Study Confirms 'Forever Chemicals' Absorb Through Human Skin

Hello and welcome to Monday’s newsletter.

In today’s edition:

• Science -Hydrothermal Vents on 'Ocean Worlds' Could Harbor Life, and more.

• Technology and AI - New Internet Security Loophole Allows Detailed Spying on Users, AI Technology Aims to Prevent Power Outages, and more.

• Engineering - Revolutionary 3D Printing Method Streamlines Multi-Material Manufacturing - New Technique Eliminates Assembly for Complex Devices, and more.

• Mathematics - AI and Human Collaboration Tackles Complex Math Problems.

• Health & Medicine -AI-Based Approach Enhances Protein Interaction Predictions, and more.

• Environment - Study Confirms 'Forever Chemicals' Absorb Through Human Skin, CO₂ Impact on Global Temperatures Greater Than Expected.

Happy Reading,

~The STEAM Digest

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This newsletter is curated by The STEAM Digest.

SCIENCE

Hydrothermal Vents on 'Ocean Worlds' Could Harbor Life: A study by UC Santa Cruz researchers suggests that hydrothermal vents on the seafloors of "ocean worlds" like Jupiter's moon Europa could support life. These vents, which release heat and chemicals, create conditions conducive to life even under low-temperature environments. The findings are based on computer models simulating alien seafloor conditions, showing that such ecosystems could persist for millions of years, increasing the likelihood of life on other celestial bodies.

Chemical Composition of Salt Stains Decoded from Photos: Scientists at Florida State University have created a method to determine the chemical composition of salt stains using machine learning. By analyzing 7,500 images of dried salt solutions, they developed a model that accurately identifies different types of salts with 90% success. This approach offers potential applications in various fields, including planetary exploration and rapid material testing, by providing a lightweight and cost-effective alternative to traditional chemical analysis.

You Don't Need to Be Perfect to Get the Job Done - Research Reveals Efficiency in Imperfect Strategies: A study by Janelia Research Campus scientists found that animals and humans often use "good enough" strategies instead of optimal ones for tasks like foraging. These strategies, which are less resource-intensive, can still achieve nearly optimal results. This discovery challenges the traditional focus on optimal models and highlights the brain's ability to efficiently solve multiple problems using diverse strategies, providing new insights into behavior and brain function.

TECHNOLOGY AND AI

New Internet Security Loophole Allows Detailed Spying on Users: A newly discovered loophole, dubbed "SnailLoad," allows attackers to spy on internet users by monitoring fluctuations in their connection speed. Researchers from Graz University of Technology found that this method bypasses conventional security measures, requiring only a single prior download from the attacker's server. This vulnerability exploits unique patterns in data latency, enabling attackers to track users' online activities, such as website visits and video streams, with high accuracy.

AI Technology Aims to Prevent Power Outages: Researchers from the University of Texas at Dallas and the University at Buffalo have engineered an AI model that can prevent power outages by rerouting electricity in milliseconds. This "self-healing grid" technology uses machine learning to detect and fix issues autonomously, significantly speeding up response times compared to current human-controlled methods. The system identifies alternative power routes, ensuring continuous electricity supply even during faults. This innovative approach could revolutionize power grid management.

New Neuron Model Could Revolutionize AI: Researchers at the Flatiron Institute's Center for Computational Neuroscience have developed a new model of neurons that better represents their complexity and capabilities. Unlike the traditional 1960s model, this new approach views neurons as dynamic controllers that can influence their environment. This breakthrough could lead to more advanced and efficient artificial neural networks, enhancing AI performance and reducing errors.

AI Tackles Complex Data Sampling with New Techniques: Scientists at EPFL have created innovative AI methods to enhance data sampling from complex distributions. Their study focuses on flow-based, diffusion-based, and autoregressive neural networks, comparing them with traditional techniques like Monte Carlo Markov Chains. These AI models are inspired by spin glasses, a type of magnetic material, providing a theoretical framework to improve generative models' efficiency and accuracy in handling intricate data tasks.

ENGINEERING

Revolutionary 3D Printing Method Streamlines Multi-Material Manufacturing - New Technique Eliminates Assembly for Complex Devices: Researchers at the University of Missouri have developed an innovative 3D printing method, the Freeform Multi-material Assembly Process (FMAP), which integrates traditional 3D printing with laser technology. This breakthrough allows for the creation of multi-material, multi-functional products, such as sensors and circuit boards, in a single step. The FMAP technique is inspired by natural systems and aims to simplify manufacturing processes, reduce waste, and open new markets for customizable products and devices.

Innovative Device Measures Greenhouse Gases in Building Materials Efficiently - University of Tokyo's Breakthrough in Carbon Capture Technology: Researchers at the University of Tokyo have developed a device that measures the amount of CO₂ captured in concrete quickly and accurately. This "concrete thermal gravimetry and gas analyzer" heats concrete samples to release and measure CO₂, streamlining the process and enhancing precision compared to traditional methods. This innovation could significantly aid the concrete and cement industries in their efforts to offset emissions and contribute to global carbon neutrality goals.

New Technique Enables Smooth Gait Transitions in Hexapod Robots: Researchers at the Higher Institute for Applied Science and Technology in Damascus, Syria have developed a method to achieve smooth gait transitions in hexapod robots. This technique uses central pattern generators (CPGs) to control each leg's rhythmic movements, ensuring fluid and efficient gait changes. Initial tests demonstrated stable and rapid transitions in both simulated and real robots. Future enhancements will integrate machine learning to improve environmental adaptability and malfunction compensation.

MATHEMATICS

AI and Human Collaboration Tackles Complex Math Problems - Combining Computational Power with Human Ingenuity: Researchers at the Israel Institute of Technology (Technion) have developed a new approach to solving complex mathematical problems by merging artificial intelligence (AI) with human efforts. Their AI model, part of the Ramanujan Machine project, generates mathematical conjectures, which are then tested and proven by mathematicians. This collaboration accelerates discoveries in number theory, offering a powerful tool to explore and understand mathematical constants and other unsolved problems in pure mathematics.

HEALTH & MEDICINE

AI-Based Approach Enhances Protein Interaction Predictions - EPFL Researchers Develop DiffPALM to Improve Biological Understanding: Scientists at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) have introduced DiffPALM, an AI-based method that significantly improves the prediction of protein interactions. Utilizing advanced machine learning techniques from natural language processing, DiffPALM accurately matches protein pairs by analyzing complex sequence data. This breakthrough offers potential applications in drug development and disease research by enhancing the understanding of cellular functions and protein interactions.

Brain Stimulation Alters Perceived Attractiveness: Researchers at Montclair State University discovered that stimulating the medial prefrontal cortex can change how attractive a person is perceived by others. Using transcranial magnetic stimulation, the study found that inhibiting this brain area increased perceived attractiveness, while excitation decreased it. However, these changes did not affect participants' self-perceived attractiveness. This groundbreaking research highlights the brain's role in social perceptions and could inspire further studies in neuroscience.

New Testing Methods for Early-Stage Alzheimer's Disease: Researchers at UC Davis have developed a method to test treatments for early-stage Alzheimer's disease using a model in nonhuman primates. By tracking the spread of tau proteins in rhesus macaques, they identified a six-month window for measuring disease progression. This breakthrough enables preclinical testing of interventions targeting tau protein before extensive brain cell death and dementia set in, offering hope for earlier and more effective treatments.

ENVIRONMENT

Study Confirms 'Forever Chemicals' Absorb Through Human Skin - PFAS Compounds Found to Penetrate Skin Barrier: New research from the University of Birmingham demonstrates that perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as "forever chemicals," can be absorbed through human skin. Using 3D human skin models, the study revealed that 15 out of 17 tested PFAS compounds showed significant dermal absorption. This challenges previous assumptions that these chemicals couldn't penetrate the skin due to their ionized nature, highlighting potential health risks associated with skin exposure to PFAS.

CO₂ Impact on Global Temperatures Greater Than Expected: A study by the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research reveals that a doubling of atmospheric CO₂ could increase Earth's average temperature by 7 to 14 degrees Celsius, far exceeding previous estimates. Researchers analyzed sediments from the Pacific Ocean using innovative methods, showing a stronger relationship between CO₂ levels and temperature over the past 15 million years. This finding suggests urgent action is needed to mitigate CO₂ emissions.