A MIT-developed simulation system, VISTA, trains driverless cars to navigate worse-case scenarios, such as near-crash situations, in a photorealistic environment. This allows controllers to learn and recover from these situations before being deployed on real-world vehicles.
Researchers at MIT discovered that the waves produced on an egg's surface during fertilization are similar to those found in ocean and atmospheric circulations, as well as quantum fluids. The study reveals a universal wave pattern that helps organize cell division and formation of an organism.
A new adhesive method allows conductive polymer gels to adhere to a wide variety of surfaces, including glass and gold, even when exposed to moisture. This breakthrough enables the development of more durable and reliable biomedical sensors and implants.
Researchers created a tiny sensor that can detect ethylene gas concentrations as low as 15 parts per billion. The sensor uses carbon nanotubes and palladium catalysts to measure ethylene levels in real-time, revealing when fruits and vegetables are about to spoil.
MIT biological engineers develop a multitissue model of the colon and liver, revealing how different tissues contribute to inflammatory diseases. The study finds that metabolic byproducts generated by bacteria play an important role in exacerbating inflammation.
Emissions of CFC-11 and CFC-12 are larger than expected, with CFC banks slowly leaking these chemicals into the atmosphere, delaying ozone recovery and contributing to climate change.
A new study by MIT economists finds that doctors who have immunity from liability lawsuits perform slightly more C-section operations compared to those who are legally liable, about 4% more over a 10-year period. This challenges the common perception that defensive medicine leads to less treatment of patients.
A new study by MIT economists reveals that the decline in labor's share of GDP is primarily driven by market concentration among large companies. The study found that top firms in various sectors have gained market share, while smaller firms with higher labor shares have lost out.
A new study reveals that plants transfer excess energy from chlorophyll to carotenoids, which release it as heat, preventing photodamage. This discovery could help scientists develop new ways to improve crop yields by understanding the natural photoprotection system of plants.
Researchers developed a mathematical model to predict the behavior of glucose-responsive insulins in humans and rodents. The model identified optimal designs that could work well in both species, with about 13% predicted to be effective in both, and 14% in humans alone.
Researchers at MIT developed a system called PUnS that lets robots plan and perform complex tasks like setting a dinner table under uncertain conditions. The system enables robots to weigh multiple requirements and choose the most likely action, based on a 'belief' about probable specifications for the task.
The new Boston building will be one of the largest residential wooden structures in the US, featuring a cross-laminated timber structure that eliminates most greenhouse-gas emissions. Its kit-of-parts approach and energy-efficient design make it a pioneering example of sustainable building in urban areas.
CurveBoards enable easier testing of circuit functions and user interactions with products like smart devices and flexible electronics. The custom-designed objects merge form and function testing in early prototyping stages, improving the overall prototyping experience.
A new computer model developed by MIT cognitive scientists can quickly generate a detailed scene description from an image, similar to the brain's ability. The model, known as efficient inverse graphics (EIG), reverses the steps used in computer graphics programs to generate images, allowing it to infer underlying features of a scene. ...
A study by MIT scholars finds economics citations in psychology journals have doubled since 2000, while public health papers cite economics work twice as often as 10 years ago. The proportion of empirical economics papers cited in top journals has risen by 20 percentage points since 1990.
A recent study found that disclaimers on some false news stories can make people more willing to believe other false stories. In contrast, placing 'Verified' tags on true stories eliminates the problem. The study's findings suggest a solution for social media platforms to improve their labeling systems.
A new study reveals a neural circuit that underlies sensory hypersensitivity in mice with autism-like traits. The research suggests that reestablishing normal levels of neuron activity could reverse this kind of hypersensitivity, providing a potential target for developing treatments.
Researchers at MIT have developed a machine learning method to fill in the missing low-frequency seismic waves in human-generated seismic data, allowing for more accurate mapping of underground structures. The technique was trained on simulated earthquakes and used to infer missing frequencies from new input data.
A study found that volunteer-based outreach programs, such as door-to-door canvassing in Liberia, can effectively spread valuable information and change public practices during epidemics. The program improved health outcomes, increased public trust in government institutions, and led to more people following control measures.
Physicists have induced and measured nonsymmetrical states in a layered material using circularly polarized mid-infrared light. This phenomenon, known as chirality, can be controlled and enhanced by shining the light beam at specific conditions, demonstrating a new tool for manipulating electronic behavior in materials.
Researchers characterized the strong nuclear force at extremely short distances, revealing a surprising transition that challenges current understanding. The findings have huge implications for neutron stars and nuclear systems as a whole.
A new device called SEPSTAT can absorb trace contaminants from water and preserve them in a dry state, allowing for easy mail-in testing. This technology has the potential to improve water quality monitoring, particularly in resource-constrained regions.
Engineers at MIT developed a small, mirrored chip that helps produce dark-field images without expensive components. The chip can be added to standard microscopes or hand-held microscopes to visualize difficult-to-image biological organisms.
A cryptographic 'tag of everything' can verify a product's authenticity, with implications for combating losses due to supply chain counterfeiting. The MIT-developed ID chip is small enough for virtually any product, uses photovoltaic diodes for power and backscatter technique for transmission.
Research at MIT found that transient invaders can lead to a rapid takeover of the ecosystem, but then disappear. This phenomenon occurs when the invader's growth produces metabolic byproducts that raise the pH, making the environment less hospitable for itself and other species.
MIT researchers used a deep-learning model to identify a new antibiotic compound that can kill many species of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, including some strains resistant to all known antibiotics. The compound, called halicin, was found using an in silico screening method and showed effectiveness against various bacterial strains.
Researchers develop framework to consider asteroid mass, momentum, and warning time to determine most successful deflection mission. The method could be used to design optimal mission configuration and campaign to deflect potentially hazardous near-Earth asteroids.
Researchers found that Earth's oceans already contain just the right amount of iron, making it unlikely to improve carbon dioxide absorption. Phytoplankton growth is more dependent on organic compounds called ligands, which regulate iron availability.
Researchers at MIT have developed a low-cost, disposable smart diaper that uses RFID technology to alert caregivers when a baby is wet. The sensor detects moisture and sends a signal to a nearby receiver, which can send a notification to a smartphone or computer.
A new method using bubble-attracting sheets of specially textured mesh can significantly reduce or eliminate foamy bubbles in industrial processes. The system works by attracting and shedding bubbles, allowing them to dissipate quickly and reducing the need for chemical additives.
A system created by MIT researchers can pinpoint and replace specific information in Wikipedia sentences while retaining humanlike grammar and style. This technology has potential to automatically update factual inconsistencies in Wikipedia articles, reducing time and effort spent by human editors.
A study by MIT researchers found that over half of US air-quality-related early deaths are caused by emissions from other states. Electric power generation is the main culprit, accounting for up to 75% of cases. However, deaths associated with air pollution have decreased significantly since 2005, with a 30% reduction in 2018.
A new study estimates that improving handwashing rates by travelers passing through just 10 major airports could significantly reduce the spread of many infectious diseases. The findings suggest that focusing handwashing messaging in these 10 airports could potentially slow the disease spread by as much as 37 percent.
Researchers develop process called remote epitaxy to manufacture flexible semiconducting films on a large, thick wafer. The team can then peel away the film, reuse the wafer, and create multiple functionalities in a cost-effective way.
The system uses multiple layers of flat solar evaporators and condensers to harness sunlight and produce fresh potable water. It achieves an overall efficiency of 385 percent, surpassing previous records by two times.
A study by MIT economists found that areas in Indonesia where Dutch colonial rulers built a huge sugar-producing industry in the 1800s remain more economically productive today. The research shows that villages with Dutch-built sugar-processing factories have greater economic activity, manufacturing, and higher local education levels c...
A new study outlines a roadmap for perovskite-based solar cells to gain traction in the global market. Starting with higher-value niche markets, manufacturers can avoid steep initial capital costs and gradually expand production capabilities.
Researchers at MIT have devised a lithium metal anode that could improve battery performance by reducing stress on the solid electrolyte layer. The new design utilizes a three-dimensional nanoarchitecture, allowing the lithium to flow like a liquid while maintaining its solid structure.
Researchers discovered atomic-resolution structure of BM2, a key influenza B protein. This finding helps design drugs to block the protein and prevent viral spread. The study also revealed unique structural differences between influenza A and B proteins.
A new cryptocurrency-routing scheme, Spider, has been developed to boost the efficiency of certain networks designed to speed up blockchain transactions. This routing scheme lets users invest only a fraction of funds in each account, allowing for roughly four times more transactions before rebalancing on the blockchain.
Researchers used a genetic screen to identify genes essential for neuron survival, including those involved in cellular metabolism. The study also uncovered new targets for treating Huntington's disease, such as the Nme gene family.
A team of engineers at MIT has developed a bionic 'heart' to test prosthetic valves and other cardiac devices, reducing the need for animal testing and increasing design efficiency. The device combines real heart tissue with soft artificial muscles to mimic the natural beating motion of a human heart.
Researchers at MIT and NREL propose slimming down silicon cells to reduce costs and increase manufacturing capacity. By reducing wafer thickness from 160 micrometers to as little as 40 micrometers, the study suggests a significant reduction in material usage and potential savings.
A new study by MIT professor Arnold Barnett reveals that airline passenger fatalities have declined significantly between 2008 and 2017, with a global fatality rate of one death per 7.9 million passenger boardings.
Researchers develop technique to evaluate reliability of patient risk models, which often fail to accurately predict outcomes. The method generates an unreliability score, indicating when a model's predictions are less trustworthy, helping doctors avoid ineffective or unnecessarily risky treatments.
Researchers developed RoadTagger to predict lane counts and road types with high accuracy, helping improve GPS navigation in unfamiliar locations. The model uses a combination of neural network architectures to automatically tag road features, enabling the creation of accurate digital maps.
Researchers create a new material that can break down in response to light, offering a faster and easier way to remove gastrointestinal devices. The light-sensitive hydrogel is made from a combination of strong components linked together by a chemical bond that breaks when exposed to specific wavelengths of light.
Researchers create carbon nanotube film that generates heat, causing materials to fuse together without the need for huge ovens or autoclaves. The technique produces composites as strong as those made in conventional manufacturing methods, using only 1% of the energy.
Researchers found that people rarely used the pronoun 'she' when referring to the next U.S. president before the 2016 election, despite believing a woman would win. The study suggests an implicit bias against using 'she' in such contexts, which persisted even after Clinton's expected victory.
A new study by MIT economists found that a hotspotting program has virtually no impact on patient health care use, contradicting previous claims of a significant reduction in rehospitalizations. The study evaluated 800 patients and found similar outcomes between those enrolled in the program and those not.