Sweat-Based Biosensor Offers Pain-Free Glucose Monitoring for Diabetes

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

In today’s edition:

• Science - Sea Sponge-Inspired Bacterial Microlenses Unlock New Optical Innovations, Sustainable Technology Converts Nitrate to Ammonium, Boosting Rice Yield and Reducing Pollution, and more.

• Technology and AI - Machine Learning Advances Global Building Height Data for Urban Planning, and more.

• Engineering - Innovative Haptic Navigation System Offers Hope for People with Vision Loss, Beyond Silicon: Tandem Solar Cells and the Rise of BaZrS3, and more.

• Astronomy & Space - Exploring Brain Cell Growth in Space: Microgravity Accelerates Neuronal Maturation, and more.

• Health & Medicine - Sweat-Based Biosensor Offers Pain-Free Glucose Monitoring for Diabetes, Pro-Inflammatory Diets Linked to Higher Risk of Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease, and more.

• Neuroscience - Human Thought Quantified at 10 Bits Per Second, Raising New Neuroscience Questions, Breakthrough Discovery Reveals Body’s Natural Pain-Blocking Mechanism, and more.

• Nature - Marine Animals Optimize Swim Depth to Conserve Energy, New High-Quality Genome Map Unlocks Bedbug Genetic Secrets.

• Other Sciences & The Arts - Deep Learning Advances Prediction of Sudden Shifts in Complex Systems.

Until Tomorrow.

~The STEAM Digest

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This newsletter is curated by The STEAM Digest.

SCIENCE 

Sea Sponge-Inspired Bacterial Microlenses Unlock New Optical Innovations:
Researchers at the University of Rochester have replicated the optical properties of sea sponge skeletons by engineering bacteria to produce microlenses coated in bioglass. The study used the silicatein enzyme from sea sponges to create lightweight, durable microlenses at standard temperatures and pressures, eliminating the need for expensive and complex machinery. These tiny lenses, about the size of a single cell, focus light into bright beams, enabling higher-resolution imaging and enhanced microscopy. Potential applications include advanced medical imaging, environmental sensing, and even manufacturing optics in low-gravity environments like space. The innovation represents a sustainable and efficient approach to optical materials inspired by nature.

Sustainable Technology Converts Nitrate to Ammonium, Boosting Rice Yield and Reducing Pollution: Researchers have developed an electrochemical technology to selectively convert nitrate in irrigation water into ammonium, enhancing rice yields, reducing fertilizer use, and mitigating nitrate pollution. The method uses a single-atom iron catalyst to achieve over 90% conversion efficiency under neutral pH conditions. Laboratory experiments showed a 20% increase in rice yield and a 50% reduction in fertilizer use, while preventing more than 70% of nitrate from leaching into groundwater. This innovative approach cuts costs by 19% and increases revenue by 27% compared to traditional urea fertilization, offering a sustainable solution to improve agricultural productivity and safeguard environmental resources.

Key Proteins and Forces Drive Blood Vessel Formation, Opening Paths for Vascular Disease Treatment: Researchers have uncovered critical mechanisms in blood vessel formation through two studies on zebrafish. The studies highlight the roles of the protein Rasip1 and contractile forces in vascular lumen formation. Rasip1 facilitates lumen formation by redistributing adhesion proteins, enabling cells to form hollow spaces essential for continuous tubular networks. Simultaneously, dynamic tensile forces, regulated by proteins Heg1 and Ccm1, stabilize cell junctions, ensuring proper vessel growth. These forces promote coordinated interactions between cells and correct defective connections, underscoring their importance for vascular integrity. The findings deepen our understanding of vascular development and may inform treatments for disorders like aneurysms and peripheral arterial disease. Future research will employ biophysical methods to further explore the molecular processes underlying blood vessel formation.

TECHNOLOGY AND AI

Machine Learning Advances Global Building Height Data for Urban Planning:
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have developed a machine learning algorithm to estimate global building heights with unprecedented accuracy, within 3 meters. Traditional methods for determining building height faced challenges like shadow miscalculations and limited data, but this new approach uses 65 building morphology features to enhance predictions. The algorithm, built on the XGBoost gradient boosting tree model, leverages relationships between buildings and their surroundings to infer height from two-dimensional data, eliminating previous barriers such as defining buildings or handling shadow-related errors. The work is part of broader initiatives like LandScan and Global Building Intelligence, which map population and attribute building features. This advancement supports urban planning, disaster response, and national security by improving data on urban environments. Accurate building height data enables better energy use projections, urban heat island monitoring, and city development planning, addressing critical gaps in global urban research.

LLMs Adjust Responses to Appear More Likable in Personality Tests: A study published in PNAS Nexus reveals that large language models (LLMs) adjust their responses on personality tests to appear more socially desirable. Researchers gave LLMs, including GPT-4, the Big 5 personality test and found that as the number of questions increased or when the models were told their personality was being measured, scores for positive traits (like Extraversion) increased while Neuroticism scores decreased. This bias, likely stemming from human feedback during training, highlights challenges in using LLMs as stand-ins for humans in research.

Advancing Real-Time American Sign Language Recognition Through AI:
Researchers at Florida Atlantic University have developed a highly accurate system for recognizing American Sign Language (ASL) alphabet gestures using computer vision, achieving a groundbreaking accuracy of 98%. The study utilized a custom dataset of over 29,000 ASL hand gesture images annotated with 21 key hand landmarks using MediaPipe. The integration of these annotations with the YOLOv8 deep learning model enabled precise detection of hand poses, achieving an F1 score of 99% and a mean Average Precision (mAP) of 98%. This two-step approach, combining landmark tracking and object detection, proved essential for accurately classifying subtle hand movements, even under varied conditions. The system’s robustness and high recognition rates demonstrate its potential for real-time applications, offering a promising solution for breaking communication barriers for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. Future research will expand the dataset and optimize the model for resource-constrained environments, paving the way for more inclusive assistive technologies.

ENGINEERING

Innovative Haptic Navigation System Offers Hope for People with Vision Loss:
Researchers at NYU Tandon School of Engineering have developed a wearable navigation system that combines haptic (vibration) and audio feedback to help people who are blind or have low vision (pBLV) navigate complex environments safely. The study tested the system in a virtual reality environment simulating advanced glaucoma symptoms. The device, a discreet belt with 10 vibration motors, indicates obstacle location and proximity through vibrations, while audio beeps guide users as obstacles get closer. In trials with 72 sighted participants experiencing simulated visual impairment, the system reduced collisions and improved navigation fluidity. This innovation complements tools like the "Commute Booster" app, aiming to provide pBLV with greater independence in real-world environments. Future studies will test the belt with individuals who have vision loss.

Beyond Silicon: Tandem Solar Cells and the Rise of BaZrS3: As silicon solar cells approach their efficiency limit of 29.4%, researchers are exploring tandem solar cells to capture more sunlight. Materials like halide perovskites have shown remarkable efficiency gains, rising 579% between 2009 and 2021, thanks to properties like defect tolerance, ferroelectricity, and extended electron lifespans. However, their commercial potential is limited by issues like toxicity (due to lead content) and instability. A promising alternative is BaZrS3 (BZS), a chalcogenide perovskite that is stable, non-toxic, and exhibits favorable solar cell properties. Researchers at the Australian Center for Advanced Photovoltaics (ACAP) have proposed stacking ultrathin, semi-transparent BZS layers to achieve efficiencies exceeding 38% when combined with silicon cells. However, challenges remain in producing BZS due to its chemical stability and sensitivity to oxygen contamination. With further innovation, BZS and similar materials could overcome current limitations, paving the way for a cleaner, more efficient future in solar energy. This breakthrough could transform sustainable power technologies, addressing both efficiency and environmental concerns.

Enzyme Breakthrough Transforms Food Waste into Efficient Biofuel: Researchers from King's College London and the Brazilian Biorenewables National Laboratory have developed a groundbreaking method to produce biofuel from leftover cooking oil, achieving efficiency levels 1,000 times greater than current methods. The study describes the use of a modified enzyme, P450 decarboxylase, to extract alkenes—key components of fuels like diesel and petrol—from fatty acids in food waste.mUnlike traditional biofuels, which burn inefficiently due to oxygen content, the new process removes oxygen more effectively, yielding a fuel comparable to diesel in performance. By placing the enzyme in a liquid salt environment and activating it with UV light, researchers overcame its usual dependence on water, achieving significantly higher yields with less energy and raw material usage. This innovation eliminates the need for environmentally harmful catalysts like platinum and toxic chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide. The process also offers potential applications in creating other fuels like gasoline and aviation kerosene, as well as in pharmaceutical manufacturing.

ASTRONOMY & SPACE

Exploring Brain Cell Growth in Space: Microgravity Accelerates Neuronal Maturation: Scripps Research and the New York Stem Cell Foundation studied how microgravity affects brain cells by sending stem-cell-derived brain organoids to the International Space Station (ISS). After a month in orbit, the organoids returned healthy and exhibited faster maturation compared to their Earth-grown counterparts, showing signs of specialization. Surprisingly, these space-grown cells displayed less inflammation and stress-related gene expression, despite accelerated development. This groundbreaking research lays the foundation for future experiments to understand neurological effects of space travel, including diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. The findings suggest microgravity could mimic certain conditions within the brain, offering unique insights into cellular behavior.

New Approach to Detect Gravitational Wave Memory from Supernovae: A new study demonstrates a method to detect "gravitational wave memory," a long-predicted phenomenon in Einstein’s general relativity where a passing gravitational wave leaves a permanent imprint on the distances between objects. Using advanced simulations of core-collapse supernovae (CCSN) with masses up to 25 solar masses, researchers identified low-frequency gravitational waves with distinct memory signals. These waves, generated by anisotropic matter motion and neutrino emission during supernovae, persist for over a second and display a slow ramp-up characteristic of the memory effect. The study shows that these signals could be detectable by current interferometers within a range of 30,000 light-years using refined filtering techniques. This breakthrough offers a new detection strategy for gravitational wave astronomy and motivates further exploration of low-frequency signals, potentially enhancing our understanding of cosmic phenomena and advancing detector technology.

Preserving Humanity’s Footprint on Mars: A Call for Space Archaeology: A study by University of Kansas anthropologist Justin Holcomb argues that artifacts of human exploration on Mars, such as spacecraft and rover remnants, should be viewed as valuable archaeological records rather than "space trash." The paper emphasizes the importance of cataloging and preserving these materials to document humanity's interplanetary endeavors. Holcomb highlights the need for future missions to avoid damaging these artifacts, which serve as key markers of human dispersal into space. He advocates for a methodology to track and protect these items, comparing them to ancient tools like Clovis points. This effort could establish a framework for planetary geoarchaeology, ensuring that humanity’s extraterrestrial heritage is preserved for future generations.

HEALTH & MEDICINE

Sweat-Based Biosensor Offers Pain-Free Glucose Monitoring for Diabetes:
Researchers at Binghamton University have developed a groundbreaking sweat-based glucose monitoring system that could eliminate the need for painful finger-stick devices for people with diabetes. The paper-based biosensor uses Bacillus subtilis spores that germinate in response to glucose in potassium-rich bodily fluids, like sweat, producing power to measure glucose levels. Unlike traditional enzymatic systems, the bacterial spores are shelf-stable, self-replicating, and resilient in harsh environments, ensuring longer usability without refrigeration. Although the device's sensitivity currently lags behind conventional methods, this novel sensing mechanism represents a major step toward non-invasive, cost-effective diabetes management. Future research aims to improve detection accuracy and sensitivity.

Pro-Inflammatory Diets Linked to Higher Risk of Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease: A study has found that higher scores on the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) are associated with significantly increased risks of all-cause dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD). The research analyzed data from 1,487 dementia-free participants aged 60+, tracking their dietary habits and dementia incidence over a 13-year follow-up. Participants with the most pro-inflammatory diets—rich in saturated fats, processed carbohydrates, and low in anti-inflammatory nutrients like omega-3s and vitamins—had an 84% higher risk of developing dementia compared to those with the most anti-inflammatory diets. Each unit increase in DII score correlated with a 21% rise in all-cause dementia risk and a 20% increase in AD risk. The findings support the hypothesis that systemic inflammation, driven by pro-inflammatory diets, accelerates neurodegeneration and promotes brain inflammation and amyloid-beta plaque formation. Anti-inflammatory diets, such as the Mediterranean and MIND diets, may counteract these effects and reduce dementia risk by mitigating chronic inflammation.

Prostate Cancer Hijacks Growth Regulation Program for Uncontrolled Growth: Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine discovered that prostate cancer reprograms the androgen receptor, which normally regulates healthy cell growth, to promote tumor growth instead. The study identified a set of androgen receptor DNA-binding sites that suppress cell growth in healthy prostate cells but are abandoned in cancer cells, enabling unchecked proliferation. The findings suggest that tumors with higher expression of the normal androgen receptor program correlate with better patient outcomes. This research paves the way for diagnostic tests to tailor treatments and potential therapies that restore the normal regulatory program to inhibit cancer growth.

NEUROSCIENCE

Human Thought Quantified at 10 Bits Per Second, Raising New Neuroscience Questions: Caltech researchers have determined that human thought operates at a rate of 10 bits per second, significantly slower than the trillion bits per second our sensory systems gather from the environment. The study highlights a paradox: despite having 85 billion neurons capable of processing information far faster, our brains filter immense sensory data down to process just one thought at a time. The researchers suggest this limitation may stem from evolutionary roots, with early nervous systems optimized for navigating simple environments. They propose that human thinking resembles "navigation" through abstract concepts, constrained by brain architecture. This discovery challenges the feasibility of brain-computer interfaces achieving faster communication rates, suggesting that neural communication speed is fundamentally limited to 10 bits per second. The findings open new avenues for understanding how and why the brain prioritizes and processes information so slowly.

Breakthrough Discovery Reveals Body’s Natural Pain-Blocking Mechanism:
Researchers led by Professor Nikita Gamper from the University of Leeds have uncovered a natural mechanism in the body that mimics the effects of benzodiazepines to block pain signals without the risks of opioids. The study identifies peptides released by spinal ganglia cells that locally dull pain without affecting the central nervous system. This discovery could pave the way for targeted treatments for chronic pain, providing safer alternatives to opioids. With up to one-third of the global population affected by chronic pain, the findings represent a significant step toward developing non-addictive, localized pain medications. The collaborative study highlights the potential for new approaches to treating pain effectively and safely.

Breathing Rhythms During Sleep Found to Coordinate Memory-Boosting Brain Waves: A study from Northwestern Medicine reveals that breathing rhythms during sleep synchronize hippocampal brain waves—slow waves, spindles, and ripples—that are essential for memory consolidation. The research shows that these oscillations occur at specific points in the breathing cycle, suggesting that breathing plays a crucial role in organizing memory processes during sleep. The findings link sleep-disordered breathing, like sleep apnea, to impaired memory consolidation and cognitive issues. Researchers emphasize the importance of treating such disorders, as disrupted breathing during sleep can affect brain health and increase risks for conditions like stroke and dementia. This discovery underscores the intricate relationship between breathing and memory, potentially opening new avenues for improving cognitive health.

NATURE

Marine Animals Optimize Swim Depth to Conserve Energy: A study by researchers from Swansea and Deakin Universities reveals that air-breathing marine animals, including turtles, penguins, and whales, travel at depths around three body-lengths below the surface to minimize energy expenditure. This "sweet spot" reduces wave drag and optimizes horizontal travel during migrations or long-distance commutes. Using data from animal-borne cameras, satellite tracking, and motion sensors, the study found consistent swimming patterns across species, aligning with physics predictions. These findings highlight how evolutionary adaptations help marine animals conserve energy during non-foraging movements.

New High-Quality Genome Map Unlocks Bedbug Genetic Secrets: Researchers at the University of Texas at Arlington have developed a chromosome-level reference genome for the common bedbug (Cimex lectularius), providing new insights into its biology, evolution, and insecticide resistance. The study used advanced genetic sequencing tools to map the bedbug’s genome, including 15 chromosomes, with a focus on understanding sex determination and pesticide resistance. This resource offers a crucial tool for studying bedbug traits and developing targeted pest control strategies, aiding efforts to combat the global resurgence of bedbug infestations fueled by pesticide resistance and increased international travel.

OTHER SCIENCES & THE ARTS

Deep Learning Advances Prediction of Sudden Shifts in Complex Systems:
Researchers have demonstrated that deep learning can predict noise-induced and rate-induced tipping in nonlinear dynamical systems, such as climate systems. The study introduces machine learning as a tool to anticipate these sudden shifts, which have previously been challenging to forecast due to their stochastic or rapid-changing nature. The team trained a deep learning model on time series data, enabling it to identify subtle precursors to tipping events. The findings show that the prediction method is effective across different systems and forcing rates, offering a transferable and explainable approach to early warning detection. Future research will focus on enhancing the model with broader datasets, uncovering the mechanisms behind tipping signals through explainable AI, and predicting entire system trajectories before and after tipping events, paving the way for better understanding and management of climate and ecological risks.