Researchers at MIT have developed a mathematical approach to understanding zeolites, revealing why only a small subset has been discovered or made. The graph-based model predicts which pairs of zeolite types can be transformed from one to the other, opening doors for new pathways in production and potential discoveries of novel materials.
MIT researchers developed engineered bacteriophages that can kill different strains of E. coli by making targeted mutations in a viral protein. The new approach creates a large number of phage variants and tests them against resistant strains, showing promise for overcoming multidrug resistance.
Researchers simulated galaxy formation in a 'fuzzy' universe, where dark matter is ultralight and quantum-waves-like. The simulation suggests galaxies would form in extended filaments with striated patterns, potentially illuminating the type of dark matter present today.
A recent study by MIT professors found a strong correlation between students' grades and their sleep habits, with consistent sleep quality playing a crucial role. The study discovered that the timing of bedtime also affects performance, with going to bed after 2 a.m. leading to poorer grades regardless of total sleep hours.
Researchers designed a new structural design method that can transform flat layers into predetermined shapes in response to ambient temperature changes. The new structures can achieve complex configurations, such as transforming into a human face shape.
MIT researchers have developed a delivery system that makes RNA vaccines more powerful, triggering efficient protein production and boosting immune response. The nanoparticles also activate an immune signaling pathway, provoking T cells to attack cancer cells and infectious agents.
A new method uses neutron beams to establish facts about warheads, physically encrypting information to prevent disclosure of military secrets. The system balances verification with secrecy for countries involved in arms reduction pacts.
A new algorithm developed by MIT student Trevor Henderson seamlessly blends different audio signals in real-time, recreating the portamento effect. The algorithm uses optimal transport to map pitches from one signal to another, producing a smooth transition without volume fading.
Researchers at MIT have developed a rapid imaging method to visualize hundreds of synaptic proteins at high resolution. By analyzing protein levels in thousands of neurons, they discovered groups of proteins that tend to associate with each other more often than others, shedding light on synapse subtypes and their functions.
MIT researchers analyzed 380,000 government service requests to find a way for cities to preserve citizen privacy while improving efficiency. They identified model cities that maximized both privacy and efficiency, suggesting similar methodologies for worldwide evaluation of government services.
A new study by MIT researchers suggests that solar panels with lifetimes as short as 10 years can make economic sense for grid-scale installations. The team analyzed three types of solar installations and found that the levelized cost of electricity, not just the panel's lifetime, determines economic viability.
A study by researchers from MIT and Max Planck Institute found that people living in a remote Bolivian rainforest tend not to perceive similarities between notes played at different registers, unlike Westerners. The brain's ability to detect pitch similarity appears to be acquired through exposure to music in octave-based systems.
A field experiment found that positive, nonenforcement contact between police and residents improved attitudes towards the police. The study's findings suggest that community-oriented policing can increase public trust and police legitimacy, especially among minority communities.
Researchers have developed a new tool to detect non-Gaussian noise affecting qubits, which can cause decoherence and destroy their fragile quantum state. By analyzing the noise patterns, scientists hope to gain insights into microscopic mechanisms and develop more effective methods to protect qubits from specific types of noise.
Researchers at MIT developed a material that is 10 times blacker than anything reported previously, using vertically aligned carbon nanotubes. The new coating absorbs greater than 99.995% of incoming light from any angle, making it the blackest material on record.
Physicists detected the ringing of a newborn black hole for the first time, confirming Einstein's theory and the idea that black holes have no 'hair.' The findings support the notion that black holes are bald-faced giants with no extraneous properties.
Researchers at MIT and elsewhere discovered a unique ancient technology for making parchment, which used a mixture of salts found in evaporites. This process helped preserve the Temple Scroll's bright white surface and contributed to its state of preservation.
Researchers have directly observed the non-Abelian Aharonov-Bohm Effect, a predicted exotic phenomenon involving optical waves and synthetic magnetic fields. The finding may offer a step toward fault-tolerant quantum computers.
Researchers found that 'information gerrymandering' can bias election outcomes, with one party winning up to 60% of the time in simulated elections. The study used experiments involving 2,520 participants and identified actual information networks that show similar patterns.
A digital program created by MIT researchers in collaboration with Keheala helped 4% of tuberculosis patients complete their treatment, compared to 13% in a control group. The interactive platform used behavioral-science insights and daily messages to motivate patients and reduce nonadherence.
A new study by MIT linguist Shigeru Miyagawa and Esther Clarke reveals that Old World monkeys can combine two items in language sequences, but this ability stops at two. Unlike humans, who can recombine terms to create an infinite variety of sequences, the monkeys' language lacks the capacity for greater complexity.
A comprehensive catalogue of human digestive tract bacteria has been identified, revealing novel interactions and associations between bacterial strains and health outcomes. The study provides a foundation for future research into the mechanisms underlying microbiome dynamics and their impact on human health.
A new study reveals that the deaths of prominent life scientists are followed by an increase in highly cited research by newcomers, with papers by these researchers receiving more citations than those of established scientists.
Researchers at MIT have developed a new algorithm that enables the 'roboats' to smoothly reshape themselves as efficiently as possible. The system, designed for Amsterdam's canals, allows groups of linked roboat units to unlatch from one another and reattach to form various structures, such as bridges and stages.
Researchers at MIT have designed a robotic thread that can navigate the brain's blood vessels using magnets, aiming to improve endovascular procedures for treating stroke and aneurysms. The thread can be functionalized to deliver drugs or break up blockages with laser light.
Middle school students who received mindfulness training showed better academic performance, fewer suspensions, and lower stress levels. Mindfulness also altered brain activity, reducing the activation of the amygdala region, which processes fear and emotions.
Research finds that ketone bodies activate Notch signaling pathway, enhancing intestinal stem cell regeneration and function. A ketogenic diet boosts stem cell proliferation and repair damaged intestinal tissue.
A new study finds that climate change could make the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia unsafe for participants due to extreme heat and humidity. The study warns that even with mitigation measures, conditions will become harsher and more dangerous, potentially leading to health problems and fatalities.
Using a new technique called DOMINO, MIT researchers can store and record complex 'memories' in the DNA of living cells. The system allows for precise editing of DNA bases to encode information, enabling scalable and defined memory systems similar to silicon-based computers.
The MIT team has created a submerged system that harnesses the vibration of 'piezoelectric' materials to generate power, transmit data, and receive signals without batteries. This technology enables long-term underwater sensing for climate change research, marine life tracking, and potential applications on other planets.
Researchers developed a 'risk-aware' mathematical model inspired by financial risk theories to improve cloud-computing networks. The model allocates traffic through optimal paths to minimize loss and maximize usage, reducing waste of energy and resources.
Researchers developed a tissue model that mimics blood-brain barrier disruption in Alzheimer's disease, showing how damaged barriers allow harmful molecules to enter the brain. The model also revealed that restoring the blood-brain barrier with certain drugs can slow down neuron cell death.
Researchers developed a simple measurement of gene flow to define microbe populations, separating co-existing microbes in genetically and ecologically distinct groups. This approach identifies parts of the genome that show different adaptations, enabling pinpointing of populations associated with health conditions like Crohn's disease.
Researchers discovered physical interactions between proteins and DNA that help explain why genetic condensates cluster along super enhancers, stimulating gene transcription. The study provides a fundamentally new approach to deciphering gene control in the 'dark matter' of our genome.
A new MIT study finds that partisan news coverage has a bigger impact on viewers without strong media preferences, while those with strong preferences may be less influenced. The study suggests that certain types of political media affect different populations in varying manners.
Researchers at MIT developed a machine-learning model that can predict cognitive decline in patients with Alzheimer's disease up to two years in the future. This could help clinicians select candidate drugs and participant cohorts for clinical trials more effectively, ultimately leading to faster discovery of effective treatments.
Researchers at MIT have developed a new gel-like material that can create a stable cushion for more than an hour, reducing the risk of tearing the colon lining during polyp removal. This innovation could greatly improve the safety and effectiveness of colonoscopies.
MIT physicists develop technique to analyze open data from particle colliders, creating a geometric map of events based on degree of similarity, allowing them to quickly spot potential new physics. The researchers use an algorithm inspired by computer vision techniques to calculate the distance between point clouds in collision data.
The discovery of TOI-270 includes two sub-Neptunes that could be an intermediate size between Earth and Neptune, providing insights into planetary formation. Astronomers also found a rocky super-Earth with a three-day orbit, adding to the system's potential for studying exoplanet dynamics.
Researchers found a redundant network of proteins connecting embryonic cells, enabling tissues to fold into correct shapes even when individual cells are damaged. This discovery sheds light on the robustness of embryonic development and may help understand birth defects like spina bifida.
Researchers at MIT have developed a portable sensor that can accurately measure patients' hydration levels using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxometry. The device has the potential to improve dialysis treatment for patients with kidney disease and could also benefit people with congestive heart failure, athletes, and elderly ind...
A novel microfluidics-based system detects clinically significant IL-6 levels for sepsis diagnosis in about 25 minutes using less than a finger prick of blood. This device provides a more sensitive and efficient alternative to traditional assays.
Researchers found that brain activity patterns encode prior beliefs, which bias behavioral responses towards the middle of expected time intervals. This warping effect provides insight into how experience alters synaptic connections and embeds knowledge.
Researchers used online restaurant data to predict key socioeconomic attributes of neighborhoods in China, including daytime and nighttime population, business numbers, and consumer spending. The method shows promise for urban planners and policymakers seeking alternative data sources.
The system designs and 3-D prints complex robotic parts called actuators that are optimized according to an enormous number of specifications. It demonstrates the ability to fabricate actuators showing different images at different angles, such as Vincent van Gogh and Edvard Munch portraits.
Researchers at MIT develop fiber-based system that can contract and expand like a muscle, producing surprisingly strong pulling forces. The fibers can be manufactured in batches up to hundreds of meters long and are extremely lightweight and quick-responding.
Researchers at MIT developed a vaccine that dramatically enhances antitumor T cell population and allows cells to invade solid tumors. The booster vaccination increased the success rate of CAR-T cell therapy from 10% to 60% in mice, eliminating tumors in 60% of animals.
A new CRISPR platform, RESCUE, has been developed to target RNA edits that were not previously possible. The system allows for precise modifications of cytosine bases in RNA transcripts, enabling the treatment of devastating diseases affecting the brain.
A study found that pushing past a critical threshold in the carbon cycle can trigger extreme ocean acidification, potentially leading to mass extinctions. The research suggests that once this threshold is breached, the Earth's response becomes self-sustaining, amplifying the effects of initial triggers.
Researchers at MIT have developed a new way to create complex structures in thin films using self-assembling block copolymers. The method produces novel patterns that deviate from regular symmetries, exhibiting interlocking areas with regular patterns similar to quasicrystals.