Estrogen Identified as a Key Driver of Binge Drinking in Females

As we step into a new year, we are filled with gratitude for being part of our journey. Our mission in the past year and in 2025, is to continue to bring you the latest news in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. We hope the information we provide in 2025 brings you inspiration, growth, and discovery. May you embrace the opportunities ahead and make 2025 a year to remember.

Thank you for being part of our journey.

Warm Wishes

~The STEAM Digest~

In today’s edition:

• Science - Ebola Virus Pathway to Skin's Surface Uncovered: Insights Into Transmission Risks, and more.

• Technology and AI - The Rise of the "Intention Economy": Cambridge Researchers Warn of AI's Role in Shaping Human Desires, and more.

• Engineering - Breakthrough in Self-Charging Energy Storage Technology Integrates Solar Cells with Supercapacitors, and more.

• Astronomy & Space - Breakthrough in Fast Radio Burst Origins: Close Proximity to Neutron Star's Magnetosphere Confirmed, and more.

• Health & Medicine - Genetic and Environmental Factors in Childhood Cancer: Insights and Implications, and more.

• Neuroscience - Pupil Dynamics During Sleep Reveal Memory Consolidation Mechanisms, and more.

• Environment - Antarctic Ice Loss: Study Reveals Role of Smaller Calving Events in Climate Change Impact, and more.

• Nature - Mechanisms of Retrotransposon Insertion in Centromeres Unveiled by University of Tokyo Researchers.

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SCIENCE

Ebola Virus Pathway to Skin's Surface Uncovered: Insights Into Transmission Risks: A recent study has revealed how the Ebola virus (EBOV) travels through skin layers to emerge on the surface, providing insights into its role in person-to-person transmission. Using a human skin explant system, the team identified specific skin cell types—macrophages, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and keratinocytes—that are targeted by the virus. Their findings showed that EBOV spreads robustly through the epidermal layer and reaches the skin's surface within three days, highlighting a potential route for infectious transmission. This breakthrough study offers a deeper understanding of EBOV's interaction with the skin and presents new opportunities for developing antiviral therapies, using skin explants as effective, cost-efficient models for testing.

Atoms Behave Like Waves in Groundbreaking Quantum Experiment: For the first time, atoms have been diffracted through a crystal grating in a classic quantum experiment, showcasing their wave-like behavior. This breakthrough used helium and hydrogen atoms accelerated to high energies and fired through a graphene sheet—a one-atom-thin carbon layer. The atoms created circular diffraction patterns, a phenomenon long thought impossible due to the damage high-energy atoms were expected to cause to the grating. The researchers found that high-energy atoms could exchange undetectable amounts of energy with the graphene, enabling diffraction without compromising the quantum wave nature of the atoms. The study’s results could lead to more sensitive atomic interferometers, potentially improving gravitational wave detection far beyond current capabilities. The work extends the principles of quantum mechanics to atoms and setting the stage for advances in both fundamental physics and cutting-edge detection technology.

Mapping Brain Aging: Key Cellular Changes and Hot Spots Identified: Scientists have uncovered specific cell types in the mouse brain that undergo significant changes with aging, focusing on a "hot spot" in the hypothalamus. The study identifies glial cells like microglia, oligodendrocytes, and tanycytes as major players in age-related gene expression changes. These changes include increased inflammation and decreased neuronal function, particularly near the hypothalamus' third ventricle—a region critical for metabolism and nutrient processing. Using advanced RNA sequencing and brain mapping, researchers analyzed over 1.2 million cells from young and aged mice, offering insights into the cellular drivers of aging. The findings suggest a link between diet, lifestyle, and brain health, with potential implications for therapies targeting specific cells to slow neurodegeneration and promote healthy aging. The study also hints at the role of dietary strategies, like calorie restriction, in influencing brain aging.

TECHNOLOGY AND AI

The Rise of the "Intention Economy": Cambridge Researchers Warn of AI's Role in Shaping Human Desires: Researchers warn that advancements in generative AI and persuasive technologies are driving the emergence of an "intention economy," where AI assistants forecast and influence human decisions in real-time. By leveraging intimate psychological and behavioral data gathered through conversations, these anthropomorphic AI agents could manipulate human intentions for commercial or political gain. The researchers highlight that tech giants are already laying the groundwork for this shift, citing examples such as OpenAI's interest in intention data and Apple's App Intents framework. The researchers argue that this new marketplace could commodify motivations as the internet once monetized attention, potentially undermining free elections, press integrity, and market competition. While the intention economy offers opportunities for innovation, the researchers stress the need for regulation and public awareness to prevent unintended consequences.

New Dynamic Facial Expression Technology Enhances Emotional Communication in Androids: Researchers have developed a dynamic facial expression synthesis technology for androids, replacing the traditional "patchwork method" of pre-arranged facial actions. This innovative approach uses "waveform movements," where individual gestures like blinking and breathing are represented as waves and overlaid in real time to produce complex facial expressions. The system incorporates "waveform modulation," enabling androids to reflect internal states, such as mood, through subtle, natural expressions. By fostering richer emotional communication and creating androids perceived as more humanlike, this technology aims to revolutionize human-robot interaction.

Advancing Self-Supervised Learning: ContextSSL Bridges Invariance and Equivariance: A team of researchers has introduced a novel self-supervised learning (SSL) framework called Contextual Self-Supervised Learning (ContextSSL). Unlike traditional SSL methods that rely on pre-defined data augmentations to enforce invariance or equivariance, ContextSSL uses a dynamic approach informed by context. By leveraging transformer modules and context-driven learning, this method adapts representations based on task-specific requirements without repetitive retraining. Experiments on datasets like CIFAR-10 and MIMIC-III demonstrate the model's ability to flexibly balance invariance and equivariance, improving performance on diverse tasks, from medical diagnostics to fairness assessments. ContextSSL represents a significant step toward general-purpose, adaptive SSL models capable of handling complex real-world tasks.

ENGINEERING

Breakthrough in Self-Charging Energy Storage Technology Integrates Solar Cells with Supercapacitors: A joint research team has developed a pioneering self-charging energy storage device that combines solar cells with high-performance supercapacitors. The study highlights the use of nickel-based carbonate and hydroxide electrode materials, enhanced with transition metal ions (Mn, Co, Cu, Fe, Zn), to achieve unprecedented energy storage capabilities. The device delivers an energy density of 35.5 Wh kg⁻¹—nearly double that of earlier technologies—and a power density of 2555.6 W kg⁻¹, enabling rapid energy release. Its long-term stability and minimal performance degradation after repeated use underscore its durability. The integration of silicon solar cells with supercapacitors allows the system to store and utilize solar energy efficiently, achieving a storage efficiency of 63% and overall efficiency of 5.17%. The researchers emphasize the potential for sustainable energy solutions and plan further work to enhance commercialization prospects.

Advancing Material Discovery: IISc and UCL Researchers Harness Machine Learning to Predict Material Properties: Researchers have developed a machine learning approach using transfer learning to predict material properties, even with limited data. This innovation addresses the challenges of scarce material testing data, which hinders the development of materials with desired properties like semiconductors. The study utilized Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) and a Multi-property Pre-Training (MPT) framework to optimize the model's architecture and performance. The pre-trained and fine-tuned models demonstrated superior accuracy compared to models trained from scratch and could predict properties such as piezoelectric coefficients and band gaps in 2D materials. This breakthrough holds potential for advancing energy storage and semiconductor technologies, supporting India's goals for semiconductor manufacturing.

Revolutionary Triple-Layer Lithium Metal Battery Enhances Safety and Longevity: Researchers have developed a lithium metal battery featuring a triple-layer solid polymer electrolyte. This innovative design addresses safety and durability challenges in conventional batteries. Each electrolyte layer serves specific functions: incorporating fire-retardant DBDPE, strengthening materials like zeolite, and a high concentration of LiTFSI for efficient lithium-ion movement. The design prevents dendrite formation, a common cause of fires and performance loss in traditional batteries. The battery demonstrated remarkable durability, retaining 87.9% performance after 1,000 cycles, and offers self-extinguishing capabilities to mitigate fire risks. This advancement holds significant potential for diverse applications, including electric vehicles, smartphones, and large-scale energy storage systems. This breakthrough has impact on the commercialization of safe, high-efficiency lithium metal batteries.

ASTRONOMY & SPACE

Breakthrough in Fast Radio Burst Origins: Close Proximity to Neutron Star's Magnetosphere Confirmed: Fast radio bursts (FRBs), intense and fleeting explosions of radio waves, have puzzled scientists since their discovery in 2007. A new study has traced FRB 20221022A to its source, a magnetosphere surrounding a rotating neutron star 200 million light-years away. Using scintillation, a technique similar to observing twinkling stars, the team pinpointed the origin of the FRB to within 10,000 kilometers of the neutron star, confirming its proximity to the highly magnetic environment. This finding offers the first definitive proof that FRBs can emerge from magnetospheres, challenging alternative theories that suggested their origins were distant shockwaves. The study highlights how CHIME, a Canadian radio telescope array, has been instrumental in advancing FRB research by detecting thousands of bursts since 2020. Researchers anticipate that scintillation techniques will continue to unravel the diverse mechanisms behind these cosmic phenomena.

Stunning Antlia Cluster Image Reveals Galaxy Diversity and Insights Into Cosmic Evolution: NSF NOIRLab has unveiled a breathtaking new image of the Antlia Cluster (Abell S636), showcasing the diversity of its galaxy population. Captured with the 570-megapixel Dark Energy Camera (DECam) on the Víctor M. Blanco 4-meter Telescope in Chile, the ultra-deep view highlights over 230 galaxies located 130 million light-years away in the constellation Antlia. The cluster features dominant elliptical galaxies NGC 3268 and NGC 3258, surrounded by faint dwarf galaxies and rarer types like ultra-compact dwarfs and blue compact dwarfs. Advances in observational technology, such as DECam, have allowed scientists to study these faint structures and intracluster light—stars scattered by the gravitational interactions of galaxies—offering clues about dark matter and galaxy evolution.

HEALTH & MEDICINE

Genetic and Environmental Factors in Childhood Cancer: Insights and Implications: Childhood and adolescent cancer is rare but remains a leading cause of death in these age groups. Survivors often face chronic health issues and elevated risks of mortality. Genetic predisposition is the most significant known risk factor, with both common and rare gene variants contributing to cancer risk. Hereditary conditions, termed cancer predisposition syndromes (CPS), like Li-Fraumeni syndrome and Fanconi anemia, account for around 10% of childhood cancer cases. Environmental factors, such as viral infections, may also play a role. Additionally, gene mutations arising during embryonic development can lead to mosaic diseases, combining altered and healthy cells, which may result in cancer later in life. Understanding these complex genetic and environmental interactions is essential for advancing cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment strategies in children and adolescents.

Fungal Infections Linked to Bat Guano Fertilizer Used in Marijuana Cultivation: A study highlights two fatal cases of fungal lung infections caused by Histoplasma capsulatum in men who used bat guano as a fertilizer for growing marijuana plants. Both individuals, aged 59 and 64, developed severe histoplasmosis after inhaling spores while fertilizing their plants. Despite antifungal therapies, the men succumbed to the infection due to underlying health conditions, including emphysema and cigarette smoking. Histoplasma capsulatum spores, found in bat feces, can infect the lungs and spread through the bloodstream, causing pneumonia-like symptoms such as cough, fever, weight loss, and respiratory failure. While many recover with treatment, those with compromised health are at greater risk. The researchers urge marijuana growers to avoid using bat guano as fertilizer to prevent similar infections, underscoring the potential dangers associated with this popular gardening product.

Non-Selective Beta-Blockers Increase Risk in Bone Marrow Transplants: Researchers have revealed that non-selective beta-blockers can significantly impair bone marrow regeneration in patients undergoing hematopoietic cell transplants. This suppression of critical nerve signaling delays blood cell recovery, leading to higher complications and worse survival rates. The study demonstrated that non-selective beta-blockers disrupt the signaling of β2 and β3 adrenergic receptors, essential for bone marrow regeneration. In experiments on mice, these medications caused impaired hematopoietic recovery and high mortality rates. Retrospective data analysis from human transplant patients confirmed slower recovery and worse outcomes for those on non-selective beta-blockers. Researchers recommend temporarily discontinuing non-selective beta-blockers or switching to β1-selective inhibitors during the transplant period to improve patient outcomes. These findings could prompt significant changes in clinical practices for managing blood-forming cell transplants.

NEUROSCIENCE

Estrogen Identified as a Key Driver of Binge Drinking in Females: A study reveals that estrogen significantly influences binge-drinking behaviors in females, particularly during periods of high hormone levels. The research shows that circulating estrogen enhances neural activity in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), a brain region associated with alcohol consumption, leading to "front-loading"—intense drinking within the first 30 minutes of alcohol availability. Unlike estrogen's typical slower gene-regulating pathways, this behavior is driven by the hormone's rapid action on cell-surface receptors in BNST neurons, intensifying cell communication and promoting binge drinking within minutes. Researchers also identified the specific estrogen receptor responsible for this effect. These findings highlight the need for sex-specific studies on alcohol use and suggest that inhibiting estrogen synthesis or targeting BNST neuron signaling could provide novel treatments for alcohol use disorder. Such approaches could selectively reduce alcohol consumption during hormone surges, offering a new direction for therapeutic interventions.

Pupil Dynamics During Sleep Reveal Memory Consolidation Mechanisms: Researchers have uncovered a link between pupil size during sleep and memory consolidation, offering insights into how the brain prevents "catastrophic forgetting." The study found that during a substage of non-REM sleep, contracted pupils indicate the reactivation and consolidation of new memories. Conversely, dilated pupils are associated with the integration of older memories. By studying mice equipped with brain electrodes and eye-tracking cameras, the researchers identified a novel micro-structure in non-REM sleep that alternates between processing new and old memories. This dynamic ensures that new knowledge does not overwrite existing memories. The findings could lead to improved memory enhancement techniques for humans and inform the design of more efficient artificial neural networks.

Early Brain Structure Differences Linked to Adolescent Substance Use Risk: A study analyzing nearly 10,000 adolescents found significant differences in brain structures between teens who initiated substance use before age 15 and those who did not. Many of these differences, particularly in the cortex, were evident in MRI scans from childhood, suggesting they may contribute to the risk of substance use. Researchers observed both global and regional brain differences, including variations in cortical thickness and brain volume, some of which were substance-specific. The study utilized data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, the largest longitudinal study of brain development in the U.S., and followed participants from ages 9–11 for three years. Findings suggest brain structure, genetics, and environmental factors together influence substance use risk but stress that brain structure alone cannot predict behavior. Further research is needed to clarify how these differences interact with development and substance exposure to inform prevention and intervention strategies.

ENVIRONMENT

Antarctic Ice Loss: Study Reveals Role of Smaller Calving Events in Climate Change Impact: A study investigates the relationship between climate change and Antarctic iceberg formation. Researchers analyzed the continent's largest annual icebergs from 1976 to 2023, using statistical methods tailored for rare and unevenly distributed events. They found that the surface area of the largest icebergs has slightly decreased over time, with no direct correlation between extreme calving events and climate change. However, smaller calving events have increased, contributing significantly to Antarctic ice loss in what researchers describe as a "death by a thousand cuts." While extreme calving events like the Delaware-sized A-68 iceberg in 2017 garner attention, they are not the primary drivers of ice mass loss. The study also suggests that a "once in a century" iceberg, potentially the size of Switzerland, could form in the future, though such events remain unpredictable.

Indirect Method Enhances Understanding of Atlantic Meridional Freshwater Transport: Researchers have developed an innovative method for estimating Atlantic Meridional Freshwater Transport (AMFT) across a wide range of latitudes (34°S to 66°N). By analyzing ocean salinity and surface freshwater flux (precipitation and evaporation), they calculated AMFT trends from 2004 to 2020. Their findings revealed that AMFT generally moves southward between 18°S and 34°S and northward from 18°S to 66°N, with distinct inter-annual variations and increasing intensity toward higher latitudes. The study identified convergence and divergence patterns in AMFT, which influence changes in Atlantic freshwater content, potentially accelerating under global warming. This indirect approach overcomes the limitations of costly observational arrays and contributes to understanding the Atlantic's role in the Earth's water cycle and global climate systems.

Amazon Fires Surge in 2024 Amid Severe Drought and Continued Deforestation: Brazil's Amazon rainforest experienced 140,328 fires in 2024, the highest number in 17 years, according to data from the National Institute for Space Research (INPE). This marked a 42% increase from 2023, attributed to severe drought exacerbated by human-caused climate change and the El Niño phenomenon. Despite the spike in fires, deforestation in the 12 months leading up to August 2024 decreased by over 30% compared to the previous year, reaching a nine-year low. Most fires were deliberately set by farmers clearing land for agriculture, raising concerns among scientists. Continued deforestation threatens to push the Amazon to a tipping point, where it will emit more carbon than it absorbs, further accelerating global climate change.

NATURE

Mechanisms of Retrotransposon Insertion in Centromeres Unveiled by University of Tokyo Researchers: A research team has discovered how retrotransposons, mobile genetic elements known for driving evolution, preferentially insert into centromeres. The study focused on two retrotransposons, Tal1 and EVD, in the plant Arabidopsis lyrata. While Tal1 predominantly integrates into centromeres, EVD favors chromosomal arm regions. Using advanced DNA sequencing and a novel detection method called TEd-seq, researchers mapped insertion sites and revealed that swapping a specific c-terminal integrase region reverses insertion biases. This breakthrough offers insights into genome evolution and the "centromere paradox," a phenomenon of varying centromere DNA sequences across species.