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Massachusetts Institute of Technology


Study finds reduction in sulfur emissions from power plants in China

A new study found that China's sulfur emissions from coal-fired power plants decreased by 13.9% after implementing a law requiring significant reductions, but compliance varied widely among regions. The research used satellite data and on-the-ground emissions monitoring systems to pinpoint discrepancies and suggest policy lessons.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 18, 2018

AI for nanoparticles

Researchers at MIT have developed an AI-based method to design multilayered nanoparticles with desired properties, potentially speeding up the development of new materials. The technique uses computational neural networks to learn how a nanoparticle's structure affects its behavior, allowing for faster prediction and design.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalScience Advances·DateJun 1, 2018

Turning up the heat on thermoelectrics

MIT physicists have found a way to boost thermoelectricity's potential, with a theoretical method that could produce five times more efficient materials and potentially double the amount of energy generated. The new approach uses topological semimetals under strong magnetic fields, enabling electrons and holes to move in opposite direc...

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalScience Advances·DateMay 25, 2018

Plug-and-play diagnostic devices

The MIT researchers developed modular blocks that can be assembled to produce diagnostic devices for diseases such as cancer, Zika virus, and tuberculosis. These 'plug-and-play' devices are inexpensive, easy to use, and can perform multiple biochemical functions, potentially improving access to medical technology in developing countries.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalAdvanced Healthcare Materials·DateMay 16, 2018

Untangling DNA knots

MIT researchers have discovered the factors that determine whether a DNA knot moves along the strand or jams in place. By manipulating the electric field strength, they can induce knots to move towards one end of the molecule, potentially enabling more accurate genome sequencing and knot removal methods.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMay 3, 2018

Improving mid-infrared imaging and sensing

The new approach uses flat, artificial material composed of nanostructured optical elements to control and detect mid-IR waves, enabling cheaper, flatter, and more efficient detectors for night vision, biomedical sensing, and free-space communication. The devices can transmit up to 80% of mid-IR light with high efficiency and are made ...

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 26, 2018

A graphene roll-out

Researchers at MIT have developed a continuous manufacturing process to produce long strips of high-quality graphene. The team's results are the first demonstration of an industrial, scalable method for manufacturing high-quality graphene suitable for membrane applications.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·DateApr 17, 2018

Brewing up Earth's earliest life

A team of planetary scientists from MIT has identified large concentrations of sulfidic anions in shallow lakes on early Earth, which may have sped up the chemical reactions required to convert simple prebiotic molecules into RNA. This finding fundamentally changes our knowledge of early Earth and its potential role in the origin of life.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalAstrobiology·DateApr 9, 2018