Researchers have discovered that small eddies, swirling at the edges of massive ocean currents, are a key source of nutrients for phytoplankton. These nutrient-rich eddies help maintain healthy populations of phytoplankton, which are essential for carbon sequestration and mitigating climate change effects.
Researchers found that people wearing masks in China were less likely to engage in deviant behavior, such as running red lights or cheating for money. Mask-wearing was associated with increased moral awareness, leading some individuals to behave more ethically.
A new drug capsule developed at MIT may be able to replace injections for biologic drugs by tunneling through the mucus barrier in the small intestine. The capsule's robotic cap spins and displaces mucus, allowing drugs to pass into cells lining the intestine.
MIT researchers create a low-power, sound-harvesting camera that captures color photos and transmits data wirelessly. The autonomous device can run for weeks without power, enabling scientists to explore remote oceans and monitor climate change impacts.
A new field study reveals a previously unobserved fluid dynamic process that affects the ocean's deep-sea mining operations. Researchers equipped a pre-prototype collector vehicle with instruments to monitor its sediment plume disturbances, finding that the plumes remained relatively low and spread under their own weight.
Researchers developed an in-home wireless device that monitors a patient's movement and gait speed to track Parkinson's disease progression. The device uses machine-learning algorithms to analyze over 200,000 data points collected from 50 participants, showing that it can effectively track the severity of the disease.
A new passive cooling system developed at MIT combines radiative, evaporative, and thermal insulation to provide up to 19 degrees Fahrenheit of cooling from ambient temperature. This technology has the potential to significantly reduce energy consumption and extend food storage in off-grid locations.
A new study suggests that Saturn's tilted axis is due to the loss of an ancient moon, Chrysalis, which collided with the planet around 160 million years ago. The collision caused the satellite to break apart, releasing fragments that formed the planet's rings and leaving Saturn out of Neptune's gravitational resonance.
A new MIT study suggests that current opacity models used by astronomers may not be accurate enough to interpret the precise light-based signals from the James Webb Space Telescope. The researchers predict that properties of planetary atmospheres, such as temperature and elemental composition, could be off by an order of magnitude if e...
Researchers analyzed proteins from eight species and found that low-complexity regions (LCRs) share similar roles across species, helping proteins join larger-scale assemblies. They also discovered species-specific LCR sequences corresponding to unique functions, such as forming plant cell walls.
A study by MIT and WHOI scientists found that shy albatross males are more likely to divorce their mates, while bold males are more likely to stay together. This is the first study to link personality and divorce in a wild animal species.
Researchers found that a common autism screening test consistently excludes more women than men from research studies, creating a 'leaky pipeline' for diagnosis and treatment. This bias is attributed to the test's origins in male-dominated samples, which may not accurately capture female phenotypes.
A new study from MIT reveals that computer models predicting molecular interactions, like AlphaFold, need improvement to help identify drug mechanisms of action. Researchers improved the performance of these models using machine-learning techniques, but more work is needed.
The MIT-led MOXIE experiment has successfully produced oxygen from Mars' thin atmosphere, producing six grams of oxygen per hour across various conditions. This achievement demonstrates the feasibility of in-situ resource utilization, which could support human missions on Mars by generating breathable oxygen and fuel for rockets.
Researchers discovered an inhibitory neuronal network in the brainstem that generates a synchronous rhythm, retracting mouse whiskers from their protracted positions. The oscillator consists of parvalbumin-expressing vIRt neurons firing bursts only during whisker retraction.
Researchers developed a novel way to visualize densely packed molecules using expansion microscopy, allowing for the first time their imaging. The technique enables visualization of nanostructures found in neurons and Alzheimer's-linked amyloid beta plaques.
A study from MIT neuroscientists has identified a population of neurons in the visual cortex that respond to images of food. The researchers found four previously known populations and a fifth, more surprising population that appears to be selective for food images. This finding may reflect the special importance of food in human culture.
Researchers at MIT developed an AI model that can detect Parkinson's disease from breathing patterns, using a neural network to assess the presence and severity of the condition. The device is non-invasive and can be used in patients' homes without any bodily contact.
Researchers at MIT have developed a new kind of battery using abundant and inexpensive materials, offering a potential solution for large-scale backup power systems. The battery's molten salt electrolyte has been shown to prevent dendrite shorting, a common reliability issue in lithium-ion batteries.
MIT engineers create a flexible, semiconducting film that conforms to the skin like electronic Scotch tape, harnessing gallium nitride's piezoelectric properties for sensing and wireless communication. The device wirelessly transmits signals related to pulse, sweat, and UV exposure without chips or batteries.
MIT researchers found a vulnerable component in computer processors that can be exploited by malicious agents. They developed two mitigation strategies, including scheduling sensitive software on less vulnerable cores and reserving susceptible cores for trusted applications.
Researchers at MIT develop a new flow model that optimizes individual turbine control to maximize wind farm energy production. The algorithm increases energy output by up to 32% in real-world experiments, with potential gains of over $1 billion per year.
Researchers at MIT discovered a peptide that sequesters heme, an iron-containing molecule, and sends bacteria into an iron-starvation mode, potentially treating diseases like periodontal disease and sickle cell disease. This finding could translate to therapeutic applications for patients with excessive heme in their blood.
MIT researchers developed a method to create 3D-printed materials with tunable mechanical properties and embedded sensors, enabling real-time feedback on movement and interaction. The sensing structures use air-filled channels that deform when moved or squeezed, providing accurate feedback for robotics and wearable devices.
A new test developed by MIT researchers measures neutralizing antibodies in a blood sample to predict COVID-19 immunity. The easy-to-use test could help people decide on necessary protections and may be particularly useful for those with weakened immune systems.
A new study led by MIT economist Amy Finkelstein found that for every nine adults who gained access to Medicaid in Oregon, one previously eligible child was added to the Medicaid rolls. The effect is modest but economically meaningful, with children costing four times less to cover than adults.
A team of MIT engineers and collaborators have devised a way to overcome the foreign body response, forming a thick layer of scar tissue that blocks insulin release. The device is repeatedly inflated and deflated for five minutes every 12 hours, preventing immune cells from accumulating around it.
Microglia that express the APOE4 gene cannot metabolize lipids normally, leading to a buildup of excess lipids that interferes with nearby neurons' ability to communicate. Restoring normal lipid metabolism in microglia may help treat some symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers developed a more sensitive approach to detect atomic-level structural damage in materials, enabling longer operational lifetimes for nuclear reactors. The new technique uses differential scanning calorimetry to measure energy changes within materials, revealing two mechanisms involved in radiation damage at elevated tempera...
Researchers at MIT have developed a machine-learning system that uses computer vision to monitor the 3D printing process and correct errors in real-time. The system successfully printed objects more accurately than other 3D printing controllers, enabling engineers to incorporate novel materials into their prints with ease.
Researchers developed a new printing technique that applies a 19th-century color photography method to modern holographic materials, producing large-scale images on elastic materials with structural color. The team's results enable the creation of pressure-monitoring bandages, shade-shifting fabrics, or touch-sensing robots.
MIT researchers have developed a new type of programmable resistor that enables analog deep learning, which promises faster computation with reduced energy usage. The device can process complex AI tasks like image recognition and natural language processing, paving the way for integration into commercial computing hardware.
The new ultrasound sticker uses a stretchy adhesive layer and rigid array of transducers to produce higher resolution images over a longer duration. It has potential applications in clinical diagnosis and could be made into wearable imaging products that patients can take home or buy at a pharmacy.
Researchers at MIT estimate the probability of getting Covid-19 on a plane flight was about 1 in 2,000 from June 2020 to February 2021. The study provides a general estimate of air travel safety with regard to Covid-19 transmission and a methodology that can be applied to future studies.
MIT scientists have developed 3D-printed plasma sensors that can be produced for tens of dollars in a matter of days, ideal for CubeSats. The sensors use a glass-ceramic material and can withstand wide temperature swings, measuring energy and conducting chemical analyses to predict weather or monitor climate change.
A new study from MIT and Broad Institute researchers analyzed interactions between nanoparticles and nearly 500 types of cancer cells, revealing thousands of biological traits that influence cell response. The findings could help tailor drug-delivery particles to specific types of cancer.
Cubic boron arsenide overcomes silicon's limitations, providing high electron and hole mobility and excellent thermal conductivity. The material has been shown to have a significant potential in various applications where its unique properties would make a difference.
Researchers at MIT develop a biodegradable system based on silk to replace microplastics added to agricultural products, paints, and cosmetics. The new material is made from widely available and less expensive silk protein, which can be dissolved using a scalable water-based process.
A study suggests that an automated unemployment insurance policy could provide more clarity to workers during economic stress. The policy would not cost more or less than existing packages, but would resolve uncertainty and potentially prevent household financial crises.
Developed a dataset of over 2,000 clinically relevant questions written by medical experts to train AI models. The model asked high-quality and authentic questions over 60% of the time, compared to real questions from medical experts.
Researchers have detected a persistent radio signal from a far-off galaxy that repeats every 0.2 seconds in a clear periodic pattern, similar to a heartbeat. The source of the signal is unknown but may be related to a radio pulsar or magnetar, which could provide an astrophysical clock for measuring the universe's expansion.
MIT researchers create microparticles that release their payload at different times, enabling self-boosting vaccines. The particles degrade over time and break down once released, allowing for potential use in regions with limited access to medical care.
Researchers developed smart textiles that sense wearer's posture and motions using a novel fabrication process called thermoforming, which improves pressure sensor precision. The technology has potential applications in healthcare and rehabilitation, such as tracking gait or monitoring pressure on diabetic patients' feet.
Researchers found the moon's crust was highly porous, about one-third as porous as pumice, due to massive impacts that shattered much of the crust. The team estimated the moon experienced double the number of impacts as seen on its surface, which limits constraints on solar system formation and evolution.
Researchers at MIT and Weizmann Institute of Science visualize electron vortices in ultraclean tungsten ditelluride, confirming theoretical predictions. The observation could lead to more efficient next-generation electronics by reducing energy dissipation.
The study reveals how the EGF receptor changes its shape when binding to its target, triggering cell growth and proliferation. The findings could lead to the design of new cancer drugs that evade resistance, says MIT chemist Gabriela Schlau-Cohen.
Researchers have devised a way to deliver carbon monoxide to the body using stable foams that can be delivered to the digestive tract. The foams reduced inflammation of the colon and helped reverse acute liver failure in mice, offering a potential alternative to immunosuppressive treatments.
A new robotic system, FuseBot, has been developed to efficiently retrieve buried objects in piles. The system uses radio frequency signals and computer vision to reason about the probable location and orientation of objects under the pile, enabling it to find more hidden items than a state-of-the-art robotics system in half the time.
Researchers at MIT have created a new liver tissue model that identifies one molecule playing a key role in human liver regeneration. The study also reveals several other candidates that will be explored further to discover new human-specific pathways.
Researchers at MIT have developed a method to enable quantum sensors to detect any arbitrary frequency without losing nanoscale spatial resolution. The new system, called a quantum mixer, injects a second frequency into the detector using microwaves, enabling detection of signals with desired frequencies.