Intensifying Farming Can Be Worse for Biodiversity Than Expanding Farmland

Hello and welcome to our May 8th edition. The STEAM Digest is a curated newsletter that brings you the latest in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics.

In today’s edition:

• Science - Study Reveals How Environmental Stress Can Break Microbial Cooperation, and more.

• Materials - Aerosol Emulsions Enable Clean Self-Assembly of Asymmetric Nanostructures, and more.

• Biotechnology & Biomedical - UC Davis Scientists Develop Lower-Allergen Wheat Without Compromising Quality, and more.

• Engineering & Technology - Sponge-like Solar Device Harvests Drinking Water from Air, Even in Low Humidity, and more.

• Robotics, AI, Hardware, Software, Gadgets - AI System Helps Identify Tree Pollen with Precision, Boosting Allergy Forecasts and Ecological Research, and more.

• Astronomy, Space, Astrobiology - Japan’s ispace Lunar Lander "Resilience" Enters Moon Orbit Ahead of June Landing Attempt, and more.

• Health & Medicine - Stanford Researchers Target Mechanosensing to Reverse Cardiac Fibrosis, and more.

• Pediatrics - Aggressive Childhood Brain Tumors May Begin Developing Before Birth, Study Finds, and more.

• Neuroscience - First Complete Map of Fruit Fly Nervous System Reveals Sex-Specific Neural Differences, and more.

• Environment & Earth Sciences - Intensifying Farming Can Be Worse for Biodiversity Than Expanding Farmland, and more.

• Nature & Ecology- Reef Fish Display Rare Side-to-Side Jaw Movement for Efficient Algae Feeding, and more.

• Other Sciences & The Arts - Ancient Salmon Ancestors Found in Arctic Alaska Rewrite Fish Evolution History, and more.

Until Tomorrow,

~The STEAM Digest

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SCIENCE

Study Reveals How Environmental Stress Can Break Microbial Cooperation: An international research team has demonstrated that extreme environmental stress can cause mutualistic microbial communities to abandon cooperation and evolve toward self-sufficiency. The study used genetically engineered Escherichia coli strains that rely on one another for essential amino acids. Under lethal stress, these bacteria often "rescued" themselves through rapid genetic adaptation—breaking mutual dependence to survive alone. This phenomenon, known as "evolutionary rescue," shows that while mutualism is advantageous in stable environments, it may become a liability under harsh conditions. The findings shed light on the limits of microbial cooperation in a rapidly changing world.

Antibiotic-Resistant Staphylococcus borealis Raises Concern for Elderly and Immunocompromised: Staphylococcus borealis, a newly discovered skin-dwelling bacterium identified in Northern Norway in 2020, has shown resistance to multiple antibiotic classes in about 33% of tested cases. The bacterium resists common antibiotics such as fusidic acid, penicillins, cephalosporins, macrolides, and fluoroquinolones. It also appears capable of quickly acquiring resistance from other bacteria, raising concerns for vulnerable populations—especially the elderly and those with joint implants. Known to cause infections like biofilm formation around prosthetics, researchers are still investigating its broader disease potential, including links to urinary tract infections and inflammation around implants.

Accordion” Graphene: Physicists Make Miracle Material More Stretchable: Researchers have significantly increased graphene’s stretchability by introducing nanoscopic ripples—like an accordion—into its structure. Using a contamination-free ultra-high-vacuum system, they found that removing even two neighboring atoms causes graphene to bulge, forming flexible waves that require less force to stretch. This “accordion effect” contradicts earlier results that suggested graphene becomes stiffer when altered—likely due to surface contamination in previous studies. The findings, confirmed by simulations, enable tunable stiffness in graphene, opening new doors for flexible electronics and wearable devices.

MATERIALS

Aerosol Emulsions Enable Clean Self-Assembly of Asymmetric Nanostructures: Researchers have developed a surfactant-free aerosol-based emulsion system that enables the self-assembly of asymmetric nanostructures—a longstanding challenge in materials science. Unlike traditional emulsions, which form stable spherical droplets, this transient system allows for droplet asymmetry via differing diffusion rates of water and 1-butanol, mimicking the Kirkendall effect. The method produced novel shapes like hemispherical gold nanoparticle structures and silica microlens arrays with tunable optical properties, offering a clean, scalable strategy for advanced nanomaterials design in optics and imaging.

Breakthrough 3D Nanoprinting Method Enables Ultra-Compact, High-Performance RF Components: Researchers have developed a new fabrication method that combines two-photon polymerization (2PP) with electroplating and dry etching to create high-aspect-ratio, sub-10 µm resolution copper structures for radio-frequency (RF) components. Their technique enables tunable RF resonators with frequencies between 4–6 GHz and Q-factors up to seven times higher than traditional designs—all in a device footprint 45% smaller than conventional PCBs. The process, verified through SEM imaging and annealing for mechanical stability, overcomes key limitations of planar lithography and opens new possibilities for compact, high-performance electronics in fields such as wireless sensing, biomedical devices, MEMS, and IoT.

Fungus-Derived Silver Nanoparticles Show Promise Against COVID-19: Researchers have developed silver nanoparticles using the fungus Trichoderma reesei that significantly inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection in hamsters and reduce lung inflammation. These biogenic nanoparticles bind to the virus’s spike protein, blocking its entry into cells and dampening dangerous inflammatory responses, such as the cytokine storm. Environmentally friendly and low in toxicity, the nanoparticles show potential for use in nasal sprays, disinfectants, and coatings—offering a broad-spectrum antiviral strategy applicable to other diseases like HIV and influenza. Clinical trials are planned next.

BIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOMEDICAL TECHNOLOGY

UC Davis Scientists Develop Lower-Allergen Wheat Without Compromising Quality: Researchers have removed a specific group of gluten proteins—alpha-gliadins—from wheat using gamma radiation, reducing proteins most likely to trigger immune reactions linked to celiac disease. The modified wheat retained—and in some cases improved—its breadmaking quality, countering the long-held belief that eliminating gliadins would harm dough performance. Although not safe for people with celiac disease, this breakthrough represents a key step toward developing less allergenic wheat varieties. The new wheat lines have been deposited in a USDA seed bank for broader use and have already drawn interest from artisanal bakers and growers.

Engineered Extracellular Vesicles Deliver Gene Editors and Therapeutics in Mice: Researchers have developed a breakthrough method using engineered extracellular vesicles (EVs) to deliver therapeutic proteins and gene-editing tools like CRISPR/Cas9 efficiently into target cells. By integrating a viral fusogenic protein to promote endosomal escape and a self-cleaving bacterial intein for intracellular release, the modified EVs showed enhanced delivery in cell cultures and live mice. The technique enabled precise gene editing in the brains of mice and showed promise in reducing systemic inflammation, suggesting broad applications in treating genetic, neurological, and inflammatory diseases.

ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY

Sponge-like Solar Device Harvests Drinking Water from Air, Even in Low Humidity: Researchers have developed a solar-powered, sponge-like device that efficiently captures drinking water from air—even at low humidity levels (as low as 30%). Made from refined balsa wood and enhanced with lithium chloride, iron oxide nanoparticles, and carbon nanotubes, the device fits into a cup and releases stored moisture when exposed to sunlight. It achieved a 94% water collection efficiency in outdoor tests and demonstrated durability across freezing conditions and multiple cycles. With its low cost, portability, and scalability, the innovation holds promise for off-grid communities and disaster relief, where clean water access is limited.

ROBOTICS, AI, HARDWARE, SOFTWARE, GADGETS

AI System Helps Identify Tree Pollen with Precision, Boosting Allergy Forecasts and Ecological Research: Researchers have developed a deep learning system that accurately distinguishes nearly identical pollen grains from fir, spruce, and pine trees. The study demonstrates how AI can dramatically improve the speed and accuracy of pollen identification—a task previously difficult even under microscopes. This advancement could enhance allergy alerts, urban tree planning, ecological monitoring, and agricultural forecasting. While the AI shows strong results, the researchers emphasize that expert ecological context and sample preparation remain vital. The team aims to broaden their model to identify pollen from a wider range of plant species across the U.S., supporting climate change studies and biodiversity conservation.

ASTRONOMY, SPACE, ASTROBIOLOGY

Japan’s ispace Lunar Lander "Resilience" Enters Moon Orbit Ahead of June Landing Attempt: Japanese space company ispace has confirmed that its "Resilience" lunar lander has successfully entered orbit around the moon, setting the stage for a planned landing attempt in early June. Launched in January aboard a SpaceX rocket, the mission follows successful but imperfect landings by U.S. companies Firefly Aerospace and Intuitive Machines. This marks ispace’s second attempt after a 2023 crash. The lander carries a miniature rover equipped with a scoop and scientific instruments to analyze lunar soil.

Trajectory Matters: Infrasound Sensors Improve Tracking of Meteoroids and Space Debris: New research highlights how infrasound sensors—devices that detect low-frequency sound waves—can be used to track bolides and space debris as they enter Earth’s atmosphere. The study shows that these sensors effectively trace objects entering at steep angles but struggle with shallow trajectories due to the extended, sonic boom-like sound path. The findings emphasize the need to account for entry angle when using infrasound data to predict impact sites, offering valuable improvements for planetary defense and space junk monitoring.

HEALTH & MEDICINE

Stanford Researchers Target Mechanosensing to Reverse Cardiac Fibrosis:
A research team has developed a novel dual-therapy strategy to combat cardiac fibrosis by targeting both biochemical and mechanical triggers of fibroblast activation. The scientists identified the mechanosensor protein SRC—highly active in cardiac fibroblasts—as a key player in sustaining fibrosis. Using saracatinib, a drug originally developed for cancer, alongside TGFβ pathway inhibitors, they successfully reduced fibrosis in mouse models and 3D heart tissues. This mechanosensing-based "trick" prompts fibroblasts to behave as if the heart tissue is healthy and soft, offering a potential path to reversing heart scarring and restoring function. The approach could extend to treating fibrosis in other organs as well.

Formaldehyde-Releasing Chemicals in Personal Care Products Disproportionately Impact Women of Color, Study Finds: A new study from Silent Spring Institute reveals that over half of Black and Latina women in South Los Angeles reported using personal care products containing formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, which are linked to cancer. While attention has focused on hair relaxers, researchers found these hidden chemicals in everyday items like shampoos, lotions, soaps, and eyelash glue. DMDM hydantoin was the most common preservative identified. The findings spotlight a regulatory gap in U.S. product safety, especially for women of color disproportionately exposed to harmful substances due to societal beauty standards. Experts call for warning labels or outright bans on these chemicals and urge better consumer protections through legislation and public education.

PEDIATRICS

Aggressive Childhood Brain Tumors May Begin Developing Before Birth, Study Finds: Researchers have discovered that the most aggressive subgroups (3 and 4) of medulloblastoma—a common malignant pediatric brain tumor—likely originate during prenatal development, between the first trimester and the first year of life. Using single-cell genetic analysis of tumor samples, they found early chromosomal changes in precursor cells of cerebellar unipolar brush cells, which may initiate tumor development years before symptoms appear. Later genetic mutations in known cancer drivers like MYC and PRDM6 likely promote tumor progression, metastasis, and therapy resistance. These findings could pave the way for early detection tools using DNA fragments in infants’ blood.

NEUROSCIENCE

First Complete Map of Fruit Fly Nervous System Reveals Sex-Specific Neural Differences: In a groundbreaking study, researchers have, for the first time, mapped the entire nervous system of the adult fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster), including both brain and ventral nerve cord. By analyzing connectomes from male and female specimens, the team discovered sex-specific neurons—some present only in one sex—and explained how these neural differences drive distinct behaviors, such as egg-laying in females versus mating postures in males. This comprehensive neural "roadmap" opens new possibilities for targeted neuroscience research on behavior and neural circuit function.

A Study Reveals How Learning Rewires Brain Connections at the Cellular Level:
Researchers at UC San Diego have uncovered how motor learning physically rewires brain connections between the thalamus and the motor cortex, transforming how we understand the learning process. Using high-resolution imaging and a novel data analysis method called ShaReD, the team demonstrated in mice that learning doesn't just change brain activity—it strengthens and refines neural pathways at the cellular level. The study highlights that the brain’s ability to learn new movements involves targeted reorganization of inter-regional communication, offering new hope for therapies targeting neurological disorders and stroke recovery.

ENVIRONMENT & EARTH SCIENCES

Intensifying Farming Can Be Worse for Biodiversity Than Expanding Farmland: A new global study challenges the widely held belief that intensifying agriculture is always better for biodiversity than expanding farmland. Researchers found that while both expansion and intensification negatively affect biodiversity, intensification—through practices like increased fertilizer and pesticide use—can sometimes cause greater harm, depending on crop type, region, and surrounding vegetation. Using biodiversity data and agricultural yield estimates for maize, wheat, rice, and soy, the team revealed that neither strategy is universally superior. The findings suggest that sustainable farming requires context-specific approaches and warn against overly simplistic agricultural policies, such as those that only prohibit deforestation. Researchers advocate for sustainable intensification practices and broader changes in consumption, such as reducing food waste and meat intake.

New Satellite-Based Model Improves Ocean Carbon Export Estimates: Researchers have developed a novel satellite-based model that more accurately estimates carbon export in the ocean, a key process in Earth's carbon cycle. Traditional models using ocean color data often fail to capture time and space lags between surface productivity and deep-sea carbon sequestration. The new Lagrangian growth-advection model incorporates ocean currents and plankton movement, providing improved predictions of how carbon is locked away in the deep ocean. The approach opens new doors for monitoring climate-relevant ocean processes on a global scale without relying solely on ocean color data.

Stored Drinking Water Found to Be Major Pathway for Bacterial Transmission in Low-Resource Communities: A new study from UC Berkeley researchers reveals that contaminated stored drinking water may play a greater role in spreading pathogenic and antibiotic-resistant E. coli in low-resource communities than previously thought. Using a novel high-throughput sequencing method called PIC-seq, the team found that humans shared more bacterial strains with stored water than with animals or soil. The findings suggest that community-level access to chlorinated water could significantly reduce disease transmission—highlighting clean water access as essential for protecting children's health in vulnerable settings.

NATURE & ECOLOGY

Reef Fish Display Rare Side-to-Side Jaw Movement for Efficient Algae Feeding: Researchers have discovered that certain reef fish, including the Zanclus cornutus (Moorish Idol) and surgeonfish, can move their jaws side to side—an extremely rare ability among vertebrates. Captured through high-speed video and confirmed via CT scans and dissections, this adaptation allows them to efficiently graze algae from reef surfaces and crevices. Unlike most fish that rely on suction feeding, these species use lateral jaw movements to bite or tug food from hard surfaces, similar in function to mammalian chewing. This unexpected evolutionary trait may help explain the ecological success of these fish in coral reef environments.

Sea Lion Ronan Outscores Humans in Rhythm Study, Challenging Musicality Theories: In a new study from UC Santa Cruz, Ronan the sea lion—already famous for her beat-keeping abilities—has demonstrated rhythm skills more precise and consistent than those of human participants. The research shows Ronan hitting musical beats within 15 milliseconds, outperforming 10 student volunteers in tests across several tempos. Her results challenge long-standing theories that only vocal-learning species (like humans and parrots) can synchronize to rhythm, suggesting experience and maturity may play a larger role. The study not only strengthens the case for cross-species rhythm perception but also underscores the importance of long-term, voluntary training in comparative cognition research.

DNA Metabarcoding Reveals Hidden Dietary Habits of Africa's Endangered Wild Dogs: A new study using DNA metabarcoding has provided the most detailed insight yet into the diet of the endangered African wild dog (Lycaon pictus), revealing that these elusive predators eat not only expected prey like impala, but also smaller, previously undocumented species such as Cape hares, vlei rats, and francolins. Conducted by researchers in South Africa's Kruger National Park, the study analyzed fecal DNA across seven ecosystems. The results challenge the belief that wild dogs hunt solely in coordinated packs, suggesting that individuals also forage alone. This research, the first to apply DNA metabarcoding to wild dog diets, offers valuable tools for conservation and highlights their adaptability in changing environments.

OTHER SCIENCES & THE ARTS

Ancient Salmon Ancestors Found in Arctic Alaska Rewrite Fish Evolution History:
In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists have identified the world’s oldest known relatives of salmon, carp, and pike in the fossil-rich rocks of Alaska’s Prince Creek Formation, dating back 73 million years. Despite enduring Arctic darkness and icy winters during the Late Cretaceous, these fish thrived in an isolated cold-climate ecosystem, now named the Paanaqtat Province. Using synchrotron micro-CT scanning, researchers reconstructed delicate fossils in 3D without damaging them, revealing several new species like Sivulliusalmo alaskensis, the earliest-known salmon ancestor. The study suggests that high-latitude environments were evolutionary hotspots, not just recipients of southern species, and that many cold-adapted traits seen in today’s northern freshwater fish may have evolved in ancient Arctic habitats.

Newly Identified Butterfly Fossil from Japan Is the Youngest Known Extinct Species: A fossil discovered in 1988 in Japan has been identified as a new, extinct butterfly species, Tacola kamitanii, according to a recent study. Preserved in the Museum of Unique Insect Fossils, this remarkably large butterfly, with a wingspan of nearly 3.5 inches, dates back to the Early Pleistocene epoch (2.6–1.8 million years ago), making it the youngest known extinct butterfly. Belonging to the Limenitidini subfamily, T. kamitanii is the first fossil ever recorded from this group. The fossil’s rare preservation—given the fragility of butterfly bodies—offers new insights into past butterfly distributions and climates across East and Southeast Asia.

Ancient Arthropod Fossil Named Keurbos susanae Reveals Life After Mass Extinction: A newly described fossilized arthropod named Keurbos susanae, discovered 25 years ago in a South African quarry, offers rare insight into life shortly after the end-Ordovician mass extinction 444 million years ago. Preserved in exquisite detail—including muscle fibers and internal structures—the 50 cm, segmented creature lived just above the seafloor in cold, oxygen-poor waters. Its fossil, unusually preserved "inside out," reveals gill-like projections and an undulatory swimming style. Despite missing its head and legs, Keurbos susanae provides a rare glimpse into post-extinction ecosystems and early arthropod evolution, and is named in part for the paleontologist's mother, who supported her scientific pursuits.