New Hydrogel Shows Promise for Sealing and Healing Soft Tissue Injuries

Hello and welcome to our May 17th 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 - Invisible Light May Reveal Life and Stress: New Study on Ultraweak Photon Emission, and more.

• Materials - Red Sea Star Inspires Breakthrough in Underwater Self-Healing Polyurethane, and more.

• Biotechnology & Biomedical Technology - Extended Gastruloid Model Sheds Light on Early Embryonic Development.

• Engineering & Technology - New Electrochemical Method Extracts Uranium from Seawater at Lower Cost and Energy Use, and more.

• Robotics, AI, Hardware, Software, Gadgets - Explainable AI Unlocks Stronger, Smarter Alloys for Aerospace and Medicine, and more.

• Astronomy, Space, & Astrobiology - NASA Study Links Moon’s Asymmetry to Uneven Interior Temperatures.

• Health & Medicine - New Hydrogel Shows Promise for Sealing and Healing Soft Tissue Injuries, and more.

• Pediatrics - Study Reveals Unique Immune Response in Infants Hospitalized with Severe COVID-19.

• Neuroscience - Psychological Therapy Alters Brain to Ease Chronic Pain, Study Finds, and more.

• Environment & Earth Sciences - Yale Study Reveals Why Many People Ignore Evacuation Orders During Disasters, and more.

• Nature & Ecology - Animals Share Hidden Behavioral Patterns Across Species, Study Finds, and more.

• Other Sciences & The Arts - Ancient Cemeteries and Rock Art Discovered on Morocco’s Tangier Peninsula.

Until Tomorrow,

~The STEAM Digest

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SCIENCE

Invisible Light May Reveal Life and Stress: New Study on Ultraweak Photon Emission: Researchers at the University of Calgary have found that all living systems emit ultraweak photon emission (UPE)—faint, invisible light generated without external stimulation. The study shows that live mice emit significantly more UPE than recently deceased ones, and that UPE in plants intensifies in response to stressors like heat, injury, and chemicals. Unlike bioluminescence, UPE is a subtle byproduct of cellular metabolism and oxidative stress involving reactive oxygen species (ROS). Using sensitive EMCCD and CCD cameras in light-free environments, scientists tracked these emissions, suggesting UPE could serve as a non-invasive tool to assess vitality and stress in living organisms. The findings open the door to potential biomedical and agricultural applications of UPE imaging.

New Model Predicts Landslides, Optimizes Irrigation and Drug Production: Researchers have developed a cutting-edge computational model, PUA-DEM, to simulate the complex behavior of granular materials like soil, sand, and powders. Unlike older models, PUA-DEM captures dynamic interactions among particles, water, and air across all saturation levels, offering high accuracy in predicting real-world phenomena like landslides, fluid leakage, and soil collapse. Applications span agriculture, energy, and pharmaceuticals—potentially improving irrigation systems, enhancing oil extraction, and ensuring more consistent drug manufacturing. The team plans to extend the model to include irregular particle shapes and chemical reactions for even broader use.

MATERIALS

Red Sea Star Inspires Breakthrough in Underwater Self-Healing Polyurethane: A research team has developed a novel red sea star-inspired polyurethane that can rapidly self-heal underwater. The material mimics the sea star's enzyme-driven healing by integrating dual hydrophobic units with dynamic bonds. It achieves 98% healing efficiency within 12 hours at room temperature, withstanding 500g of load after repair. This innovation overcomes water's usual interference with healing chemistry and holds promise for use in underwater robotics, medical implants, and other aquatic applications requiring durability and biocompatibility.

Chemists Create Safer, Simpler Method for Making Precise Polymers with CO₂: Cornell researchers have developed a safer, easier way to create highly controlled methacrylate polymers using carbon dioxide (CO₂). The method, called CO₂-mediated reversible deactivation anionic polymerization (CMAP), replaces hazardous chemicals and extreme conditions with a simple, one-pot process using CO₂ and heat. The study offers a scalable, accessible approach for producing precision polymers needed in drug delivery, metal-free batteries, and advanced materials. Unlike commercial methacrylates like Plexiglas, CMAP yields materials with well-defined molecular structures—crucial for biomedical use. The technique is already proving successful in real-world applications and could broaden access to high-performance polymers.

New Green Technique Recycles Silver Using Fatty Acids and Light: Researchers have developed a sustainable method to recycle silver using fatty acids—like those in used cooking oil—combined with diluted hydrogen peroxide and light. The process dissolves silver under mild conditions and separates it as silver carboxylates, which can then be converted back into pure silver. This eco-friendly approach replaces toxic acids with biodegradable, non-volatile fatty acids, allowing both silver and solvent reuse. It opens the door to “urban mining,” recovering silver from waste electronics and solar panels, as global demand grows and natural silver sources decline.

BIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOMEDICAL TECHNOLOGY

Extended Gastruloid Model Sheds Light on Early Embryonic Development: A study from the University of Michigan Medical School, introduces improvements to a widely used stem cell model called a gastruloid—2D structures that mimic early embryo development without forming a full embryo. The research team extended the lifespan of gastruloids beyond the standard two-day limit, allowing new insights into the process of gastrulation. They observed mesoderm cells migrating beneath other cell layers, mimicking early development in embryos, and discovered distinct gene expression patterns that suggest cells may begin to define their fate before moving. This simple, ethical model opens the door to studying congenital defects and developmental processes previously too complex to observe in real embryos.

ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY

New Electrochemical Method Extracts Uranium from Seawater at Lower Cost and Energy Use: A research team has developed a highly efficient method to extract uranium from seawater, offering a promising alternative to traditional uranium mining. The technique enhances an existing electrochemical process by modifying both positive and negative copper electrodes to attract uranium ions. This innovation enables up to 100% extraction in lab samples and 85–100% from real seawater sources, while using 1,000 times less energy than previous methods. The cost is significantly reduced to $83 per kilogram, compared to $205–$360 with other technologies. While still early in development, the method could help nations like China reduce reliance on foreign uranium supplies and expand domestic nuclear energy capabilities.

Breakthrough in Tin-Halide Perovskite Transistors via Vapor Deposition: Scientists have developed a new vapor-deposition method to create high-performance tin-halide perovskite transistors. Using lead chloride (PbCl₂) to trigger solid-state reactions, the team achieved uniform films with high hole mobility (33.8 cm²/Vs) and strong current on/off ratios (~10⁸). The transistors outperformed existing IGZO-based OLED drivers and mark a major step toward scalable, low-cost electronics. Future work will focus on improving device integration and enabling advanced circuit designs.

Breakthrough Tech Extracts Clean Hydrogen Directly from Seawater—No Desalination Needed: Researchers have developed a novel multilayered electrode capable of efficiently producing hydrogen fuel directly from untreated seawater, bypassing the need for costly desalination. The study describes an advanced electrode design that resists corrosion and delivers high performance, maintaining industrial-level efficiency (1 A/cm² at 1.65 V) for over 300 hours. With a Faradaic efficiency of 98%, the system shows potential for scalable, sustainable hydrogen production in arid coastal regions. The team is now transitioning to pilot-scale testing for solar-powered hydrogen generation.

ROBOTICS, AI, HARDWARE, SOFTWARE, GADGETS

Explainable AI Unlocks Stronger, Smarter Alloys for Aerospace and Medicine: Researchers have used explainable artificial intelligence (AI) to design a new multiple principal element alloy (MPEA) with superior strength. MPEAs—super-strong metals used in knee replacements, aircraft parts, and renewable energy—are traditionally developed through slow trial-and-error methods. The research team employed machine learning and SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) analysis to optimize metal combinations and understand the factors influencing alloy strength. The approach accelerates discovery, offers deeper insight into structure-property relationships, and is now being expanded to design complex materials like glycomaterials for broader applications.

MIT’s E-BAR Robot Offers New Solution for Elderly Fall Prevention and Mobility Support: As the U.S. population ages, MIT engineers have developed the Elderly Bodily Assistance Robot (E-BAR) to address growing eldercare challenges. E-BAR is a mobile robotic aid designed to support elderly users as they move around their homes. It can lift users from sitting to standing, provide balance assistance, and deploy airbags to prevent falls—all without harnesses. Built for home and care facility use, E-BAR features a robust, omnidirectional base and articulated arms with ergonomic handlebars. Tested in real-life scenarios, it aims to help seniors age in place safely and independently. The team plans future automation and integration with fall-prediction algorithms to improve its usability and adaptability.

AI Surge Linked to Drop in Scientific Rigor, Study Warns: A new study reveals that artificial intelligence may be contributing to a rise in low-quality scientific papers, especially those using the U.S. NHANES health dataset. The number of such papers jumped from just 4 annually (2014–2021) to 190 in 2024. Researchers found many recent studies to be overly simplistic, poorly analyzed, and lacking transparency. The team calls for stronger peer review, transparency in data use, and better editorial safeguards to prevent AI-generated or formulaic research from degrading scientific integrity.

ASTRONOMY, SPACE, & ASTROLOBIOLOGY

NASA Study Links Moon’s Asymmetry to Uneven Interior Temperatures: New findings reveal that the Moon’s striking nearside-farside differences—such as smoother lava-covered terrain versus rugged highlands—may be caused by internal temperature variations. Using data from NASA’s GRAIL mission, scientists discovered a 2–3% difference in how the Moon’s mantle deforms across its two hemispheres, suggesting the nearside mantle is up to 170°C warmer than the farside. This temperature gap could be due to lingering radioactive decay of thorium and titanium on the nearside, which also experienced more volcanic activity billions of years ago. The study provides key observational evidence of internal asymmetry and offers a method that could be applied to probe the interiors of other celestial bodies—without landing on them.

HEALTH & MEDICINE

New Hydrogel Shows Promise for Sealing and Healing Soft Tissue Injuries: Researchers have developed a new hydrogel combining methacryloyl-modified human tropoelastin (MeTro) with Laponite silicate nanoplatelets (SNs), offering strong tissue adhesion and effective bleeding control in preclinical models of lung and arterial injury. The MeTro/SN hydrogel showed significantly improved performance over commercial sealants and MeTro alone, with higher adhesion strength, burst pressure, and faster clotting times. In rat and pig models, the sealant maintained integrity under dynamic physiological conditions and reduced blood loss by over 90%. The formulation also demonstrated excellent biocompatibility, with no significant inflammation or tissue damage over 28 days. This next-generation hydrogel could enable safer and faster treatment of soft tissue injuries where sutures and staples fall short.

Scientists Identify Key Genes to Create Blood Stem Cells from Embryonic Stem Cells: Researchers have identified a group of seven genes that can transform embryonic stem cells into blood-forming hematopoietic stem cells (HSPCs) in mice. The study demonstrates that timely activation of these genes enables lab-grown HSPCs to regenerate a fully functional blood system, including immune cells. This breakthrough could pave the way for producing blood stem cells in the lab for patients with leukemia and other blood disorders who cannot find a suitable donor. The genes are highly conserved in humans, suggesting strong potential for translation to clinical applications. The work is part of the lab’s broader "Making Blood" project aimed at developing off-the-shelf human HSPCs for regenerative medicine.

PEDIATRICS

Study Reveals Unique Immune Response in Infants Hospitalized with Severe COVID-19: A multi-institutional study reveals that infants hospitalized with severe COVID-19 exhibit distinct immune responses unlike those of adults or older children. Researchers from institutions including St. Jude and Yale found that infants’ immune cells, especially T and B cells, showed unusually high activation despite being naïve and expressed elevated levels of interferon-stimulated genes and inflammatory cytokines—two systems typically not simultaneously upregulated. The infants also mounted a strong antibody response to SARS-CoV-2, even at just a few weeks old, independent of maternal antibodies. These findings challenge prior assumptions and highlight the need for infant-specific COVID-19 treatments and vaccine strategies.

NEUROSCIENCE

Psychological Therapy Alters Brain to Ease Chronic Pain, Study Finds: A new review study reveals that psychological treatments—especially cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)—can physically alter brain activity to help reduce chronic pain. The analysis combined multiple smaller studies and found consistent changes in the brain’s pain-processing networks following therapy. The research highlights how modifying automatic thought patterns can reduce pain and improve quality of life. The brain’s default mode network, which is active during passive thinking, plays a key role in linking emotions and pain perception. While face-to-face therapy is most studied, the findings suggest other healthcare providers—or even CBT-based apps—could help manage pain. More research is needed, but the study underscores the growing potential of psychological methods in chronic pain treatment.

Study Links Inflammation to Lack of Motivation in Schizophrenia, Opening New Treatment Paths: A study from Emory University has identified a biological link between inflammation and motivational deficits in people with schizophrenia. Researchers found that higher levels of C-reactive protein (CRP)—a marker of systemic inflammation—were associated with reduced activity in brain circuits involved in reward and motivation, particularly between the ventral striatum and ventromedial prefrontal cortex. These brain changes were tied to negative symptoms such as social withdrawal and lack of goal-directed behavior, but not to hallucinations or delusions. Current antipsychotics do not effectively treat motivational deficits, making this a major unmet need. The findings support a precision medicine approach, suggesting that anti-inflammatory treatments like infliximab may help a subset of patients with high inflammation and motivational challenges. A clinical trial testing this hypothesis is currently underway.

ENVIRONMENT & EARTH SCIENCES

Yale Study Reveals Why Many People Ignore Evacuation Orders During Disasters:
A new study from Yale School of the Environment finds that people often choose not to evacuate during natural disasters not because they lack information, but because they act on different priorities, social roles, and local knowledge. The research shows a disconnect between government evacuation messaging and public perceptions in countries like the U.S., Japan, and Indonesia. For example, Indonesian villagers living near Mount Merapi often prioritize their livelihoods over safety, while U.S. residents may prioritize community responsibilities during hurricanes. The study calls for disaster planning that better incorporates community experience, long-term concerns, and informal information networks to improve emergency response strategies.

Queensland Dune Study Reveals How Soil Microbes Battle Phosphorus Scarcity: A new study reveals how soil microbes in Queensland's Cooloola National Park adapt to extreme phosphorus deficiency over hundreds of thousands of years. Researchers found that fungi and bacteria deploy sophisticated strategies—like swapping out phosphorus-containing cell components—to survive in nutrient-poor soils. These microbes act as "phosphorus gatekeepers," competing with and supporting plants by managing phosphorus availability. The findings improve our understanding of biodiversity in old, phosphorus-depleted ecosystems like tropical rainforests and may also inform sustainable agriculture practices in similarly nutrient-limited soils.

Ancient Sediments Reveal Deep Ocean Circulation Shift Linked to Global Cooling 3.6 Million Years Ago: An international research team has uncovered a strong correlation between deep-sea sediment changes and a significant cooling event in the Northern Hemisphere around 3.6 million years ago. The study used data from deep sediment cores gathered during the International Ocean Discovery Program in the North Atlantic. The sediments revealed a dramatic shift in ocean circulation patterns east of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, likely tied to increased formation of deep-water currents such as the Iceland Scotland Overflow Water (ISOW). This shift may have driven major climatic changes, including the expansion of ice sheets. The findings offer vital insights into the behavior of Earth's ocean “conveyor belt” during past warm climates—conditions comparable to those expected in the near future due to global warming.

NATURE & ECOLOGY

Animals Share Hidden Behavioral Patterns Across Species, Study Finds: A study shows that meerkats, coatis, and hyenas follow similar behavioral patterns, despite their differences. Using accelerometer data and machine learning, researchers found that the longer an animal stays in one behavior (like resting or foraging), the less likely it is to change—a consistent pattern across species. This “behavioral lock-in” and a shared trend in predictability over time suggest a common decision-making system. Researchers believe this could stem from self-reinforcing behavior or overlapping internal and external signals. The findings hint at a universal behavioral structure in animals.

New CRISPR Technique Reveals How Microbes Adapt to Harsh Environments: Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder and Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) method to study how cyanobacteria adapt to environmental stress. The study used CRISPRi to reduce the activity of every gene in Synechococcus cyanobacteria, revealing how small genetic changes help these oxygen-producing microbes survive under extreme conditions like heat or cold. The approach may aid in engineering faster-growing strains for biofuels and sustainable materials. The findings highlight that partial gene silencing often provides the greatest survival advantage, offering insights into microbial resilience and future synthetic biology applications.

New Definition of Domestication Redefines Human-Animal Relationships: A new study challenges the traditional view that domestication is solely a human-controlled process. Researchers from the U.S. and U.K. propose a more inclusive definition: domestication is the evolution of a nonhuman population in response to a human-shaped environment. This shifts the focus from human control to species’ dependence on anthropogenic niches. Many animals commonly considered domestic, like most dogs, live outside direct human control. The study introduces a five-tier spectrum of domestication based on species' relationship with human disturbance, ranging from wild recluses to obligate synanthropes. The framework offers new insight into how species adapt—or fail to adapt—to human-altered ecosystems, with implications for biodiversity and conservation.

OTHER SCIENCES & THE ARTS

Ancient Cemeteries and Rock Art Discovered on Morocco’s Tangier Peninsula:
Archaeologists from Spain and Morocco have uncovered three ancient cemeteries on Morocco’s Tangier Peninsula, one containing a stone burial dating back 4,000 years. The study also reports the discovery of cist burials—bodies placed in rock-cut pits and covered with stone slabs—marking the first radiocarbon dating of such burials in northwest Africa. Alongside human remains, the team found painted rock shelters and standing stones, some resembling art from the Sahara. These findings offer new insights into prehistoric human activity in one of the Mediterranean’s least-understood regions, shedding light on burial practices and symbolic landscape use from 3000 to 500 BC.