Tea Bags Release Billions of Microplastics, Study Finds

Author

The STEAM Digest
December 22, 2024

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 Leishmaniasis Treatment Targets New Enzyme Pathway, and more.

  • Technology and AI - Breakthrough in Hypersensitive Strain Sensors for Medical and Engineering Applications, and more.

  • Engineering - Thermal Evaporation Emerges as Key to Scalable Solid-State Lithium Battery Production, and more.

  • Health & Medicine - Tea Bags Release Billions of Microplastics, Study Finds, and more.

  • Neuroscience - Vagus Nerve Stimulation Therapy Shows Promise for Severe Depression, and more.

  • Environment - Study Finds South Florida’s Coastal Buildings Sinking Faster Than Expected, and more.

  • Nature - Right Whales Found to Live Over 130 Years, Study Reveals, and more.

  • Other Sciences & The Arts - Dynamic Pricing via Digital Labels Could Reduce Food Waste and Boost Efficiency.

Until Tomorrow.

~The STEAM Digest

If you’d like to see more of this or if you want to share with others, please use the following link: https://thesteamdigest.beehiiv.com/subscribe

This newsletter is curated by The STEAM Digest.

SCIENCE

Breakthrough in Leishmaniasis Treatment Targets New Enzyme Pathway: Researchers have identified a new enzyme pathway in the parasites causing leishmaniasis that could lead to more effective treatments for this deadly disease. The study revealed that Leishmania parasites rely on the CYP5122A1 enzyme for ergosterol biosynthesis, making it a crucial drug target. While previous attempts to use azole antifungal drugs failed due to incomplete targeting of the parasite's sterol pathways, this discovery highlights the need to inhibit both the CYP51 and CYP5122A1 pathways for effective treatment. This advancement offers hope for repurposing existing antifungals to combat leishmaniasis, which affects 1 million people annually.

Cyanobacteria Breakthrough Transforms CO2 into Sustainable Plastics: Researchers at The University of Manchester have developed a method to significantly boost citramalate production from cyanobacteria, advancing efforts to create sustainable, bio-based plastics. Citramalate, a key precursor for renewable materials like Plexiglas, is produced using CO2 and sunlight via photosynthesis. Using a "design of experiment" approach, the team optimized factors like light intensity and CO2 concentration, achieving a 23-fold increase in production. This research highlights the potential of cyanobacteria in creating a carbon-neutral circular bioeconomy by turning greenhouse gases into valuable resources. Future work will focus on scaling up production and expanding applications to other bio-based materials.

"Living" Ceramics Developed to Capture CO2 and Detect Toxins: Researchers at ETH Zürich have created "living" ceramics by embedding bacteria into 3D-printed porous ceramic structures. These materials can detect formaldehyde and capture carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air. The ceramic structures were designed with pits to house bacteria and channel nutrients, enabling the microorganisms to survive for up to two weeks without additional feeding. Cyanobacteria enabled CO2 extraction, while E. coli acted as a formaldehyde sensor. This innovation highlights the potential of porous ceramics as a platform for developing functional, environmentally beneficial living materials.

Active Particles Reshape Colloidal Gels: Researchers have discovered that active particles, like swimming bacteria, can transform colloidal gels into denser and more dynamic structures. These 3D gels, made of microscopic particles in liquid, adapt by creating interconnected pathways that allow particles to move freely. Using simulations and Topological Data Analysis (TDA), the study revealed how energy from active particles reorganizes gels, showcasing the unique behavior of 3D systems compared to 2D materials. These findings could inform applications in biodegradation, infection control, and material engineering, while opening avenues for studying more complex active systems.

TECHNOLOGY AND AI

Breakthrough in Hypersensitive Strain Sensors for Medical and Engineering Applications: A research team has developed a flexible, stretchable strain sensor with record-breaking sensitivity. By combining microcracks and meta-structures with a negative Poisson’s ratio, the sensor achieves 100 times greater sensitivity than previous models, detecting strains as small as 10⁻⁵—equivalent to changes at the atomic scale. This innovation enables real-time monitoring of blood flow and pressure, allowing early detection of cerebrovascular diseases like hemorrhage and ischemia. Biodegradable materials ensure the sensor decomposes safely inside the body, avoiding long-term residues. Potential applications extend beyond medical diagnostics to robotics, disaster response, and environmental monitoring, offering groundbreaking advancements in precision biomedical engineering and safety technologies.

Breakthrough in Odor Detection: Precise Sensors Inspired by Human Olfaction: Researchers from IBEC and collaborators have developed a novel method to enhance the precision of olfactory sensors by measuring small electrical changes in receptors, mimicking the human olfactory system. This breakthrough overcomes a key limitation of traditional sensors, which struggle to distinguish between odors that activate the same receptor. The method uses a human olfactory receptor immobilized on a gold surface to detect odorants by measuring their binding strength through changes in the receptor's electrical response, specifically its dipole moment. This innovative approach improves odor discrimination and could have wide-ranging applications in odor screening, industrial processes, and technology. This research marks a significant step forward in understanding molecular olfactory recognition and designing more effective odor detection tools.

Sticky Tape Breakthrough Could Revolutionize Diamond Electronics: Researchers have developed a method to create ultra-thin diamond wafers using sticky tape. This innovation could pave the way for diamond-based electronics, offering a potential alternative to silicon chips. Diamonds have unique electronic properties, capable of handling higher energies with greater efficiency than silicon. The process involves embedding nano-sized diamonds into a silicon wafer, growing a thin diamond layer using methane gas, and then peeling it off with sticky tape. The resulting diamond sheet is less than a micrometer thick—much thinner than a human hair—and smooth enough for chip etching. This technique mirrors early breakthroughs in graphene production and could benefit fields like quantum devices and power grids. However, challenges remain, including scaling up the wafer size and improving the material's quality, as current sheets are polycrystalline rather than monocrystalline. Despite these hurdles, the method demonstrates exciting potential for next-generation electronics.

ENGINEERING

Thermal Evaporation Emerges as Key to Scalable Solid-State Lithium Battery Production: Solid-state lithium batteries, promising high energy densities of over 500 Wh/kg and 1,000 Wh/l, face challenges such as lithium loss during charge-discharge cycles, which reduces efficiency. Researchers from the University of Oxford, the Faraday Institution, Nissan Motor Co., and others identified thermal evaporation as a promising and cost-effective method for creating thin lithium metal anodes to address this issue. Their study assessed various manufacturing techniques, highlighting thermal evaporation’s potential to produce thin, dense lithium foils crucial for improving battery performance and scalability. These advancements could pave the way for commercializing solid-state batteries, enhancing energy storage for electric vehicles and other technologies.

New Sodium-Ion Battery Material Promises Sustainable Energy Future: Researchers have developed a breakthrough material, sodium vanadium phosphate (NaxV2(PO4)3), for sodium-ion batteries. This material increases energy density by over 15%, reaching 458 Wh/kg, bringing sodium technology closer to rivaling lithium-ion batteries. Sodium is a more abundant, affordable, and sustainable alternative to lithium, with potential to reduce reliance on scarce resources. The new material’s unique single-phase system allows efficient sodium-ion movement, delivering a stable 3.7 volts—enhancing battery performance and durability. This advancement could make large-scale energy storage cheaper and more accessible while paving the way for cleaner, sustainable energy solutions. The research also opens opportunities for improving other battery technologies using similar methods.

Robotic System Recreates Traditional Chinese Massage Techniques: Researchers have developed a robotic system that replicates Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) massage techniques. The robot features two robotic arms with multifunctional massage hands that mimic human hands in size and shape, performing techniques such as palm-punching, kneading, vibrating, and finger massages. Using adaptive admittance control and data from expert therapists, the robot adjusts its force and positioning to ensure safety and comfort. Initial tests showed it could effectively replicate four massage techniques: beat, press, push, and vibrate. The system has potential applications in health care, wellness, and rehabilitation, offering new therapeutic options for patients. Future research will refine the system and explore its use in clinical settings.

HEALTH & MEDICINE

Tea Bags Release Billions of Microplastics, Study Finds: A study has revealed that polymer-based tea bags release billions of microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPLs) when infused. The research is the first to demonstrate the absorption of these particles by human intestinal cells, with the potential to enter the bloodstream and spread throughout the body. Using advanced analytical techniques, researchers characterized MNPLs released from tea bags made of nylon-6, polypropylene, and cellulose. The study found that polypropylene released the highest concentration of particles—1.2 billion per milliliter—while cellulose and nylon-6 released 135 million and 8.18 million particles per milliliter, respectively. The particles, ranging in size from 136.7 to 244 nanometers, were shown to be internalized by human intestinal cells, particularly mucus-producing ones, with some even reaching the cell nucleus. These findings highlight potential long-term health risks and underscore the need for standardized testing and regulatory measures to minimize plastic contamination in food packaging.

Revolutionary Microneedle Aims to Transform Inner Ear Treatment: Researchers have developed an ultrathin, ultrasharp microneedle designed to deliver treatments and obtain samples from the previously inaccessible inner ear. This breakthrough aims to facilitate precision medicine for hearing loss and inner ear conditions like Meniere’s disease. The microneedle, smaller than a human hair and manufactured using advanced 3D printing techniques, minimizes tissue damage and allows for precise fluid injections and sampling without causing hearing loss. The device has shown promising results in animal trials for delivering gene therapies and diagnosing inner ear disorders. The team is advancing commercialization through Haystack Medical and collaborating with gene therapy companies to bring this transformative technology to clinical use, paving the way for safer, repeatable, and more effective inner ear treatments.

NEUROSCIENCE

Vagus Nerve Stimulation Therapy Shows Promise for Severe Depression: A multicenter trial led by Washington University found that vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) therapy significantly improved depressive symptoms, quality of life, and daily functioning in people with severe, treatment-resistant depression. The study involved nearly 500 participants, each implanted with a VNS device. Activated devices showed measurable benefits, with improvements becoming more pronounced in the trial's final months. VNS works by delivering electrical pulses to the brain's mood-regulating areas. While complete remission was rare, many participants reported meaningful enhancements in daily life. Researchers hope the data will lead to Medicare and private insurance coverage, increasing accessibility for this costly but effective therapy. Participants will be followed for four more years to assess long-term benefits.

Alcohol Use Disorder Disrupts Brain Mechanisms Critical for Adaptability: Researchers have uncovered how chronic alcohol use disrupts cholinergic interneurons (CINs) in the brain, impairing cognitive flexibility—a key factor in learning and adapting to new behaviors. CINs, which regulate acetylcholine and influence dopamine-driven reward systems, normally fire in a "burst-pause" pattern essential for behavioral adaptability. Chronic alcohol exposure shortens and weakens these pauses, significantly impairing processes like reversal learning, which allows individuals to adapt to changing circumstances. Using tools like optogenetics and fiber photometry, the study revealed distinct roles of CIN firing phases: bursts aid unlearning old behaviors, while pauses enable learning new ones. The findings shed light on the cognitive impairments linked to alcohol use disorder (AUD) and suggest CIN dynamics as potential therapeutic targets for treating AUD-related brain dysfunction and other neurological conditions.

Brain Circuits Behind Hunger Uncovered, Offering Obesity Drug Insights: A new study identifies how brain circuits and neurotransmitters regulate hunger and meal initiation. Researchers found that hunger suppresses serotonin levels via inhibitory signals from GABA and dopamine, enabling meal initiation. As feeding progresses, these signals decrease, allowing serotonin to rise and suppress further eating. This discovery highlights the synergistic role of GABA and dopamine in controlling serotonin-producing neurons, offering insights into feeding behavior and informing the development of improved, side-effect-free obesity therapies. Future research will explore signals regulating other phases of feeding.

ENVIRONMENT

Study Finds South Florida’s Coastal Buildings Sinking Faster Than Expected: A team of engineers and geoscientists has discovered that many tall, heavy buildings along South Florida’s coast are sinking at rates of 2 to 8 cm from 2016 to 2023, faster than anticipated. Using satellite imagery, the researchers identified varying subsidence rates across different areas, with Sunny Isles Beach experiencing the worst sinking, followed by Surfside and Miami Beach showing the least. Although subsidence was not linked to the 2021 Surfside condo collapse, uneven sinking could pose structural risks. The study emphasizes the need for further monitoring and investigations to assess the impact on buildings and issue warnings if necessary.

AI Advances Water Quality Monitoring by Detecting Harmful Chemical Mixtures: Researchers from the University of Birmingham, in collaboration with international teams, have developed an AI-based method to identify harmful chemical mixtures in rivers by analyzing their effects on water fleas (Daphnia). The approach reveals how combinations of chemicals, even at low concentrations, can harm aquatic organisms by disrupting biological processes. Using Daphnia as sentinel species, the study highlights the ability of AI to process vast chemical and biological data to uncover previously undetectable toxic substances. This innovation offers a data-driven, comprehensive method for monitoring water quality, potentially transforming ecotoxicology and informing better regulations for chemical discharges into waterways.

Denali Fault Study Reveals Ancient Connection Between Land Masses: New research led by Sean Regan at the University of Alaska Fairbanks reconstructs how three distant sites along Alaska’s Denali Fault—Clearwater Mountains, Kluane Lake, and the Coast Mountains—once formed a unified geological feature. This "terminal suture zone" represents the final joining of the Wrangellia Composite Terrane to North America, occurring between 72 and 56 million years ago. The study used inverted metamorphism, a rare geological phenomenon, and the mineral monazite to show that the sites formed simultaneously under similar conditions before being separated by 300 miles of tectonic movement over millions of years. This work refines understanding of plate growth along North America’s western margin and highlights the complex tectonic history of the region.

NATURE

Right Whales Found to Live Over 130 Years, Study Reveals: New research shows that right whales can live over 130 years, nearly double previous estimates, highlighting their extreme longevity, which parallels that of their close relatives, bowhead whales. Southern right whales can reach 150 years, while North Atlantic right whales have an average lifespan of just 22 years, primarily due to human impacts like fishing gear entanglement and ship strikes. This longevity has critical implications for conservation, as population recovery may take centuries. Older whales are essential for transferring survival knowledge to younger generations. Researchers hope to extend these findings to other whale species to better understand historical impacts of whaling and predict recovery timelines.

Sugar Solution Matches Antibiotics in Treating Dairy Cow Infections: A study found that a concentrated sugar solution, intrauterine dextrose, could effectively treat uterine infections (clinical metritis) in dairy cows, rivaling systemic antibiotics like ceftiofur. This approach minimizes antibiotic use, helping combat antimicrobial resistance, a major concern in human and veterinary medicine. The study, involving 77 cows, showed that dextrose achieved similar cure rates to antibiotics for mild cases and preserved the reproductive microbiome, unlike antibiotics, which can disrupt microbial balance. These findings are especially promising for the organic dairy industry and could inform future research on sugar-based treatments for human infections.

Newly Discovered 'Orangutan Pitcher Plant' Found in Borneo: A newly identified species of pitcher plant, Nepenthes pongoides, has been discovered in the Meliau mountain range of Borneo, Malaysia. Known for its thick, rust-colored fur reminiscent of the local orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus), the plant has been nicknamed the "orangutan pitcher plant." The carnivorous plant, one of the largest and furriest ever found, can grow pitchers up to 45 cm long that hold over 2 liters of water, serving as vital ecosystems for wildlife in the region. However, with only 39 specimens recorded, the species is highly vulnerable to extinction due to habitat loss and poaching for the black-market horticulture trade. First misidentified in 2004, the species was officially described in 2023 by researchers who emphasize the urgent need for conservation efforts to protect this unique plant.

OTHER SCIENCES & THE ARTS

Dynamic Pricing via Digital Labels Could Reduce Food Waste and Boost Efficiency: U.S. supermarkets wasted 5 million tons of food in 2022, with expiration labels accounting for over half of this waste. Research from Texas McCombs proposes digital shelf labels and dynamic pricing as a solution. These technologies enable stores to adjust prices more frequently, encouraging consumers to buy nearing-expiry items and reducing food waste. Two European grocery chains implementing digital labels showed impressive results: one in the UK increased price changes by 54%, while an EU chain using expanded barcodes achieved an 853% rise. This improved inventory management reduces landfill waste, boosts grocers’ profits, and offers savings to price-conscious shoppers. Challenges include initial costs and consumer concerns over potential price hikes. However, with companies like Walmart adopting digital labels, experts suggest government incentives to accelerate adoption and revolutionize grocery retail.