Researchers at MIT and University of Waterloo developed a high-power, portable terahertz quantum cascade laser that can generate powerful sensing and imaging capabilities. The device can be used for pinpointing skin cancer, detecting hidden explosives, and analyzing gases, drugs, and products.
The new Underwater Backscatter Localization (UBL) system uses piezoelectric materials to reflect modulated signals, providing positioning information at net-zero energy. In shallow water, the researchers employed frequency hopping and reduced bitrate to overcome reflection issues, enabling precise tracking of moving objects.
As people age, their motivation to learn declines. Researchers identified a brain circuit critical for maintaining this motivation and found that it can be boosted in older mice by reactivating the circuit, which was previously shown to suppress motivation.
A team of MIT researchers has designed a skin-like device that can measure small facial movements in patients with ALS, allowing them to communicate through a variety of sentiments. The wearable sensor is thin, camouflaged, and easy to use, achieving an accuracy rate of about 75% in distinguishing between different movements.
A team of MIT chemical engineers has developed a system to continuously remove carbon dioxide from waste gases using an electrochemically assisted membrane. The membrane's permeability can be switched on and off at will, allowing for continuous operation without moving parts or wasted space.
Researchers at MIT developed a machine-learning algorithm that can predict the effectiveness of drug compounds against tuberculosis and other diseases. The algorithm, which incorporates uncertainty values to account for data variability, identified promising compounds targeting a critical protein required by the bacteria.
Researchers at MIT have developed a more practical and efficient solar-powered system that can extract drinkable water from dry air, doubling its output compared to an earlier version. The new system uses a readily available adsorbent material, increasing scalability and feasibility for remote regions with limited access to water.
MIT researchers developed a new technique to recapture lost information from single-cell RNA-sequencing, enabling the extraction of 10 times more data per cell. This breakthrough helps identify subtle differences between healthy and dysfunctional cells, with potential applications in disease diagnosis and treatment.
Researchers found that compressing cells can trigger cell growth and division, increasing stem-cell state. Squeezing intestinal cells activates specific proteins, leading to larger organoids with more stem cells on their surface.
A new study describes a vaccine that triggers an immune response against an influenza protein segment rarely mutated by the virus, raising the possibility of effective protection against seasonal and pandemic strains. The vaccine uses nanoparticles coated with flu proteins to train the immune system to create desired antibodies.
Researchers create nanoparticles that can target specific genes in bone marrow cells, showing promise for treating heart disease by reducing inflammation. The approach could also enhance stem cell yields for patients undergoing transplants.
Researchers found that epigenomic modifications, specifically changes to chromatin structure, control the encoding and retrieval of memories. The study reveals a four-stage process where genes become activated and primed for expression during memory recall.
By straining diamond to change its electronic properties, researchers can dial it from insulating to highly conductive, or metallic. This breakthrough could lead to the development of new optical devices, quantum sensors, and high-efficiency solar cells.
The SPARC project has published seven research papers outlining the physics behind the ambitious reactor design, with calculations suggesting a Q ratio of 10 or more. The device aims to achieve a 'burning plasma,' a self-sustaining fusion reaction, which is crucial for developing practical power-generating plants.
Astronomers have discovered an Earth-sized 'pi planet' called K2-315b, which orbits its star every 3.14 days and has a surface temperature of around 350 degrees Fahrenheit, making it unlikely to support life.
The researchers designed a single flat piece of glass with microscopic structures to manipulate light and produce crisp, 180-degree panoramic images. The new design enables ultra-wide-angle lenses to be integrated into smartphones, laptops, and medical imaging devices.
A new CRISPR-based diagnostic, STOPCovid, has shown improved sensitivity in detecting Covid-19 cases, with a detection rate of 93%. The test can produce results in 30 minutes to an hour and is being developed for point-of-care use.
Researchers at MIT and the University of Alcalá in Spain discovered evidence of hot springs near early human archaeological sites in Olduvai Gorge. The proximity of these hydrothermal features raises the possibility that early humans could have used hot springs as a cooking resource, boiling fresh kills before controlling fire.
Researchers at MIT have developed a Velcro-like food sensor that uses an array of silk microneedles to detect spoilage and bacterial contamination. The sensor, made from edible proteins and bioinks, changes color when it senses contaminants like E. coli or pH levels associated with spoilage.
Researchers have detected a signal from the most massive black hole merger observed in gravitational waves, producing an 'intermediate-mass' black hole with a mass of up to 1,000 solar masses. The merger released energy equivalent to eight suns and has raised questions about the formation of such massive black holes.
Researchers suggest a novel process to explain the collision of a large black hole and a much smaller one, proposing that the more massive black hole was a product of a prior merger. This 'hierarchical' merging could generate a merger with a high mass ratio and spin.
Researchers at MIT have found that cosmic rays and low-level environmental radiation can cause decoherence in superconducting qubits, limiting their performance. This effect could limit the practicality of quantum computing within a few years, prompting scientists to explore shielding or design improvements.
Researchers create temporary synthetic coating that can be adapted to deliver drugs, aid in digestion, or prevent nutrient absorption. The coating, made from dopamine molecules, can improve lactose digestion efficiency up to 20-fold and potentially treat conditions like diabetes and obesity.
Researchers have developed a simple, low-cost technology for subcutaneous injection of viscous formulations, making it possible to administer high-concentration biologics. The device reduces the required injection force by up to 99%, allowing for self-administration of medication and vaccines in remote areas.
Aerodynamic experiments reveal that wind reduces the strength of corona discharges around airplane wings, unlike grounded structures where winds strengthen the glow. The study provides new insights into the complex interactions between air, electricity, and wing shapes during thunderstorms.
Researchers create device to grow highly oxygen-intolerant bacteria in lab studies, revealing protective effects on human colon. They found that Faecalibacterium prausnitzii produces butyrate, which reduces inflammation and calms immune response.
Human hair is 50 times softer than steel yet can cause razor blade chipping and wear. Researchers found that the blade's microstructure and angle of approach to hair play key roles in initiating cracks.
A study from MIT neuroscientists suggests that parts of the brain originally evolved for object recognition have been repurposed for reading. In nonhuman primates, the inferotemporal cortex is capable of distinguishing words from nonsense words and picking out specific letters.
Researchers at MIT and Caltech explored the theoretical possibilities of quantum communication in blackjack, finding a slight advantage for cooperative players. In a limited number of situations with low cards left in the deck, quantum entanglement can give players an edge over classical card-counting strategies.
Researchers have identified many genome locations that code for RNA molecules influencing gene expression, using techniques like eCLIP and RNA Bind-N-Seq. The study reveals the functions of these RNA sequences and their interactions with RNA-binding proteins.
The study reanalyzed fossils of Pisanosaurus and dated rocks from the Ischigualasto Formation, finding that Ornithiscians and Saurischians first appeared and diverged around the same time. The researchers also found that the period over which the formation was deposited overlaps with the Chinle Formation in North America.
MIT researchers develop an on-off system that allows for low-error quantum computations and rapid sharing of quantum information between processors. The system uses 'giant atoms' made from superconducting qubits, enabling high-fidelity operations and interconnection between processors.
A potential treatment for yellow fever has shown promise in early-stage clinical trials in Singapore, using a novel approach to develop an engineered monoclonal antibody that targets the virus. The therapy was developed in seven months, significantly reducing the time required for drug development.
Scientists propose rate-induced glaciations as a possible explanation for Snowball Earth events, where a rapid decline in solar radiation can push the planet into a global ice age. The findings also suggest that exoplanets within habitable zones may be susceptible to similar temperature fluctuations.
A team of scientists at MIT and elsewhere has determined that a family of oddball meteorites likely came from an early planetesimal with a magnetic core. The discovery suggests that the diversity of the earliest objects in the solar system may have been more complex than previously thought.
Researchers at MIT and Harvard University have mapped out an additional layer of control guiding tumor evolution through epigenomic alterations. They identified 11 chromatin states that cancer cells can pass through as they become more aggressive, and found a key molecule linked to advanced lung cancer forms.
Chemists at MIT have developed a way to modify thermoset plastics with a chemical linker that makes them easier to break down after use, retaining mechanical strength. They successfully produced a degradable version of pDCPD and reused the powder to form new material.
Researchers mapped the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) and found two distinct subnetworks of neurons with different functions. This could lead to specific targets for designing drugs to alleviate sensory, sleep, and attention symptoms in autism.
A study by MIT researchers found that COVID-19 shutdowns resulted in an 8.3% increase in solar power output in Delhi, attributed to a 50% reduction in air pollution. This demonstrates the impact of reduced emissions on solar panel efficiency and provides valuable data for future models.
Researchers developed a system to monitor pneumonia and genetic diseases by analyzing breath exhaled by patients, revealing a new potential diagnostic tool. The technology uses specialized nanoparticles that release gases when proteases in the body cleave them, allowing for rapid detection of lung health.
Scientists have created magnetic nanodiscs that can detect and respond to mechanical forces, offering a new method for studying neural responses and potentially leading to new therapeutic treatments. The discovery could provide a more precise and non-invasive alternative to existing neurostimulation techniques.
Researchers at MIT watched as a supermassive black hole's corona was abruptly destroyed, causing its brightness to drop by a factor of 10,000 in under a year. The corona eventually rebuilt itself, sparking hopes for understanding how black holes' coronas are heated and powered.
Researchers create 3D Dynamic Scene Graphs, enabling robots to quickly generate maps of their surroundings and extract relevant information. The new model is modeled after human perception and allows robots to navigate and make decisions like humans.
A new, reusable face mask made of durable silicone rubber and an N95 filter has been designed to be easily sterilized and used many times. The team tested various sterilization methods and found that the material remained undamaged after autoclaving, oven treatment, or soaking in bleach and isopropyl alcohol.
A study by MIT scholars reveals that social media sharing interferes with assessing news accuracy, but participants who think critically or have scientific knowledge share fewer false headlines. Rating non-Covid-19 headlines before sharing Covid-19 news increases accuracy significantly.
Researchers at MIT have developed a computational model that analyzes factors such as particle size and shape to determine optimal design for injectability. The model achieved a sixfold increase in successful injection rates, paving the way for microparticle delivery of cancer immunotherapy drugs.
Researchers at MIT have developed a hybrid process to manufacture and integrate 'artificial atoms' with photonic circuitry, producing the largest quantum chip of its type. The process enables scalable production of millions of quantum processors needed for quantum computers.
Physicists at MIT have designed a quantum light squeezer that reduces quantum noise in lasers by 15% at room temperature. The system uses an optical cavity with two mirrors to engineer the light exiting the cavity, allowing for more precise measurements in quantum computing and gravitational-wave detection.
Researchers at MIT's LIGO Laboratory measure quantum noise affecting 40-kilogram mirrors, displacing them by 10-20 meters, a confirmed prediction by quantum mechanics. The team uses a novel instrument called a quantum squeezer to isolate and quantify the quantum effect.
Researchers used DNA origami to create virus-like particles coated with HIV proteins, eliciting a strong immune response from human B cells. The study found that the optimal spacing between antigens is wider than previously thought, contradicting common assumptions.