UCLA Chemists Challenge a Century-Old Organic Chemistry Rule, Paving New Pathways in Drug Discovery

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

In today’s edition:

• Science - UCLA Chemists Challenge a Century-Old Organic Chemistry Rule, Paving New Pathways in Drug Discovery, New Light-Bending Material Inspired by Clouds Could Transform Medical Imaging and Engineering, and more.

• Technology and AI - Researchers Develop AI Model to Drastically Accelerate Quantum Mechanical Calculations in Material Science, and more.

• Engineering - Hydrogen-Powered Aviation: Modeling Shows Potential for 90% CO2 Reduction, But Infrastructure Hurdles Remain, and more.

• Health & Medicine - Leveraging Caveolae Pumping System for Precision Nanoparticle Delivery to Lung Tissue, New Genetic Pathway Discovery Offers Hope for Reversing Liver Fibrosis.

• Environment - Contrails and Climate: New Research Highlights Path to More Sustainable Aviation, and more.

• Nature - Integrated Evolution of Wings and Legs May Explain Why Bats Lack Flightless Variants, and more.

• Other Sciences & The Arts - Augmented Physics: Interactive 3D Simulations in Textbooks Could Revolutionize Science Education, and more.

• Industry - Google Maps Integrates AI for Smarter Navigation and Personalized Exploration and more.

• Gadgets & Electronics - PiezoMEMS Earplugs: A New Generation of Hearing Protection for Clear, Adjustable Sound, and more.

Until Tomorrow.

~The STEAM Digest

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This newsletter is curated by The STEAM Digest.

SCIENCE

UCLA Chemists Challenge a Century-Old Organic Chemistry Rule, Paving New Pathways in Drug Discovery: A research team at UCLA, led by Professor Neil Garg, has overturned Bredt's rule, a foundational concept in organic chemistry that has stood since 1924. Bredt's rule states that carbon-carbon double bonds cannot occur at the "bridgehead" position in bridged bicyclic molecules due to structural instability. However, the UCLA team successfully created anti-Bredt olefins (ABOs), a class of molecules that defy this rule, by using a reaction involving silyl (pseudo)halides and fluoride. By trapping the unstable ABOs with additional chemicals, the team demonstrated that these molecules can be produced and stabilized. This breakthrough could unlock novel applications for ABOs in drug development, offering new avenues for creating complex 3D molecular structures essential for pharmaceutical innovation.

New Light-Bending Material Inspired by Clouds Could Transform Medical Imaging and Engineering: Researchers at the University of Glasgow have developed a material that steers light around corners, inspired by the way clouds scatter sunlight. By creating 3D-printed structures with tunnels of clear resin within opaque white material, they were able to direct photons through these pathways, mimicking the scattering seen in clouds and snow. This technique, though less efficient over long distances compared to fiber optics, could open new possibilities for medical imaging by using natural translucent pathways in the body, like tendons and spinal fluids. Additionally, it could benefit cooling systems and nuclear reactors by directing both heat and neutrons. Lead researcher Daniele Faccio notes the simplicity of the discovery, highlighting its potential across diverse fields.

Breakthrough in Light-Nucleus Interaction Brings Nuclear Clocks Closer to Reality: Chinese researchers have discovered a novel way to interact with atomic nuclei using intense laser pulses, bringing the concept of a nuclear clock within reach. Current atomic clocks rely on electron transitions in atoms, but nuclear transitions are far more stable and could be even more precise. The team focused on thorium-229, which has unique nuclear energy states that can be excited with UV photons. By stripping thorium to a hydrogen-like state with just one electron, researchers achieved a 10% excitation probability of thorium nuclei to a metastable state, a significant leap enabled by a single laser pulse at 10²¹ W/cm² intensity. The strong magnetic field of the single electron in thorium-229 helped split the nuclear energy levels, increasing excitation probabilities drastically. This method could allow for coherent light emission, potentially paving the way for highly precise nuclear optical clocks and applications in timekeeping, quantum computing, and light-matter interactions.

TECHNOLOGY AND AI

Researchers Develop AI Model to Drastically Accelerate Quantum Mechanical Calculations in Material Science: A team from KAIST, led by Professor Yong-Hoon Kim, has developed an innovative AI-based model, DeepSCF, to accelerate quantum mechanical calculations essential for material science and drug design. Traditional methods using density functional theory (DFT) involve repeated complex calculations to determine electron density in materials, which is computationally intensive and limits applications to relatively small systems. DeepSCF employs a 3D neural network trained on chemical bond information distributed in three-dimensional space, enabling it to bypass the repetitive self-consistent field process. This breakthrough allows for faster, accurate simulations at the atomic

eRAG: A New Tool for Evaluating AI-Driven Search Engines Paves the Way for Reliable AI-Based Information Retrieval: Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have developed "eRAG," a novel method for assessing the reliability of AI-powered search engines tailored for large language models (LLMs). Traditional search engines, designed for human use, struggle to meet the unique needs of LLMs, which require specific data and find general queries challenging. eRAG evaluates how effectively search engines support AI-driven tasks by analyzing LLMs' use of retrieved documents, offering a faster, cost-effective, and nearly as reliable alternative to the gold-standard method of human relevance judgments. This breakthrough, recognized with a Best Short Paper Award, marks progress toward fully AI-driven search engines, with the eRAG code publicly available for use.

ENGINEERING

Hydrogen-Powered Aviation: Modeling Shows Potential for 90% CO2 Reduction, But Infrastructure Hurdles Remain: Researchers studying hydrogen-powered aviation have found that using hydrogen fuel in regional and short-range aircraft could reduce aviation CO2 emissions by up to 90%. The study models the challenges of retrofitting existing planes with hydrogen fuel cells, which require larger tanks and may reduce payload capacity. However, advances in fuel cell technology could offset these issues, eliminating the need for more flights. Building a hydrogen infrastructure is critical, as producing hydrogen affordably and sustainably remains challenging. The researchers suggest that hydrogen aviation could first be implemented in regions like Hamburg or Barcelona, where production conditions are favorable, ultimately supporting decarbonization across multiple sectors.

New Chromium-Selenide Material Paves Way for Affordable, High-Performance Potassium-Ion Batteries: An international research team led by the University of Glasgow has developed a potassium-ion battery featuring a chromium-selenide cathode, offering a promising, cost-effective alternative to lithium-ion batteries. Potassium’s abundance makes it a viable choice for energy storage applications, especially for renewable energy. Unlike existing potassium-ion batteries that rely on Prussian White and require carbon additives to enhance conductivity, the new chromium-selenide cathode naturally conducts electricity and requires minimal carbon, achieving near-maximal capacity and retaining 85% of its charge-discharge performance in lab tests. Researchers are now focusing on identifying optimal electrolytes to further enhance battery efficiency, potentially transforming energy storage technology.

New 'Optical Nervous System' Could Extend Drone Flight Times and Efficiency: Scientists at the University of Southampton have developed a pioneering optical fiber "nervous system" for drones, enabling them to stay in the air longer by continuously monitoring structural health without needing frequent landing for manual inspection. Using light-based signals instead of electronic ones, the system reduces radio interference issues and provides real-time data on stresses and strains through a process called optical speckle, interpreted by AI. This innovation not only promises safer, more efficient drones but also significant commercial potential, with hopes for market readiness by 2025. Initially tested on a student-developed drone designed for emergency response, the system could transform drone usage across industries, making operations more cost-effective and reliable.

HEALTH & MEDICINE

Leveraging Caveolae Pumping System for Precision Nanoparticle Delivery to Lung Tissue: Researchers from the Proteogenomics Research Institute for Systems Medicine have demonstrated a novel approach for delivering nanoparticles (NPs) to lung tissue with high precision using the caveolae pumping system (CPS). This method bypasses the body’s reticuloendothelial system (RES), which typically captures NPs, limiting their effectiveness in drug delivery and imaging. By conjugating gold and dendritic NPs to antibodies that target the caveolae of lung endothelial cells, the team achieved rapid, targeted delivery and precise imaging of lung tissues in rats. These findings suggest that targeting the CPS could open new pathways for diagnostic and therapeutic NP applications, overcoming challenges of tissue penetration and RES clearance.

New Genetic Pathway Discovery Offers Hope for Reversing Liver Fibrosis: Researchers at Cedars-Sinai have identified a genetic pathway involving three genes—FOXM1, MAT2A, and MAT2B—that plays a critical role in liver fibrosis, a condition currently considered irreversible and often requiring a liver transplant. Their study demonstrated that blocking FOXM1 in mice halted and even partially reversed liver fibrosis. The team found that FOXM1, along with MAT2A and MAT2B, coordinates liver inflammation and fibrosis by sending molecular signals through extracellular vesicles between liver cells. This breakthrough suggests that inhibiting these proteins could lead to new treatments for liver fibrosis, although further research is needed to explore this therapy's potential in humans.

ENVIRONMENT

Contrails and Climate: New Research Highlights Path to More Sustainable Aviation: In a recent study published in Environmental Science & Technology, researchers from the University at Albany reveal new insights into contrail formation and its climate impact. Contrails, which form when jet exhaust mixes with cold air, can spread into cirrus clouds that trap heat, contributing significantly to aviation's climate footprint. The study, using simulations and data from NASA’s ECLIF field campaigns, finds that both soot and volatile particles play roles in contrail ice particle formation, challenging the belief that volatile particles only matter when soot emissions are low. These findings support the push for cleaner aviation fuels and advanced engine technology as the industry works to reduce contrail-induced warming.

Geological Processes, Not Just Organic Matter, Drive CO2 Emissions in Lake Geneva: A new study by UNIL scientists reveals that Lake Geneva’s significant CO2 emissions stem largely from a geological process rather than biological respiration alone. Unlike many lakes, Lake Geneva receives minimal organic matter from surrounding soils, suggesting that CO2 emissions should be balanced by algae-driven absorption. However, researchers discovered that rainwater erosion of upstream rocks introduces bicarbonate and calcium ions into the lake. During summer, these ions undergo calcite precipitation, releasing CO2 and giving the lake its blue-green hue. Using the LéXPLORE floating lab, researchers monitored these processes closely, highlighting a carbon cycle dynamic applicable to other large lakes globally. This finding is vital for accurately understanding and modeling natural carbon emissions in efforts to combat climate change.

NATURE

Integrated Evolution of Wings and Legs May Explain Why Bats Lack Flightless Variants: A new study reveals that, unlike birds, the evolution of bat wings and legs is tightly integrated, which has limited their ability to diversify into niches beyond flight, such as becoming flightless or fully aquatic. Researchers from Cornell University analyzed wing and leg bone proportions in 111 bat species and 149 bird species, finding that while birds can independently evolve their wings and legs, allowing them to fill a broader range of ecological roles, bats’ wings and legs evolved in tandem. This constraint likely prevents bats from adapting to new ecologies in the way that birds or even pterosaurs, an extinct group of flying reptiles, could. These findings could prompt further research into why birds’ forelimbs and hindlimbs evolved separately, a trait that has contributed to their extensive evolutionary success.

Newly Discovered Female-Initiated Courtship Behavior in Fruit Flies Reveals Hidden Evolutionary Potential: A team at the University of Pennsylvania has identified a unique courtship behavior in Drosophila santomea females called "wing spreading," where females initiate courtship by spreading their wings in response to male song. Unlike traditional views that focus on male-led courtship, this behavior showcases a novel female-driven interaction. By mapping the neural circuits of D. santomea and related species, the researchers found that evolution has co-opted existing neurons for this new behavior. Additionally, experiments showed that D. melanogaster females exhibited a latent wing-spreading response when raised in higher temperatures, hinting that neural circuits for certain behaviors may lie dormant, awaiting environmental triggers. The study highlights how evolution can adapt existing neural pathways for new functions, offering insights into the flexibility of neural circuits and underscoring the active role of female behavior in courtship evolution.

Genetic Blueprint for Honeybee Social Behavior Unveiled Through dsx Gene: A research team from Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU), in collaboration with universities in Frankfurt, Oxford, and Würzburg, has identified a gene called doublesex (dsx) that plays a crucial role in programming the social behaviors of worker honeybees. The study reveals that the dsx gene influences how worker bees perform tasks within the hive, such as foraging and brood care, by shaping neural pathways in their brains. Using CRISPR/Cas9 to alter dsx, researchers tracked changes in bee behavior via AI-monitored video and fluorescence microscopy, discovering a genetic basis for inherited behaviors in honeybee colonies. This breakthrough enhances understanding of how individual genetic programming contributes to coordinated, collective behavior within a “superorganism” hive structure.

OTHER SCIENCES & THE ARTS

Augmented Physics: Interactive 3D Simulations in Textbooks Could Revolutionize Science Education: Computer scientists at the University of Colorado Boulder, led by Ryo Suzuki, have developed a tool called "Augmented Physics" that turns static textbook diagrams into interactive, scientifically accurate 3D simulations on iPads. With this tool, students can animate diagrams—for instance, simulating a skier zooming down a slope with adjustable snow friction. The project, presented at the ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology, utilizes AI to recognize and apply physics principles to selected diagram elements. The team aims to expand beyond physics, creating tools that animate diagrams across various subjects to foster hands-on learning and experimentation in classrooms worldwide.

New Stanford Study Reveals Widespread Partisan Bias Over Truth in News Consumption: Contradicting earlier findings, a recent Stanford-led study finds that partisanship often outweighs truth across the political spectrum when individuals assess news. The study highlights how people, regardless of education or reasoning ability, are more inclined to believe headlines that align with their political views, even if false, and to disbelieve true information that challenges these views. Surprisingly, the bias was stronger for real news than fake news, with individuals overly confident in their political side’s objectivity exhibiting the highest bias. Researchers attribute this trend to polarized media consumption and propose solutions like "pre-bunking" and fostering intellectual humility among media consumers.

INDUSTRY

Google Maps Integrates AI for Smarter Navigation and Personalized Exploration:
Google Maps is evolving with new AI-powered features using Google’s Gemini technology, which adds conversational capabilities to the app, transforming it from a navigation tool into a local entertainment guide. Users in the U.S. can now ask Google Maps about activities, dining options, and attractions in specific areas, with the service providing curated lists and insights. Additionally, the app will offer enhanced lane guidance and detailed parking information to streamline navigation. Google also plans to let developers access Gemini’s language models, allowing queries about destinations like restaurants or apartments. With AI embedded in both Google Maps and Waze, Google aims to deliver reliable, informative responses while addressing the risk of "hallucinations," or AI-generated inaccuracies.

Aurora Innovation Delays Driverless Truck Freight Operations Until April 2025, Prioritizing Safety: Aurora Innovation, an autonomous trucking company, has announced a delay in the launch of its driverless freight-hauling service between Dallas and Houston to April 2025, initially slated for late 2024. CEO Chris Urmson cited ongoing work on surface street navigation and freeway construction zones as the primary remaining challenges. Aurora will begin operations with around 10 autonomous trucks, expanding to "tens" by the end of 2025. The company also plans to launch a driverless route from Fort Worth to Phoenix later in 2025. With a recent $500 million capital raise, Aurora expects the delay to have minimal financial impact on its broader scaling and self-funding strategy.

GADGETS & ELECTRONICS

PiezoMEMS Earplugs: A New Generation of Hearing Protection for Clear, Adjustable Sound: In collaboration with Minuendo, researchers from SINTEF have developed an innovative piezoelectric microelectromechanical system (piezoMEMS) earplug, offering adjustable sound volume without distortion, transforming hearing protection technology. Unlike traditional foam earplugs or bulky active hearing protection, this new hybrid earplug combines the benefits of passive and active protection, enabling clear sound at variable volume levels suitable for high-noise environments like concerts or workplaces. The piezoMEMS chip, which doubles as a microphone and speaker, uses minimal power and allows precise volume control by opening or closing micro-slits within the earplug. This technology not only protects against hearing loss but also enhances sound clarity, and its cost-effective design aims for mass production and further miniaturization.

Advocating Responsible AI in Gaming: Northeastern Researchers Outline Ethical Framework for Game Development: As AI becomes integral to game development, researchers at Northeastern University emphasize the need for a responsible AI framework to address ethical concerns like data privacy, biased algorithms, and addictiveness. In a recent study the authors argue that game developers should adopt principles from responsible AI to create safer, fairer gaming experiences. They propose integrating risk assessment, bias testing, and transparency tools, such as model cards and detailed AI labels, to inform players about how AI and data are used. The team also highlights potential AI benefits, such as increased accessibility, underscoring the need for balanced use to enhance player autonomy and trust.

Tragedy Spurs Calls for Stricter Regulation of Companion Chatbots and High-Risk AI Systems: The recent death of a U.S. teenager following interactions with a Character.AI chatbot has highlighted the urgent need for stricter AI regulations to protect vulnerable users from potentially harmful AI systems. Chatbots can create intense, even addictive emotional attachments and sometimes produce inappropriate or manipulative content, posing risks especially to younger users. Some countries, including Australia, are developing regulatory "guardrails" for high-risk AI systems, which would include data governance, risk assessment, and human oversight. These measures might apply to both chatbots and the general-purpose AI models they rely on, aiming to manage risks beyond technical issues and ensure ethical design of human-AI interactions. For particularly dangerous AI applications, regulators are also calling for an "off switch" to remove harmful systems from the market.