Did researchers successfully cultivate plants using lunar soil? What has transpired regarding the individual who received the first genetically modified pig heart? How have scientists achieved a breakthrough in superconductivity with the much-lauded “wonder material”?

Greetings in August! This piece provides a roundup of significant developments transitioning from the realm of science fiction to tangible reality over the past month. Keep reading for more insights!

# Update on the James Webb Space Telescope

In our initial report, NASA unveiled the first full-color images from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) on July 12, marking an exciting moment for astronomy. The stunning images allow us to gaze back at the Universe's origins, capturing light from approximately 13.5 billion years ago when the first stars and galaxies emerged. Featured images depict the galaxy cluster SMACS 0723, the Carina Nebula, the Southern Ring Nebula, and Stephan’s Quartet.

The JWST is also enhancing our understanding of exoplanets, which are worlds beyond our Solar System. For instance, WASP-96b, a hot gas giant located about 1,150 light-years away, has been analyzed for its atmospheric characteristics, revealing the presence of water vapor. While this does not confirm the existence of extraterrestrial life, it does suggest that the conditions for life might exist.

Astronomers are eager to keep utilizing the JWST to learn more about rocky, Earth-like planets that may harbor life, and I look forward to the day when future generations can send missions to explore these worlds.

# Cultivating Plants in Lunar Soil

In another remarkable advancement in space science, scientists have successfully grown plants in nutrient-deficient lunar soil for the first time. This research is crucial for NASA's long-term objectives regarding human space exploration, as it explores the potential for using lunar resources to create food supplies for astronauts.

During the Apollo missions, astronauts collected lunar regolith, which was then brought back to Earth for study. Recently, a team from the University of Florida made significant progress using these samples.

Their experiment involved cultivating the plant Arabidopsis Thaliana, closely related to mustard greens and broccoli. This plant is extensively researched due to its small size and ease of growth. The researchers utilized regolith from the Apollo 11, 12, and 17 missions, providing just one gram of material for each plant while also using a lunar simulant made from volcanic ash as a control.

Within two days, all plants began to sprout, regardless of the group they were in. However, by day six, those grown in lunar regolith exhibited less vitality compared to the control group, with the plants from Apollo 11 regolith faring the worst.

On day 20, the researchers harvested the plants and analyzed their RNA, which indicated that those grown in regolith experienced stress, akin to plants struggling in harsh environments like saline soils.

Despite the less-than-optimal growth in lunar soil compared to the volcanic ash control, the team deemed their findings a success, as growth was achieved. This sets the stage for future studies aimed at identifying plant genes that could facilitate adaptation to lunar regolith and exploring the feasibility of growth in Martian soil.

These efforts lay the groundwork for sustainable food production beyond Earth, bringing humanity closer to becoming an interplanetary species.

# Insights from the First Pig Heart Transplant

A recent study has shed light on the unsuccessful first pig heart transplant. David Bennett, 57, received a genetically modified pig heart, marking a significant milestone in xenotransplantation, the transfer of nonhuman tissues or organs into human patients. The heart was altered using CRISPR, a gene-editing tool that enables precise modifications to DNA.

The procedure, performed on January 7, 2022, at the University of Maryland Medical Center, was a last resort for Bennett, who had end-stage heart failure and was ineligible for a traditional transplant.

Initially, Bennett was bedridden for eight weeks and required a heart-lung machine for survival. Shortly after the transplant, he was removed from the machine and began rehabilitation for nearly two months, but sadly, he passed away on March 8, 2022, due to heart failure.

Initially, there were concerns regarding the rejection of the genetically modified heart; however, the positive results observed in the months following the surgery suggested that the transplant had functioned adequately. This is encouraging for many Americans, as around 110,000 people are currently awaiting organ transplants, with approximately 6,000 dying annually before receiving one. These findings provide hope that xenotransplantation could eventually provide a solution to the organ shortage crisis.

However, the autopsy raised questions regarding Bennett’s death. He had been administered an intravenous immunoglobulin drug twice within two months following the transplant to prevent organ rejection, which may have interacted negatively with the pig heart and damaged the muscle.

Additionally, traces of a latent pig virus, porcine cytomegalovirus (pCMV), were found in the transplanted heart. While it remains unclear if pCMV contributed to Bennett's heart failure, its detection has prompted further investigation.

Before the surgery, rigorous safety protocols were adhered to:

• Donor pigs were raised in a controlled environment to minimize the risk of pathogens.
• The donor pig underwent multiple tests for pathogens.
• The heart was thoroughly tested before being transported to Maryland and again before the operation.

Unfortunately, the virus evaded detection. Future clinical trials are expected to implement even more advanced testing methods to prevent such oversights.

While Bennett's passing is a tragedy, the journey toward realizing xenotransplantation as a viable treatment option has gained momentum.

# Uncovering the Origins of the Black Death

The Black Death, or bubonic plague, has been a focal point for historians for centuries. While extensively studied, its origins remained elusive—until now.

This devastating plague began in the mid-13th century, sweeping through Eurasia and resulting in the deaths of millions, particularly in Europe, where it wiped out approximately 30% to 50% of the population. The term "Black Death" arose from the dark spots it left on victims' bodies, accompanied by painful lymph nodes, vomiting, delirium, and other severe symptoms.

The disease has a rapid onset, with symptoms appearing 3 to 5 days after infection, leading to death within another 3 to 5 days in about 80% of cases. Like COVID-19 in 2020, the Black Death was a newly emerging disease that triggered a pandemic lasting around 500 years. Although rare today due to antibiotics, the bubonic plague still exists.

Recent studies suggest that the Black Death originated in present-day Northern Kyrgyzstan, spreading to Europe along trade routes. Researchers examined the remains of three women buried in a medieval cemetery near Lake Issyk Kul, with gravestones indicating their deaths occurred in 1338 and 1339 due to "pestilence," several years before the plague reached Europe. Analysis of DNA from their teeth identified an ancient strain of Yersinia Pestis, the bacterium responsible for the Black Death.

A few years ago, scientists constructed a genetic family tree of Yersinia Pestis to trace its evolution, revealing that four strains emerged around the time of the Black Death. One of these strains is believed to have caused the plague and subsequent epidemics in Europe. The strain found in Kyrgyzstan is thought to be the "mother strain."

Understanding the origins of the Black Death deepens our comprehension of its significant impact on human history.

# Breakthroughs in Graphene Superconductors

Researchers have recently identified a new family of superconducting graphene structures. Graphene consists of a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice. Although theorized in 1947, it was not until 2004 that scientists successfully produced the material.

This discovery sparked a wave of research into graphene's remarkable mechanical, electrical, optical, and thermal properties. It is the strongest material ever tested; one scientist noted that it would require an elephant balanced on a pencil to puncture a sheet of graphene the thickness of plastic wrap. Due to these attributes, graphene is often referred to as the "wonder material," and researchers are eager to explore its myriad potential uses.

Superconductivity, one of graphene's fascinating characteristics, was discovered in 2018 when MIT researchers revealed that two stacked layers of graphene could exhibit superconductivity at low temperatures when arranged at a specific "magic angle." Superconductivity allows electric currents to flow through a material without energy loss. The same group later found a similar superconducting state in twisted three-layer graphene.

Their latest findings indicate that four- and five-layer twisted graphene can also demonstrate superconductivity. The researchers investigated a four-layer and a five-layer twisted graphene device, cooling them to below one Kelvin (-273 degrees Celsius). These devices enabled the scientists to pass an electric current through the stacked layers and measure their responses under various conditions.

Superconductivity occurs due to a unique electronic structure in twisted graphene layers known as "flat band." In this state, electrons share the same energy level irrespective of momentum. At ultra-low temperatures, these normally active electrons slow down sufficiently to form Cooper pairs, a necessary condition for superconductivity.

Various materials have displayed superconductivity at low temperatures, but these conditions are often impractical for broader applications. The researchers hope their discoveries will pave the way for the development of practical room-temperature superconductors, which are often considered the ultimate goal in materials science. Such superconductors could facilitate lossless electricity transmission, frictionless magnetic levitation for trains, and more efficient quantum computing.

What are your thoughts? Will advancements in space research bring us closer to becoming an interplanetary species? What lies ahead for xenotransplantation? Graphene has been heralded as a revolutionary material, but many applications remain in the lab; could superconductivity face similar challenges?

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Interested in more? Check these out: 1. 3 Times in History When Scientists Thought We Made Contact With Aliens — The narrative of responding to extraterrestrial signals. 2. What Is Nanotechnology and Where Is the Field Today? — A historical overview of nanotechnology. 3. How Many Advanced Extraterrestrial Civilizations Are in Our Galaxy Today? — A discussion on calculating this number using the Drake Equation.

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