extracts from dried A. sacrum were as effective as purified compounds, making large-scale production more feasible. This discovery not only addresses global demand for anti-aging products but also supports aquaculture and conservation of the endangered cyanobacterium.

TECHNOLOGY AND AI

Energy-Efficient AI Sensors Inspired by Human Synapses and Solar Cells:
Researchers from Tokyo University of Science have developed a groundbreaking self-powered optoelectronic device that mimics human synaptic behavior. Using dye-sensitized solar cells, the device exhibits synaptic plasticity, allowing it to process time-series data across multiple timescales with high accuracy and low power consumption. Inspired by the afterimage phenomenon of the human eye, this innovation serves as a computational framework for power-saving edge AI optical sensors. The device can classify human movements like running and walking with over 90% accuracy while consuming just 1% of the power required by conventional systems. Applications include surveillance cameras, car-mounted sensors, health monitors, and wearable devices. This development promises significant reductions in energy use and costs for next-generation AI technologies.

Harmony Robot: AI-Powered Collaborative Piano-Playing Robot Wins CHIA Award: Huijiang Wang, a Cambridge Engineering Ph.D. student, has developed the "Harmony Robot," a collaborative musical robot capable of playing the piano alongside a human in real time. The robot uses machine learning to predict chord progressions with 93% accuracy and synchronize its timing with a human pianist, creating harmonious duets. The system combines a behavior-adaptive controller and a custom anthropomorphic hand for precise, dynamic performances. Winning the Best Demo Award at the CHIA 2024 Conference, the project highlights advancements in robotics for artistic and collaborative roles. Future enhancements aim to expand chord diversity, improve hand dexterity, and integrate emotional responsiveness, paving the way for robots to engage in creative, real-world scenarios.

AI Algorithm Inspired by Genome Compression Mimics Innate Abilities:
Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have developed a groundbreaking AI algorithm inspired by the genome's ability to compress vast information into a small package. Professors Anthony Zador and Alexei Koulakov, alongside postdocs Divyansha Lachi and Sergey Shuvaev, created the "genomic bottleneck algorithm," which mimics how the genome stores instructions for forming functional brain circuits. The algorithm, tested in tasks like image recognition and video games, performed comparably to advanced AI systems without extensive training. While still far from replicating human cognitive complexity, this compression technology offers promising applications, such as running large AI models on devices like smartphones. This research not only sheds light on innate behaviors but also pushes AI technology toward more efficient, adaptable designs.

ENGINEERING

Hawk-Inspired Drone Banks with Tail Movements, Not Wings:
Engineers at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) have developed a hawk-inspired drone, LisRaptor, capable of banking maneuvers using only its tail, mimicking raptors that soar without moving their wings. The lightweight drone, built with raptor-like bones, joints, and foam feathers, was tested in a wind tunnel. By twisting its tail, the drone created asymmetric airflow over its wings and tail, generating lift to tilt and bank smoothly. This innovative approach contrasts with traditional aircraft, which rely on ailerons for banking. The study provides insights into raptor flight mechanics and offers potential for designing more agile, nature-inspired drones.

3D-Printed Helmet Inserts Help Michigan State Football Players Overcome Crowd Noise: Michigan State University's football team has addressed crowd noise challenges with innovative 3D-printed helmet inserts, developed by engineering professor Tamara Reid Bush and student Rylie DuBois. Inspired by the NCAA’s new coach-to-player communication rule, these inserts, made from polylactic acid, are tailored to mitigate noise in the earholes of helmets for players like quarterback Aidan Chiles and linebacker Jordan Turner. The inserts, tested and refined throughout the season, help players hear play calls in loud stadiums. Michigan State joins dozens of other programs and NFL teams, including the Houston Texans, using similar sound-deadening solutions. This collaboration showcases the practical application of engineering in sports, benefiting both players and the university’s engineering students.

Mobula Ray’s Feeding Technique Inspires Advanced Industrial Water Filters:
MIT engineers have studied the mobula ray's filter-feeding mechanism, revealing a novel way to balance permeability and selectivity in filtration systems. Mobula rays use comb-like plates in their mouths to create vortices that trap plankton particles while allowing water to flow through, achieving efficient feeding and breathing. Inspired by this natural system, researchers developed a 3D-printed "leaky channel" filter that mimics the ray’s design. By generating vortices at higher flow rates, the filter effectively blocks particles without sacrificing water flow. This innovation could significantly improve industrial cross-flow filters, offering a practical blueprint for designing systems with enhanced efficiency and lower energy requirements.

HEALTH & MEDICINE

Genetically Modified Malaria Vaccine Shows 89% Efficacy in Early Clinical Trial:
Researchers at Leiden University Medical Center and Radboud University Medical Center have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of a genetically modified Plasmodium falciparum parasite vaccine, GA2, in a small clinical trial. The late-liver-stage attenuated vaccine showed 89% protective efficacy against malaria infection, significantly outperforming a similar vaccine, GA1, and a placebo. In the trial, 25 healthy adult participants received three immunizations over 28-day intervals via mosquito bites infected with GA2, GA1, or uninfected mosquitoes (placebo). GA2 exposed participants to a broader range of parasite antigens, enhancing immune responses, particularly P. falciparum-specific polyfunctional CD4+ T cells. Adverse events were mild and similar across all groups. This promising approach offers a new path for durable malaria protection, with plans for larger trials to assess its effectiveness in diverse populations, especially in regions heavily burdened by malaria.

Circadian Clock Protein Linked to Oxygen Deficiency Response and Time-Dependent Mortality: Researchers at the Weizmann Institute discovered that BMAL1, a key circadian clock protein, works with HIF-1α to regulate the body’s response to oxygen deficiency. This partnership explains why oxygen-related health events, such as asthma attacks, are time-dependent. Mice lacking both proteins in their liver showed higher mortality during darkness and developed hepatopulmonary syndrome, a condition impairing oxygen absorption in the lungs. The findings offer new insights into how circadian rhythms influence health and potential targets for treatment.

GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Show Kidney and Cardiovascular Benefits Beyond Diabetes: A comprehensive meta-analysis of 11 large-scale clinical trials involving 85,373 participants has shown that GLP-1 receptor agonists, initially developed for type 2 diabetes, offer significant kidney and cardiovascular benefits. The study found that these drugs, including semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy) and dulaglutide (Trulicity), reduced the risk of kidney failure by 16%, worsening kidney function by 22%, and the combined risk of kidney failure, progression, or death by 19%. Cardiovascular benefits included a 14% reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events and a 13% decrease in overall mortality. The findings highlight GLP-1 receptor agonists as a key treatment for chronic kidney disease (CKD), a condition affecting 10% of the global population and projected to become the fifth leading cause of death by 2050. The study emphasizes the drugs' potential in addressing non-communicable diseases across populations with diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and CKD, offering a dual protective effect on the heart and kidneys. Researchers call for integrating these findings into clinical guidelines and improving access to the drugs globally.

NEUROSCIENCE

Wireless Brain Neural Signal Recorder Developed for Primate Behavior Studies:
Researchers in Korea have developed a wireless brain neural signal recorder capable of real-time monitoring of brain activity in primates during natural behaviors without the need for batteries or wired connections. The device, implanted in an experimental monkey, recorded neural signals during instinctive activities like eating over a one-month period. This innovative system employs wireless power transmission, three-dimensional porous electrodes for deep-brain measurement, and a biodegradable implantation shuttle for safe use. The technology has applications in studying brain neural circuits and is a significant advancement for preclinical trials targeting brain diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. It positions Korea as a leader in brain engineering, alongside global efforts by Neuralink and other institutions.

New Platform Breaks Blood-Brain Barrier for Efficient Drug Delivery:
Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have developed a groundbreaking blood-brain barrier-crossing conjugate (BCC) system to deliver large therapeutic molecules, like oligonucleotides and proteins, directly into the brain via intravenous injection. The BCC platform utilizes γ-secretase-mediated transcytosis to safely and effectively bypass the blood-brain barrier. In mouse models of ALS and Alzheimer’s disease, BCC10 reduced harmful genes (Sod1 and Mapt) and their associated proteins, showing promise for treating neurodegenerative diseases. The system was also effective in human brain tissue samples and caused minimal side effects in animal models. This innovation could revolutionize treatments for CNS disorders like ALS, Alzheimer’s, and addiction, and further studies in large animal models are planned to validate its therapeutic potential.

ENVIRONMENT

California’s San Joaquin Valley Land Sinking at Record Rates Due to Groundwater Depletion: A study reveals that California’s San Joaquin Valley has been sinking nearly an inch per year on average between 2006 and 2022 due to excessive groundwater extraction. This phenomenon, known as subsidence, results from aquifers compacting as they are depleted. The research, led by Stanford University’s Rosemary Knight and Matthew Lees, quantifies subsidence across the entire valley for the first time, filling gaps in satellite radar data with GPS-based modeling. Subsidence has already caused costly damage to aqueducts, wells, and irrigation systems, worsening water supply challenges and complicating flood management in one of the world’s most agriculturally productive regions. The researchers estimate that replenishing aquifers requires 220 billion gallons of water annually, suggesting solutions like targeted flood-managed aquifer recharge (flood-MAR) to mitigate further damage. By strategically focusing on high-impact areas, sustainable water management practices can help address the growing crisis.

Southern Patagonia’s Glaciers Resilient but Threatened: Study Highlights Need for Emission Cuts: A recent study by Matthias Troch, a postdoctoral researcher at INSTAAR, reveals that glaciers in Southern Patagonia have been largely sustained by increased snowfall despite rising global temperatures. The research, which simulated 6,000 years of glacial dynamics using NASA's ice-sheet and sea-level model, identified precipitation as the primary driver of glacier fluctuations for most of this period. However, future resilience depends on limiting regional warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, achievable only through rapid global decarbonization. Without action, warming and increased rainfall could drive accelerated glacier melt, highlighting the critical need for emission reductions to mitigate sea-level rise and preserve maritime glaciers globally.

Greenland Snowmelt in Irminger Sea Poses Major Risk to Atlantic Ocean Current Stability: A study by climate scientists from Germany and China identifies Greenland snowmelt as the most significant freshwater input affecting the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). Using the Alfred Wegener Institute Climate Model, the researchers determined that freshwater entering the Irminger Sea Basin near the AMOC’s turning point disrupts the flow of cold, dense water sinking to deeper layers. This slows the entire AMOC, including its northward transport of warm water. The slowdown, exacerbated by climate change, could lead to unpredictable global and European weather changes, underscoring the importance of understanding and mitigating climate impacts on this critical ocean current.

Scientists Develop Gut Microbe Solution to Reduce Methane Emissions from Cattle: Researchers at the University of California, Davis, and UC Berkeley’s Innovative Genomics Institute are developing a breakthrough solution to curb methane emissions from cattle, a significant contributor to climate change. By studying cow gut microbes, the team aims to introduce genetically modified bacteria that reduce methane production without disrupting the animal’s digestion. Current trials involve extracting rumen liquid from calves like "Thing 1" to analyze microbial activity and testing seaweed-supplemented diets. This $70 million, seven-year project seeks to create a single-dose treatment for young cattle, redirecting hydrogen energy to increase productivity while reducing emissions. The solution could help balance global climate goals with the nutritional needs of developing nations where meat and dairy are essential for child development.

NATURE

Chimpanzee Tool Use Evolves Through Social Connections and Migration:
A new study reveals that chimpanzees, our closest relatives, are steadily advancing their tool-use skills through social connections and migrations between populations. The research connects genetic data tracing ancient chimp migrations with observations of 15 foraging behaviors across Africa, ranging from basic techniques to complex toolsets. Advanced tool use, such as termite fishing with modified sticks, correlates strongly with genetic exchanges between populations over the last 5,000–15,000 years, suggesting that cultural knowledge spreads through interactions. Areas where subspecies overlap show the most sophisticated behaviors, highlighting the role of social connections in innovation. Although chimpanzees are unlikely to rival human technological ingenuity, their tool use is becoming increasingly efficient, with some populations already inventing stone hammers, anvils, and stabilizers for nut-cracking. These findings provide valuable insights into how social connections drove the evolution of human technologies.

Bats Compensate for Hearing Loss with Innate Adaptive Behaviors:
Johns Hopkins researchers have discovered that echolocating bats possess an innate ability to compensate for hearing loss immediately and effectively. When a critical auditory brain pathway was temporarily disabled, bats adjusted their flight paths and vocalizations, demonstrating hard-wired adaptive behaviors. They flew lower, oriented along walls, increased call frequency and duration, and broadened the bandwidth of their calls to boost echo signals for navigation. These findings highlight the brain's robustness and suggest that bats may rely on alternative auditory pathways or redundant neural systems for sound processing. The study raises intriguing questions about whether similar adaptive mechanisms might exist in humans and other animals, offering potential insights into auditory processing and sensory compensation strategies across species.

Unveiling Floral Scent Production: Single-Cell Gene Map of Prunus Mume Petals:
Researchers at Northwest A&F University have created the first single-cell gene expression map of Prunus mume petals, revealing the molecular and cellular dynamics of floral scent production. Using single-cell RNA sequencing, they identified six distinct cell types and pinpointed 28 genes, including PmBAHD3, responsible for synthesizing key scent compounds like benzyl acetate and eugenol. These genes are active in specific cell types, particularly epidermal and parenchyma cells, and their expression peaks during full bloom. The study not only enhances understanding of floral scent biosynthesis but also offers applications in ornamental horticulture and the fragrance industry. Targeting genes like PmBAHD3 could lead to the development of new cultivars with enhanced aromatic profiles, benefiting sustainable cultivation and high-value plant innovation.

OTHER SCIENCES & THE ARTS

Oldest U.S. Firearm Found: Coronado Expedition Cannon Unearthed: A bronze cannon from Francisco Vázquez de Coronado’s 1539–1542 expedition has been discovered in Arizona, making it the oldest firearm found in the continental United States. Unearthed in the Santa Cruz Valley, the cannon and accompanying artifacts provide insights into Spanish exploration and military practices in the Southwest. Likely cast in Mexico or the Caribbean, the cannon was abandoned after a reported conflict with the Sobaipuri O’odham people. This find sheds light on early Spanish-Native American interactions and the artillery used during Coronado’s search for the mythical Seven Cities of Cíbola.