Dragonfly Wings Inspire Stronger and More Efficient Architectural Vault Designs

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

In today’s edition:

• Science - New Fluorescent Technique Measures Atomic Distances Within Proteins, New Insights into Altermagnets Reveal Unique Nonlinear Responses, and more.

• Technology and AI - New AI-Powered Tool "WorldScribe" Brings Real-Time Visual Descriptions to People with Vision Impairments, and more.

• Engineering - Dragonfly Wings Inspire Stronger and More Efficient Architectural Vault Designs, Atmospheric Water Harvesting Systems Aid Hurricane-Affected Hospital in Florida, and more.

• Astronomy & Space - Earth’s New "Mini Moon" 2024 PT5: A Glimpse into Asteroids and the Future of Space Mining, Lightning Strikes Linked to "Killer Electrons" in Space, New Study Reveals, and more.

• Health & Medicine - Cancer Drug Conatumumab Shows Promise for Treating Peripheral Artery Disease, and more.

• Neuroscience - Bilingualism in Childhood Enhances Brain Connectivity, New Study Finds, Light Therapy Shows Promise for Treating Traumatic Brain Injuries, and more.

• Environment - Daily Personal Care Products May Impact Indoor Air Quality, New Study Reveals, and more.

• Nature - Fungi's Cognitive Abilities Revealed: Decision-Making Without a Brain, and more.

• Other Sciences & Arts - Why Neanderthals Didn't Use Spear-Throwing Tools: New Experiment Sheds Light, and more.

Until Tomorrow.

~The STEAM Digest

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This newsletter is curated by The STEAM Digest.

SCIENCE

New Fluorescent Technique Measures Atomic Distances Within Proteins: Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences have developed a groundbreaking technique using glowing molecules and laser light to measure distances as small as 0.1 nanometers—the width of a typical atom. This "ruler" is precise enough to measure the spacing between atoms in proteins, crucial for understanding misfolding, which plays a role in diseases like Alzheimer's. By attaching fluorescent molecules to proteins and using a laser, they could measure distances within proteins with high accuracy. The technique has a broader range than traditional methods, but further studies are needed to refine its application to complex biological systems.

New Insights into Altermagnets Reveal Unique Nonlinear Responses: Researchers at Stony Brook University have made significant discoveries about altermagnets, a newly uncovered class of magnetic materials with unique electron spin properties. These materials, distinct from traditional ferromagnets and antiferromagnets, show a nonlinear response due to their quantum geometry. Altermagnets lack PT symmetry, and the study revealed that their leading nonlinear response occurs in the third order of conductivity, a rare phenomenon. This discovery opens new possibilities for developing spintronic and electronic devices, as well as for exploring the materials' topological properties.

New Record-Breaking Laser Pulses Open Path to Advanced Measurement and Material Testing: Researchers at ETH Zurich, led by Ursula Keller, have achieved a groundbreaking feat in laser technology by producing the strongest laser pulses ever created by a laser oscillator. These pulses, at 550 watts of average power, surpass previous records by over 50%. The pulses are incredibly short—lasting less than a picosecond—and are generated at a rate of five million pulses per second, with peak powers reaching 100 megawatts. This advancement, made possible by innovations in mirror arrangement and the use of Keller’s SESAM (Semiconductor Saturable Absorber Mirror), could lead to improved precision in measurements, faster processes in attosecond physics, and new applications in terahertz radiation for material testing.

TECHNOLOGY AND AI

New AI-Powered Tool "WorldScribe" Brings Real-Time Visual Descriptions to People with Vision Impairments: University of Michigan researchers have developed WorldScribe, a tool that uses generative AI to provide real-time audio and text descriptions of a user's surroundings, helping people who are blind or have low vision navigate their environment. WorldScribe adjusts the level of detail in its descriptions based on user commands and the length of time an object remains in view, while also adapting to noisy environments. The tool, currently in trial, could revolutionize accessibility by offering rich, immediate descriptions of the world through a smartphone or potentially smart glasses in the future.

AI-Powered Deepbiosphere Maps California Plant Species with Unprecedented Precision: Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, have developed a groundbreaking AI model called Deepbiosphere, which uses data from the iNaturalist app and remote sensing to map the distribution of California plant species with unprecedented accuracy. The convolutional neural network model predicts plant ranges at a resolution of just a few square meters, vastly improving the accuracy over previous methods. The AI system, which combines citizen science data and satellite images, achieved 89% accuracy in predicting species distributions. This tool offers promising applications for monitoring biodiversity, tracking ecological changes, and aiding conservation efforts globally.

ENGINEERING

Dragonfly Wings Inspire Stronger and More Efficient Architectural Vault Designs: New research from the University of Granada and the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology shows that ancient architectural staples, such as domes and vaults, can be improved by mimicking the geometric patterns found in dragonfly wings. Researchers developed five vault rib designs, including traditional and optimized iterations, and a biomimetic one based on Voronoi patterns. After testing, a hybrid vault combining topological optimization and dragonfly-inspired stiffening ribs outperformed all other designs. Though complex to manufacture, these new designs could enhance strength and efficiency in civil engineering, offering creative freedom and material conservation for future structures.

Atmospheric Water Harvesting Systems Aid Hurricane-Affected Hospital in Florida: In the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida, turned to an innovative atmospheric water harvesting system to secure clean drinking water after its water supply was disrupted. The system, developed by Genesis Systems, uses metal organic frameworks to extract moisture from the air and provide up to 2000 gallons of water daily. Such systems, which are especially useful in high-humidity areas like Florida, are gaining attention for their ability to operate independently of existing water infrastructure and could play a vital role in disaster response scenarios. While effective, these systems rely on electricity, highlighting the importance of power availability during emergencies.

Researchers Engineer Layered Hybrid Perovskites for Improved LEDs, Lasers, and Solar Cells: A team at North Carolina State University has developed a new technique to engineer layered hybrid perovskites (LHPs) at the atomic level, allowing for precise control over how they convert electrical charge into light. This breakthrough, published in Matter, enhances the efficiency and speed of LHPs for use in next-generation LEDs and lasers. The researchers discovered that nanoplatelets—individual sheets of perovskite material—serve as templates for quantum wells, dictating the structure and performance of LHPs. The findings also hold promise for improving perovskites in solar cells, offering better photovoltaic performance and stability.

ASTRONOMY & SPACE

Earth’s New "Mini Moon" 2024 PT5: A Glimpse into Asteroids and the Future of Space Mining: Astronomers have discovered a new "mini moon" orbiting Earth: asteroid 2024 PT5, a 33-foot-long space rock temporarily captured by Earth's gravity. This near-Earth object, part of the Arjuna asteroid group, will orbit Earth until late November before returning to its heliocentric orbit. While too small to observe without powerful telescopes, 2024 PT5 offers insight into the early solar system and the potential for asteroid mining. Experts believe that asteroids, rich in precious metals like platinum and gold, could one day fuel space exploration and industry, with asteroid mining potentially creating trillionaires and reshaping economies.

Lightning Strikes Linked to "Killer Electrons" in Space, New Study Reveals: A study led by researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder has uncovered a novel link between lightning storms on Earth and the behavior of high-energy electrons in space. The team discovered that lightning can send radio waves into space, dislodging dangerous "killer electrons" from Earth's inner radiation belt, which could pose a threat to satellites and astronauts. These findings offer new insights into space weather and could lead to strategies for protecting space-based technology. The research marks the first observation of such high-energy electrons falling from the inner radiation belt due to lightning-induced disturbances.

New Insights into the Three-Body Problem Reveal Patterns Amidst Chaos: A researcher at the University of Copenhagen has made a breakthrough in understanding the famously chaotic "Three-Body Problem" in astrophysics. Contrary to conventional belief, which suggests that the gravitational interactions between three massive objects are always chaotic, new simulations reveal "isles of regularity" where predictable patterns emerge, often resulting in one object being expelled from the system. This discovery could enhance our understanding of gravitational waves and other fundamental cosmic phenomena, offering potential improvements to astrophysics models.

HEALTH & MEDICINE

Cancer Drug Conatumumab Shows Promise for Treating Peripheral Artery Disease: Researchers at the Heart Research Institute (HRI) have discovered that Conatumumab, a drug originally designed to kill cancer cells, could also treat Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) by promoting the growth of new blood vessels, bypassing blockages and restoring blood flow in affected limbs. This preclinical breakthrough, published in Science Advances, offers hope for reversing PAD, a condition that currently leads to limb amputations every two hours in Australia. Since the drug has already passed toxicology and safety trials for cancer, human trials for PAD could begin swiftly.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Found as Effective as Antidepressants for Treating Anxiety Disorders: A multi-institution study led by the National Institute of Mental Health has found that mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) is as effective as the antidepressant escitalopram (Lexapro) in reducing symptoms of anxiety disorders like agoraphobia, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and social anxiety disorder. Published in JAMA Network Open, the study involved 276 adults who experienced similar anxiety symptom relief from both treatments over eight weeks. MBSR, however, had significantly fewer side effects—only 15% compared to 79% in the escitalopram group—making it a promising alternative to medication for anxiety treatment.

Gut Bacteria Metabolite May Lead to Non-Invasive Test and Treatment for Endometriosis: A recent study suggests that low levels of a gut bacteria-produced metabolite, 4-hydroxyindole, could serve as a non-invasive indicator of endometriosis, a condition that affects nearly 200 million people globally. Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine found that women with endometriosis had reduced levels of this compound in their stool. Supplementing 4-hydroxyindole in mice with induced endometriosis reduced lesion severity and pain, offering hope for a future treatment. While promising, further human studies are required to confirm its effectiveness as both a diagnostic tool and a therapeutic option.

NEUROSCIENCE

Bilingualism in Childhood Enhances Brain Connectivity, New Study Finds: A study by researchers from McGill University, the University of Ottawa, and the University of Zaragoza has found that learning a second language in childhood significantly enhances communication efficiency between brain regions. The study used fMRI scans on 151 participants, revealing that bilingual individuals showed stronger connectivity across brain regions compared to monolinguals, particularly between the cerebellum and the left frontal cortex. The findings suggest that early exposure to a second language promotes better brain organization, supporting cognitive performance and highlighting bilingualism's role in neuroplasticity.

Light Therapy Shows Promise for Treating Traumatic Brain Injuries: Scientists at the University of Birmingham have demonstrated that transcranial light therapy, using near-infrared light, can significantly aid recovery after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). The study showed that daily two-minute bursts of 810nm infrared light reduced inflammation, cell death, and improved balance and cognitive function in animal models. This novel therapy has potential as a new treatment for mTBI, which currently lacks effective options. The team aims to develop this into a medical device for brain and spinal cord injury recovery, seeking commercial partners for co-development.

New Magnetogenetics Technology Allows Non-Invasive Control of Brain Circuits: Researchers from Weill Cornell Medicine, The Rockefeller University, and Mount Sinai have developed a groundbreaking technology that uses magnetic fields to control specific brain circuits non-invasively. This gene-therapy technique enables the activation or inhibition of neurons in real-time without requiring invasive equipment. In preclinical studies with mice, the researchers demonstrated its potential by reducing abnormal movements in a Parkinson’s disease model. This technology could lead to new treatments for neurological and psychiatric conditions like depression, obesity, and chronic pain, offering a safer alternative to existing methods like optogenetics and deep brain stimulation.

ENVIRONMENT

Daily Personal Care Products May Impact Indoor Air Quality, New Study Reveals: Research by EPFL has shown that personal care products release over 200 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into indoor air, significantly affecting air quality. When VOCs interact with ozone, both naturally occurring and indoor-generated, new compounds and particles are produced that could penetrate deep into the lungs. These findings raise concerns about the unknown health effects of daily inhalation. The study suggests preventive measures, such as increased ventilation, air filtration, and reducing reliance on reactive personal care products, to mitigate potential risks to respiratory health.

New Algorithms Improve Earthquake Forecasting by Detecting Precursory Activity: Researchers at GNS Science, led by Dr. Annemarie Christophersen, have developed algorithms to detect Precursory Scale Increases (PSI), which are sequences of smaller earthquakes that often occur before large earthquakes. These algorithms analyze earthquake catalogs and have confirmed that smaller precursory areas grow as time approaches the main earthquake. The findings are consistent with the EEPAS (Every Earthquake a Precursor According to Scale) forecasting model, improving its accuracy for medium-term earthquake predictions. This research is crucial for enhancing earthquake forecasting and New Zealand’s National Seismic Hazard Model, helping inform decisions about infrastructure resilience.

New Study Reveals Unexpected Gap in Earth's Geologic Record During Major Climate Transition: A new Stanford study has uncovered a surprising lack of sedimentary deposits across all continents from the Eocene-Oligocene transition, a period of drastic global cooling 34 million years ago. Despite conventional models predicting massive erosion and sediment deposition due to the sea level drop, researchers found widespread gaps in the geologic record, as published in Earth-Science Reviews. The findings suggest that vigorous ocean currents and other mechanisms may have swept sediment off the continents, leaving little trace. This discovery offers new insights into sedimentary systems and helps researchers better understand the potential impacts of today's rapid climate change.

Study Reveals Origins of Earth’s Volatile Elements and Their Role in Supporting Life: A study published in Science Advances explores the origins of volatile compounds on Earth, which are critical for the evolution of life. Researchers found that most of Earth’s volatiles, such as zinc, originated from undifferentiated planetesimals—primitive materials that escaped the melting and degassing caused by the radioactive decay of aluminum-26 (Al-26). While differentiated planetesimals make up 70% of Earth’s mass, they only contributed 10% of its zinc, indicating that undifferentiated materials supplied the majority of life-supporting volatiles. The study raises questions about whether Earth is unusually rich in volatiles and suggests that some planets might form without the ingredients necessary for life.

NATURE

Fungi's Cognitive Abilities Revealed: Decision-Making Without a Brain: Researchers from Tohoku University and Nagaoka College have demonstrated that fungi possess remarkable decision-making abilities despite lacking brains. In a study published in Fungal Ecology, they observed the cord-forming fungus Phanerochaete velutina responding to different spatial arrangements of wood blocks, suggesting fungi can "recognize" and adapt to their environments. Mycelial networks connected the wood blocks in distinct patterns, showing deliberate growth strategies rather than random expansion. This research highlights the complexity of fungal cognition and may offer insights into the evolution of awareness and bio-based computing.

Drought-Driven Song Changes May Lead to New Finch Species in the Galápagos: A recent study reveals that ecological changes, such as drought, may drive the evolution of new species of Darwin's finches in the Galápagos Islands by altering their songs. Finch beaks adapt to environmental conditions, and these adaptations impact their songs—used to attract mates. The research shows that as beaks become thicker during droughts, finches’ songs slow down and narrow in frequency. After six major droughts, the songs change so drastically that finches no longer recognize them, potentially leading to the formation of new species through ecological speciation.

DNA Analysis Reveals Tsavo “Man-Eater” Lions’ Diverse Diet, Including Humans and Wildlife: A study published in Current Biology used DNA sequencing of hair fragments found in the teeth of the infamous Tsavo "man-eater" lions to uncover their diet. The lions, which killed at least 28 people in 1898, consumed not only humans but also a wide range of prey, including wildebeests, giraffes, oryx, and zebras. The analysis also confirmed that the lions were likely siblings, sharing the same mitochondrial DNA. Surprisingly, the study found minimal evidence of buffalo in their diet, likely due to the effects of a devastating rinderpest outbreak. These findings provide new insights into the lions’ behavior and the ecological conditions of the time

OTHER SCIENCES & ARTS

Why Neanderthals Didn't Use Spear-Throwing Tools: New Experiment Sheds Light: A recent experiment involving spear-throwing tools, known as atlatls, reveals why Neanderthals likely never adopted them. Researchers from Kent State University found that while javelins gained up to 100% more kinetic energy when thrown from elevated heights, atlatl projectiles experienced a 20% reduction in energy. This suggests that the atlatl’s lever mechanism is less effective at steeper downward angles, making hand-thrown javelins better suited for rugged hunting terrains. The findings help explain why Neanderthals and some Homo sapiens groups favored javelins over more complex atlatl tools for hunting in such environments.

Evolution Unfolds: Marine Snails Adapt to New Environment Over 30 Years: Researchers have observed rapid evolution in marine snails reintroduced to a tiny rocky islet after a toxic algal bloom wiped out the original population. A study published in Science Advances shows that the reintroduced snails, originally of the Crab-ecotype, evolved to resemble the lost Wave-ecotype snails that once inhabited the skerries. Over 30 years, the snails exhibited rapid phenotypic and genetic changes, driven by pre-existing genetic diversity and gene flow from neighboring populations. This experiment highlights the importance of genetic diversity in adaptation and offers insights into how species may evolve in response to modern environmental challenges such as climate change and pollution.