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.
Researchers at MIT found that people expect generosity to flow one way in asymmetric relationships, and follow precedent to maintain equal relationships. In symmetric relationships, such as friendships or family ties, reciprocity is expected, but not in asymmetric ones.
MIT researchers have developed low-cost, 3D-printed triaxial electrospray emitters that efficiently produce three-layered particles at scale. The devices can be used to manufacture time-release drug-delivery nanoparticles with potential applications in biosensors and tissue regeneration.
Researchers at MIT developed an ultrasound system that creates a real-time 3D representation of the object being imaged, making it easier to identify and analyze. The AR-VIU technology can be deployed in hospitals for tasks such as placing needles during biopsies, reducing training time and increasing accuracy.
By integrating GaN transistors into a diamond substrate, researchers have improved the speed and energy-efficiency of next-generation wireless devices. The diamond layer spreads and manages heat, allowing the transistors to operate at peak performance without degrading reliability.
The discovery reveals a surprisingly mature black hole at just 850 million years old, with an accretion disk resembling a flat pancake. This challenges the understanding of how supermassive black holes can grow and mature in a short amount of cosmic time.
Researchers from MIT and IBM create a state-of-the-art dataset called ChartNet, which includes over a million varied charts. The dataset is designed to teach vision-language models how to effectively interpret charts, enabling them to outperform commercial models on tasks like data extraction and chart summarization.
A new study suggests that balancing wetland conservation with economic development is possible through a locally adjusted policy featuring both tradeable offsets and taxes. The study estimates that this approach would retain two-thirds of private gains from trade while preventing about $1.6 billion in flood damage.
The new vaccine adjuvant induces a strong mucosal immune response in the GI tract, which is crucial for eradicating polio. The researchers achieved a 20-fold increase in antibodies needed for mucosal immunity compared to the existing injectable polio vaccine.
By adding weak cross-linkers to polystyrene and a type of rubber used in shoe soles, MIT chemists have improved the ballistic impact resistance of these materials. The researchers found that these weak bonds selectively break at the site of impact, allowing the material to dissipate energy more effectively.
MIT engineers have developed a new propulsion system that integrates chemical and electrical thrusters, allowing small satellites to perform both fast maneuvers and precise adjustments. The system uses a special propellant called ASCENT, which powers both types of thrusters, enabling smaller and more flexible spacecraft.
Researchers at MIT have created a pacemaker that uses ultrasound technology to stimulate the heart, offering a potential surgery-free alternative to traditional cardiac implants. The device is designed as a small sticker that sends ultrasound pulses through the chest to regulate heart contractions and correct arrhythmias.
Researchers found that condensing into droplets optimizes biochemical conditions for kinases to catalyze reactions and activate cell signaling pathways. This phenomenon helps control growth signals and could lead to new strategies for cancer drug development by interfering with the ability of enzymes to form droplets.
The MIT researchers developed a new sensor that can detect biomarkers produced by bladder cancer cells in the bladder, allowing for earlier detection. This approach is nearly 50,000 times more sensitive than traditional urinalysis and can image tumor location in tissue.
Researchers at MIT have developed a low-temperature process to extract battery-grade lithium from hard rock minerals, minimizing waste and costs. The closed-loop system can produce useful materials, including lithium salts, alumina, and silica, with an estimated cost reduction of half compared to traditional methods.
A new open-source trajectory-planning system, MIGHTY, has been developed by researchers at MIT and the University of Pennsylvania. The system enables robots to generate smooth flight paths while reacting to obstacles in real-time, making it suitable for applications such as search-and-rescue, last-mile delivery, and industrial inspection.
A team of researchers has developed a way to precisely move tens of thousands of individual atoms within a material in minutes at room temperature. This approach uses algorithms to carefully position an electron beam and scan the beam to drive atomic motions, enabling the creation of defects with tunable functions.
Researchers created a new way to boost T-cell response to mRNA vaccines, yielding more powerful anti-cancer effects and stronger protection against infectious diseases. The innovation enabled the immune system to completely eradicate most tumors in mouse models.
Researchers at MIT and Europe create model predicting gravitational wave patterns from black holes in dark matter environments, detecting possible imprints on LVK data. The study offers a new way to screen gravitational-wave signals for hints of dark matter.
Researchers at MIT have developed a technique to create nanoscale features in hydrogel materials, shrinking them down to 100 nanometers or smaller. This allows for the creation of photonic devices that can manipulate visible light, enabling optical computing and potential applications in high-speed imaging and information processing.
A new study by MIT researchers finds that electric vehicles generate less greenhouse gas emissions and do not cost more than comparable gas-powered vehicles for most US drivers. The analysis considers individual driving patterns, meteorological data, and fuel prices to provide a comprehensive picture of emissions and costs.
Researchers from MIT developed a technique to detect and precisely measure second-order harmonic corrections in superconducting quantum circuits. This analysis revealed the source of these distortions, which can cause quantum circuits to perform differently than expected.
Researchers from MIT have developed a more user-friendly and efficient method to identify potential system failures in cloud computing algorithms. The 'MetaEase' technique analyzes an algorithm's source code directly to uncover hidden blind spots that might cause unexpected failures, reducing the risk of costly network outages.
Scientists have measured the atmosphere of the mini-Neptune, revealing a heavy composition with water vapor, carbon dioxide, and sulfur dioxide. The findings suggest that both planets formed far from their host star, then were drawn inward through a gradual process, preserving their atmospheres.
Researchers at MIT have found that chromatin can exist in two different categories: constrained and free, which affects its interaction with genes and DNA regulatory sequences. This study provides insight into gene regulation and DNA repair processes.
Researchers at MIT discovered that gene circuits can reshape DNA folding and affect gene expression in human cells. The study found that rearranging genes along a DNA strand, or 'gene syntax,' can amplify or suppress the expression of neighboring genes.
A team of researchers from MIT has directly characterized the three-dimensional atomic structure of a relaxor ferroelectric for the first time. This breakthrough provides a framework for refining models used to design next-generation computing, energy, and sensing devices.
Researchers at MIT developed a technique to overcome memory constraints and communication bottlenecks in federated learning, enabling faster and more accurate AI model training. The new framework, FTTE, uses a subset of model parameters and an asynchronous approach to reduce lag time and improve training performance.