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.
Researchers have demonstrated a method for getting high-energy photons to kick out two electrons instead of one, potentially breaking the theoretical solar-cell efficiency limit. The new approach could add several percentage points to the maximum output of conventional silicon cells.
A newly developed aerogel material can passively capture solar heat, reaching temperatures of up to 220°C in tests. This could enable lower-cost and simpler solar heat collection systems for various industrial and domestic uses.
MIT researchers have created a set of five fundamental parts that can be assembled into various functional devices, including a tiny walking motor. The new system uses 'digital materials' and offers an alternative approach to constructing robots, which could lead to the development of standardized kits for specific tasks.
Researchers at MIT have designed surfaces that cause droplets to bounce away from surfaces, reducing contact time and area of impact. The new method focuses on minimizing the spatial extent of contact, creating a bowl-shaped splash pattern that redirects droplets upward and prevents icing or soaking.
Researchers developed a system called Northstar that runs on touchscreens and enables users to manipulate datasets, uncover trends and patterns. The new component VDS instantly generates machine-learning models to run prediction tasks, democratizing data science and making it accessible to everyone.
Researchers develop a technique to confine cytokine treatments to tumors by attaching a collagen-binding protein called lumican. The treatment improves survival rates in mice when combined with immunotherapies, while eliminating toxicity associated with cytokines alone.
MIT researchers create a system to convert protein molecular structures into audible sound, allowing for the creation of new proteins with useful properties. The system uses artificial intelligence to study cataloged melodies and introduce slight changes, resulting in new protein designs.
MIT researchers have created a novel way to encapsulate islet cells, which they are developing as a possible treatment for patients with type 1 diabetes. The crystallized drug formulation prevents immune system rejection and allows the device to function for more than a year.
A new study shows that social robots can lead to more positive emotions in sick children. The robotic teddy bear, Huggable, improved various patient outcomes compared to traditional interventions.
Researchers at MIT used NMR spectroscopy to determine the structure of glucagon fibrils, finding a novel antiparallel beta sheet conformation and steric zippers that make the protein stable. This discovery may lead to shelf-stable versions of the hormone, which is used to control diabetes.
Researchers at MIT developed a new method to create nanoemulsions, stable droplets that can remain intact for over a year and carry large payloads of active ingredients. By adding heat-sensitive polymers, they can easily convert the emulsions into gels when exposed to body temperature.
Researchers created a pliable, 3D-printed mesh material that can be tailored to support soft tissues like muscles and tendons. The mesh was successfully tested on human ankles, increasing stiffness during inversion while leaving it unaffected in other directions.
Researchers at MIT develop a new algorithm that can accurately pick out an object, such as a small animal, in a dense cloud of dots within seconds. The technique prunes away outliers quickly, even for increasingly dense clouds, making it suitable for applications like driverless cars and robotic assistants.
A new system uses a single labeled scan and unlabeled scans to automatically generate a large dataset of distinct training examples. The system's approach learns anatomical, brightness, and contrast variations from unlabeled scans to synthesize realistic and accurately labeled scans.
A Massachusetts Institute of Technology-developed system automatically generates optimized cryptography code for Google Chrome browsers and web applications, matching performance of handwritten code but faster. The system, known as Fiat Cryptography, is being widely used by tech firms and has populated Google's BoringSSL library.
Under confined conditions, bubbles can form spheres as perfectly matched as droplets. The new findings have implications for biomedical research and understanding natural gas interactions with petroleum.
Researchers at MIT and China create macaque monkeys with Shank3 gene mutation linked to autism, exhibiting behavioral traits similar to those seen in humans. The new model aims to study treatment options and potentially develop better medicines for severe neurodevelopmental disorders.
Researchers at MIT have identified a brain circuit that filters out distracting sensory stimuli, allowing us to focus on our chosen input. The circuit is controlled by the prefrontal cortex and involves the basal ganglia, which play a role in controlling attention.
Researchers at MIT have developed an algorithm that accurately aligns partial trajectories in real-time, allowing motion predictors to anticipate the timing of a person's motion. This breakthrough enables robots and humans to work together in close proximity without unnecessary pauses or conflicts.
A recent study from MIT has found that dendrites are nearly always active when the main cell body of a neuron is active, suggesting a larger role in neural computation. The researchers used calcium imaging to measure activity in both soma and dendrites of individual neurons in the visual cortex.
Researchers discovered a compound that blocks a DNA repair pathway, increasing cell killing with cisplatin and preventing mutations. In mouse models, tumors shrank more when treated with the combination of the compound and cisplatin, suggesting improved treatment outcomes.
Researchers at MIT have developed a new latching mechanism for autonomous boats, allowing them to form 'pop-up' structures such as bridges and stages. This innovation enables more efficient use of Amsterdam's canals for transportation, waste collection, and other purposes.
Researchers developed a low-cost, sensor-packed glove that enables an AI system to recognize objects through touch alone. The glove produced high-resolution data at a fraction of the cost of existing sensors, allowing for accurate object classification and weight prediction with up to 76% accuracy.