A new method, called CW-Net, translates the reasoning process of an autonomous vehicle's AI system into understandable concepts that explain its behavior. CW-Net explains the decisions of machine learning-based planners using concepts like
Scientists at MIT have shown that a neutrino laser, proposed to produce a concentrated beam of neutrinos, is impossible due to recoil and fermionic nature. The research demonstrates that the concept, previously thought to be plausible, is fundamentally flawed.
A new atlas of the brain’s striatum has identified 31 subgroups of neurons, including those involved in addiction, depression, and schizophrenia. The atlas may help scientists develop new drugs to combat these conditions, particularly by targeting specific cell populations affected by Huntington’s disease.
Scientists have found that short peptides can remain stable and fold into shapes that may give them biological functions in highly acidic conditions similar to Venus's cloud layer. This discovery opens up new possibilities for the search for life on planets that don't resemble Earth.
Researchers at MIT developed bifur-circuits, a new type of shape-changing smart device that can be reconfigured to form different shapes and maintain electrical connections. These interactive building blocks can be used to create adaptable smart devices, such as assistive furniture and reconfigurable robotic grippers.
MIT researchers developed a framework, CrysVCD, to generate stable materials with desired properties, reducing the need for extensive screening. The approach improves material stability by 70% and supports the creation of high-performance materials, such as computer chips and data centers.
A new study suggests that a magnetic field existed in the infant solar system, possibly playing a role in shaping the sun and early planets. The discovery was made in ancient meteorite dust, which preserved records of the magnetic field's strength and intensity.
MIT engineers develop a tool that generates plausible extreme events and worst-case scenarios without relying on extreme data, enabling planners to prepare for unprecedented scenarios. The algorithm takes a statistical approach to learn from available data, excluding implausible weather scenarios, and projects how extreme events might ...
A new study from MIT researchers found that language skills remain stable in older adults, with nearly identical brain activity to young adults, while other cognitive functions decline. The study suggests that parts of the brain specialized for specific functions, such as language processing, may be more resilient to aging.
A new training interface, World-Space Interface, mimics the movements of an excavator's arm and bucket, eliminating the need for mental maps to operate the machine. The system consists of a mechanical arm and a virtual simulator, allowing operators to physically control the excavator in a cab or remotely.
Researchers at MIT developed a new cell-preservation technique using naturally occurring sugars, reducing the need for a chemical preservative. This approach significantly improves the viability and function of CAR-T cells, making them easier to deploy in hospitals.
MIT researchers have overcome a major challenge holding back the real-world deployment of microwave quantum technologies. They developed a scalable platform that generates pairs of highly correlated radio frequency waves at room temperature, enabling secure communications and high-precision radar and sensing.
According to Paul Osterman's research, 35% of US workers are marginal employees, freelancers, or gig employees with little career prospects or security. Osterman's book, Disposable Workers, examines the growing trend of firms controlling labor costs, leaving many workers in precarious positions.
Researchers designed bacteria that function as transistors, allowing for the creation of living circuit boards that can perform complicated calculations. The transistors can be combined to create a variety of circuits, including those that add two or three inputs or send one input to a specific location.
Neuroscientists have identified flexible modules in the prefrontal cortex that can be reused to perform various tasks. The discovery supports the theory of compositionality, where cognitive building blocks can be flexibly combined to generate new behaviors.
MIT researchers found that inhibiting caspase-1, an enzyme involved in lung inflammation, reduces the risk of developing tumors. The drug has already gone into clinical trials for other diseases and may be tested as a preventative measure for people at high risk for lung cancer.
Researchers at MIT have created a new microscope that can image electrical activity in neurons distributed across the brain, revealing patterns of neural activity from milliseconds. The technique enabled observation of single voltage spikes and rapid bursts of spikes, shedding light on how the brain is activated following a stimulus.
A team of astronomers has discovered an extremely bright and red spot in the early universe, which they believe is a mashup of a black hole and a star. The object, dubbed a 'black hole star,' would help solve the mystery of other mysterious 'little red dots' found in deep-space images.
Engineers at MIT have created an interactive platform that maps habitat design factors to behavioral health outcomes such as stress, anxiety, and feelings of isolation in extreme environments. The study's findings can be applied to designing habitats in space, submarines, polar expeditions, and other isolated settings.
A new study by MIT researchers aims to give the budding industry a framework for understanding how fusion can be profitable. The method considers the physical inputs needed to sustain controlled fusion energy production and the cost of building power plants that can compete in energy markets.
Researchers created nearly 700 new cancer models derived from patient tumors to aid in drug development. The models, representing 25 types of cancer, are now available for global use, providing a resource for identifying new drug targets and testing potential treatments.
MIT researchers develop a new fabrication platform to integrate molecules into electronic devices, enabling next-generation computing technologies and emerging applications. The technique uses nanoscale surface forces to mechanically assemble delicate molecular materials without damaging them.
Nitrogenases containing molybdenum are more efficient due to their ability to help nearby iron atoms bind to nitrogen. This is a critical step in breaking the nitrogen-nitrogen triple bond and converting nitrogen gas to ammonia. The findings could guide the design of synthetic catalysts that convert nitrogen gas to ammonia.
Researchers at MIT developed a new technique called VLASH that allows robots to predict their future position, enabling smoother motions and quicker reactions. This breakthrough doubles the speed of robots performing tasks like pick-and-place and boosts performance in dynamic activities.
Researchers have created a new, recyclable yarn that mimics the properties of spandex-based yarns, offering an alternative to non-recyclable stretchy garments. The yarn is made from a form of plastic and can be melted down and reused multiple times without losing its strength and flexibility.
Researchers reveal that missing ordinary matter exists in diffuse clouds surrounding galaxy groups, extending beyond predicted distances. The findings suggest stronger and more violent star activity and black hole jets, pushing matter to larger scales.
Researchers found that as salinity increases in freshwater environments, microbial communities lose diversity due to faster-growing strains taking over, but maintain overall growth rates. This effect is also observed in natural ecosystems across different environments.
MIT researchers developed framework to make climate-informed energy siting choices, showing how location affects energy system resilience and reducing blackouts. Climate-informed energy siting reduces energy shortfalls by up to fivefold in regions like New England and Texas.
Researchers at MIT have created a precise way to engineer artificial blood vessels by mechanically stretching and pulling a "blood vessel on a chip". The new method, reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, enables controlled sprouting of new vessels and programming of their growth patterns.
A new study suggests that ketogenic diets can increase the risk of cancer in the small intestine, unlike their protective effect on colon cancer. The diet's effects are driven by fat metabolism rather than ketone bodies.
Researchers at MIT have developed a microscopic pixel-based tunable lens that controls incoming infrared light for more precise thermal imaging, chemical sensing, or pollution monitoring. The system enables compact, dynamic infrared cameras with potential applications in environmental protection, space research, and military technology.
Researchers developed an auditing technique to test generative AI models for malicious capabilities, without prompting them for illegal outputs. The new approach identifies model variations that can generate CSAM with 100% accuracy.
Researchers at MIT have discovered a method to extend the lifespan of quantum dot LEDs by encapsulating them in an acrylate-based resin. This breakthrough has the potential to revolutionize the development of energy-efficient digital displays, including flat-screen TVs, augmented and virtual reality headsets, smartphone screens, and me...
A new robot designed by MIT engineers can swim underwater and fly through the air, mimicking the abilities of diving birds. The robot's wing flapping frequency and tail angle were adjusted to enable a smooth transition from swimming to flying.
Researchers developed an aerated hydrogel that allows air to pass through while maintaining its water content. This breakthrough enables longer-lasting products, such as breathable bandages, implants, and wearable sensors, with improved skin comfort and reduced sweat buildup.
A new paper by MIT Professor Areg Danagoulian describes his idea for a satellite-based sensor system that can detect neutrons generated by high-energy protons colliding with radioactive material. The system could detect nuclear weapons with 99% accuracy, even in low-Earth orbit.
Researchers identified 17 additional regions of the brain that appear to play a role in language, including parts of the cerebellum and hippocampus. These regions make up about 5 percent of the total volume of the adult brain and contribute to language processing despite being distant from traditional language centers.
A new portable ultrasound system enhances breast cancer detection with high-resolution, 3D images. The device requires no expertise to operate and can be used at home for early diagnosis and long-term monitoring.
A new study suggests that data centers can lower average energy costs by providing grid flexibility during high-cost periods. The researchers found cost savings of up to 5% in Texas, 4% in the Mid-Atlantic region, and 2% in western U.S. states by shifting more than 20% of their consumption to non-peak hours.
Researchers discovered graphene can host multiple superconducting states, some persisting even in the presence of strong magnetic fields. The team found that certain experimental conditions could control the material's properties, leading to a new family of unconventional superconducting states.
Researchers found evidence of early ozone loss dating back to the late 1950s, linked to carbon tetrachloride use, in contrast to CFCs' later role. This discovery reveals that modern monitoring tools could have detected earlier signs of human-induced depletion.
Researchers developed a new system called Murakkab to optimize agentic workflows for AI applications. It enables developers to describe their intent in high-level terms, automating the selection of models and tools to use, and optimizing hardware configurations in real-time.
Scientists at MIT developed a theoretical model that predicts the severity of most mass extinctions based on the mismatch between environmental change and biological adaptation rates. The study successfully predicted the fraction of life that went extinct in Earth's history, suggesting that life has evolved to adapt at a similar scale ...
MIT researchers developed a framework that allows users to apply constraints to algorithmically generated structures, making them more buildable. The approach has the potential to reduce carbon emissions in construction by up to 90% by designing structures with multiple materials and taking into account materials' properties.
MIT researchers developed a new system-on-a-chip called Gleanmer, which generates highly accurate 3D maps of the robot's environment using Gaussians to represent obstacles. This approach reduces memory and power consumption by up to 99%, making it suitable for lightweight augmented reality headsets.
A team of MIT researchers has developed a machine-learning approach that captures the diversity of atomic environments in chemically disordered materials. This allows for more accurate predictions of material properties and opens up possibilities for creating new sustainable steels and materials for aerospace, energy, and computing.
A new spatial memory system allows robots to rapidly form and recall detailed mental models of large-scale environments, enabling fast and accurate object recognition. This framework combines advanced map representations with rich descriptions of the environment, enabling robots to answer complex queries in plain language.
A team of MIT engineers has created a tiny ingestible sensor that can measure temperature from within the body, offering continuous monitoring for patients who are sick or at risk of hypothermia. The device is small enough to be easily ingested and can provide accurate temperature readings with an accuracy of 0.01 degrees Celsius.
A new underwater mapping technique, Sonar-MASt3R, combines sonar and visual data to generate detailed 3D maps of environments in real-time. The system enables vehicles to navigate through cloudy water by quickly mapping the general shape of their surroundings using sonar.
Researchers create a hydrogel-based oral formulation that coats the esophageal lining and releases antibodies like infliximab to treat inflammatory conditions. The formulation reduces side effects by temporarily loosening cell-cell junctions, allowing larger molecules to pass through.