April STEM News

Welcome to the April edition of STEM Spectrum Monthly News, presented to you by The STEM Spectrum's News Editors! Each month, the latest advancements in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics are broken down and analyzed. This month's entry covers topics ranging from developments in medical diagnostics to new approaches in energy production.

Physicists develop modelling software to diagnose serious diseases

Our world is filled with a plethora of plights and unfortunate illnesses that affect millions of people; and for a vast majority of them, we do not understand all there is. As a result of us only knowing so much, our attempts to treat these illnesses are not as effective as they could be. For decades, many scientists have been researching a way to have a more proactive, comprehensive method to analyze changes and deformation of cells. Recently, researchers at the University of Copenhagen & Southern Denmark have developed a free software that can model and study the behaviors of cellular membranes. This allows them to identify information providing access to a new understanding of such diseases, thereby, supporting disease diagnosis and treatment

Cellular membranes are the outer shell of the cells that inhouse all of the organelles performing cellular functions. These membranes are crucial because many diseases are associated with the shape and behavior of such structures. Abnormalities in their functionality can indicate the presence of an illness. For instance, the diagnosis of Alzheimer's, a neurological disease, has been linked to changes in the shape of cellular membranes- particularly within the mitochondria. Given the vast importance of these membranes, researchers realized the importance of analyzing them, but it is tough to see the changes and, more importantly, their causes. As a result, researchers at the University of Copenhagen developed a computational model to study cellular membranes by using tools to simulate cellular processes such as cell division. 

Although the software has allowed for some insights it still requires a lot of adjustments and work to make significant breakthroughs. Computers are an inherent part of our future and their uses are invaluable to the fields of medicine and innovations in AI, machine learning and data analytics. They are holistically fostering an educated understanding of medicine and diseases to treat countless lives. The scientists responsible for this software have shared this software with fellow enthusiasts and researchers to promote collaboration within the scientific community and fuel discoveries required to nurture a better grasp of these microscopic intracellular processes that provide novel ways to treat larger diseases. 

One way to improve a fusion reaction: Use weaknesses as strengths

Energy is a fundamental part of our everyday lives. It is a core part of the universe that we live in and is responsible for all the work that we are able to do. As everything requires energy, we wouldn’t be able to function by ourselves or even as a society without it. Therefore, with this great importance, there is a great emphasis on how we are able to get our energy and as such: there are a variety of ways including fossil fuels, solar, wind, hydro etc. A lot of these sources have their benefits and drawbacks, some more than others, but there exists a much greater form of energy that if we were able to harness would give us the capabilities to do things never before achieved, and that is nuclear fusion.

Nuclear fusion is the process in which we are able to combine atoms to form new elements, compounds and energy as a bi-product. Its counterpart: nuclear fission is something we are able to do by splitting an atom - however putting them together is a lot more beneficial. This is the same type of energy that is created by the sun, and all the energy we get from the sun is created through this process. Now, the benefits of nuclear fusion are that it has all the best things of the other sources, it is a clean energy source, safe energy source (does not produce nuclear waste) and it is an efficient and abundant source of energy. Nuclear fusion allows us to have a long-term sustainable source with little to no drawbacks and is a pertinent part of humanity's long-term survival so scientists for decades have been trying to harness this energy but it is not easy.

 A key problem when trying to achieve nuclear fusion in the lab is that fusion harnesses the 4th state of matter ‘plasma’ for energy and to produce it, the reaction is encircled in coils that create magnetic fields. When the reaction occurs due to the intenseness there can be minute defects in the coils and thus they create errors in the fields known as error fields, which can disrupt the plasma and disturb the reaction - preventing it from proceeding as intended. 

It is very difficult to fix these errors in the coils and that is when researchers in South Korea tried a different approach where they leveraged the error fields to benefit the reaction. The way they leveraged the error fields was that they only needed to adjust the error fields and by applying additional magnetic fields it would be able to still support the reaction and as a result, stabilize it as well as the plasma - allowing it to continue. Essentially they would use the additional magnetic fields to counteract the effects of the error fields which would stabilize the core and the plasma. This is a revolutionary discovery as it shows that there is promise in achieving nuclear fusion- although there are still improvements to be made. 

The team is working on a way to incorporate artificial intelligence to be able to manage these fields and increase the efficiency of the reaction so as to achieve a sustained reaction that can support our planet sustainably.  

Two artificial intelligences talk to each other

AI has undoubtedly taken the world by storm with all of its capabilities and innovations, and it has only continued to advance every day. It is abundantly clear that we are in the midst of an AI revolution which will only continue to become a larger part of our everyday lives. AI has been able to achieve a lot so far: from being able to understand text, being able to respond with text and images as well as being able to respond to human voice, yet, there are still limitations that have yet to be broken. 

Specifically, one thing that AI has not been able to produce which we humans do regularly and is a core part of our communication and society is the ability to do a task from verbal or written instructions and then be able to explain those instructions to another entity for it to be able to complete. This is something that may sound simple and is a pinnacle of our communication but AI has yet to match this… that was until now. A team of researchers and engineers from the University of Geneva were able to develop an artificial neural network that was indeed capable of this very feat. 

An artificial neural network is a machine learning model that is programmed and trained on data to be able to make decisions similar to that of the human brain. The researchers developed an artificial neural network that was able to do a task when instructed to it and then relayed that same task whilst explaining it to a “sister” AI which then performed the same task. The way the initial neural network was trained was that it was given written instructions continually and the AI repeatedly did the task. After many trials, it was able to put into words what it was doing to explain it to another AI which was then capable of doing it as well. The ability was revolutionary. This has many applications in AI and robotics as having intelligent systems communicate with each other can bring about remarkable efficiencies in tasks and innovations but it is not without its danger. At a certain point, it is undoubtedly scary to think about if there will ever come a point at which the intellect of AI will surpass that of humanity, and whether it is a matter of if or when. 

CHEOPS detects a “rainbow” on an exoplanet

The vast expanse of space never ceases to amaze and a recent finding from the CHEOPS space telescope adds another layer of wonder. Among the distant stars, the exoplanet - WASP-76b has captured the attention of scientists worldwide due to its extreme nature and mysterious features. Managed by the University of Geneva, the CHEOPS telescope has offered fresh insights into this alien realm, shedding light on the complexities of WASP-76b's atmosphere.

WASP-76b, a colossal "ultra-hot" giant planet, orbits dangerously close to its parent star, subjecting itself to intense radiation. This closeness has swollen its size significantly, making it even larger than Jupiter. The result? A world of extremes, where temperatures reach a blistering 2,400 degrees Celsius, enough to turn metals like iron into vapour. As this vapour condenses into clouds, it forms molten droplets that rain down on the planet.

Yet, amidst these extreme conditions, scientists noticed something peculiar: an uneven brightness along the edges of WASP-76b. This oddity sparked curiosity, leading to a detailed investigation using the CHEOPS telescope. Over three years and 23 careful observations, along with data from other telescopes, a new idea emerged: the possibility of a localized and directional reflection, similar to a "glory."

Glories, like rainbows, occur when light bounces off perfectly uniform droplets—a phenomenon familiar to us on Earth and even observed on Venus. This discovery marks the first time such a phenomenon has been seen beyond our solar system, hinting at unique atmospheric conditions on WASP-76b. Glories require specific atmospheric conditions, including spherical and stable particles directly lit by the star, making this finding especially intriguing.

Confirmation of this phenomenon on WASP-76b could unlock more mysteries about the planet's atmosphere. Understanding the stability of its atmosphere over time could provide valuable insights into WASP-76b's weather patterns. Moreover, detecting complex phenomena from such great distances opens up possibilities for identifying other important factors, such as how starlight reflects off liquid surfaces—a crucial aspect when considering a planet's potential to support life.

This discovery highlights the importance of advanced telescopes like CHEOPS and the collaborative efforts among international institutions. As humanity continues to explore the vastness of space, ongoing research into exoplanetary atmospheres promises to reveal more secrets about distant worlds and, perhaps one day, provide clues about the possibility of life beyond our own planet Earth.

Researchers map how the brain regulates homeostasis

Understanding the intricate workings of the human brain is a quest that continues to yield remarkable discoveries. A recent study led by Dartmouth College delves into the brain's role in regulating emotions, shedding light on crucial aspects of mental health and addiction treatment.

Emotions play a vital role in our daily lives, influencing behaviour and decision-making. However, difficulties in managing emotions, often linked with mental health issues like persistent negative thoughts, can significantly impact an individual's well-being. Lead author Ke Bo and their team set out to differentiate between this generation and regulation of emotions, pinpointing specific brain regions responsible for the latter.

Using advanced computational analysis of fMRI data, the researchers identified distinct patterns of brain activity during tasks- involving emotion regulation. Surprisingly, regions such as the anterior prefrontal cortex, previously not associated with this function, emerged as key players in regulating emotions. Understanding the activation of these brain areas is crucial, as it correlates with increased resilience to negative experiences—a finding with profound implications for mental health and addiction resistance.

The study also unravelled the amygdala's role in processing aversive experiences, highlighting the intricate interplay between this region and the cortex in shaping emotional responses. Furthermore, neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin, and cannabinoid receptors were identified as crucial players in emotion regulation, hinting at the potential impact of drugs targeting these systems on emotional processing.

Of particular interest are serotonin receptors, notably 5H2A, implicated in depression and the effects of psychedelic drugs. Understanding their influence on cognitive processes and self-regulation is vital for developing targeted interventions for mental health disorders.

The findings highlight the importance of integrated therapeutic approaches that combine psychological support with pharmacological treatments. By bridging the gap between psychological and pharmacological interventions, researchers aim to enhance treatment outcomes for individuals grappling with mental health challenges and addiction.

Basic science research, such as this study, serves as a cornerstone for comprehending the effects of drugs on brain systems and cognitive functions. These insights not only deepen our understanding of mental health disorders but also pave the way for more effective treatment strategies tailored to individual needs. As researchers continue to unravel the mysteries of the brain, the prospects for improving mental health outcomes grow ever brighter.

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Presented to you by The STEM Spectrum's News Editors: Vidhan Bokaria, Akishai Sabaratnasarma, and Shiena Fernando.