Physicists at MIT and Princeton University have developed a new technique to map the energy and momentum of electrons beneath a material's surface. By using momentum and energy resolved tunneling spectroscopy, researchers can visualize the band structure of materials, which determines their electrical and optical properties.
Researchers at MIT have developed a new chemical composite that can store thermal energy during the day and release it when needed. The hybrid material uses molecular switches to change shape in response to light, allowing for controlled thermal energy storage.
A study found that a high-salt diet shrinks beneficial gut bacteria, leading to pro-inflammatory immune cells and high blood pressure. Probiotics can reverse these effects in mice and humans, suggesting potential therapeutic target for treating high blood pressure.
MIT scientists have explained why a droplet of liquid can 'levitate' on a bath's surface under certain conditions. By maintaining a temperature difference, the air cushion between the droplet and the bath is strengthened, preventing it from sinking and allowing it to levitate.
Researchers developed a new optogenetic technique that enables precise stimulation of individual neurons, allowing for the study of how cells generate specific behaviors. By targeting single neurons, scientists can map connections among neurons that underlie behavior and analyze how those connections change in real-time.
A new MIT study finds that Texas will face a significant increase in the annual risk of extreme rainfall, rising from 1% to 18% by the end of the century. This rise is attributed to climate change, which is expected to shift the odds in terms of high-intensity storms around the world.
Researchers at MIT have created a new delivery system for the CRISPR genome-editing system, using nanoparticles to target and delete disease-causing genes. The technique achieved an 80% success rate in deleting the Pcsk9 gene, which regulates cholesterol levels, resulting in a 35% drop in total cholesterol levels.
Researchers at MIT and Harvard created a light-harvesting material that can absorb and transfer energy along precise pathways. The synthetic material uses densely packed clusters of pigments organized on DNA scaffolds to mimic natural photosynthetic structures.
A new framework developed by MIT researchers guarantees stability in microgrids supplying local power to communities, reducing the reliance on main power grids. The design allows for modular power systems that can be easily reconfigured for changing needs, providing a lower-cost solution with guaranteed reliability and security.
Researchers at MIT have developed a method to create reconstituted silk that is more than twice as stiff as its natural counterpart. The material has potential applications in medical sutures, scaffolding for new skin or other biomaterials, and sensing devices.
MIT researchers have developed sensors that can be printed onto plant leaves to reveal when they are experiencing a water shortage. These sensors take advantage of plants' stomata and can detect even slight changes in water pressure, allowing for early warnings in agricultural settings.
Researchers have created a method to make photonic devices that can bend and stretch without damage, using a specialized glass called chalcogenide. These flexible devices could be used in various applications such as skin-mounted monitoring devices, diagnostic systems, or as connectors for electronics.
Researchers at MIT have developed a new way to mix oil and water, creating stable nanoscale emulsions without the need for shaking or sonicating. By cooling an oil bath with surfactant and allowing water vapor to condense onto its surface, they produce uniform droplets that remain stable over several months.
A new AI system can analyze a large dataset of research papers to extract recipes for producing specific materials. The system can identify paragraphs containing recipes and classify words within those paragraphs according to their roles, allowing scientists and engineers to access detailed instructions for material production.
Researchers developed a system called Taco that generates optimized code for tensor algebra operations on sparse data, offering a 100-fold speedup over existing software. The system automatically optimizes code by tracking and discarding zero entries, reducing wasted computation.
A new collaboration tool, FeatureHub, enables thousands of researchers to contribute to data analysis projects by automatically evaluating proposals and identifying useful features. The system has been tested against top-scoring entries in a Kaggle competition, producing results within three points of the winners.
A new 3D-printed device produces nanofiber meshes with reduced variation in diameters, making it suitable for various applications such as tissue engineering, water filtration, and body armor. The device's design flexibility and fast iteration capabilities make it a promising technology for commercialization.
A new study by MIT researchers found that cities can reduce urban emissions primarily through better building practices, not greater housing density. Implementing energy-efficient construction standards and retrofitting existing homes can lower residential emissions by up to 19% by 2030.
A team of scientists and amateur astronomers have detected six exocomets, the smallest objects yet found outside our solar system, using transit photometry. The detection marks the first time an object as small as a comet has been identified using this technique.
Scientists have found a new mechanism of deformation at the boundaries of coherent twin crystal boundaries, which can increase material strength while preserving ductility. This discovery could lead to designing strong nanostructures and devices that respond to specific stress levels.
Researchers at MIT developed a smartphone app that can analyze a car's sounds and vibrations to detect issues such as clogged air filters and worn-out spark plugs. The system uses machine-learning processes to extract subtle differences, achieving accuracy above 90% in tests.
By exposing plastic flakes to gamma radiation, researchers can create stronger, more flexible concrete structures. This innovative approach could reduce cement industry's carbon footprint and divert plastic waste from landfills.
Researchers have developed a light emitter and detector that can be integrated into silicon CMOS chips, overcoming the interconnect bottleneck. The device uses an ultrathin semiconductor material called molybdenum ditelluride, which emits light in the infrared range, not absorbed by silicon.
Researchers suggest existing models of memory formation should be revised due to existence of 'silent engrams' which store memories even when they cannot be retrieved through natural cues. Memories are stored in a specific pattern of connections that form between cells during the first few minutes after an event occurs.
Researchers developed a new cache-management scheme that improves the data rate of in-package DRAM caches, reducing metadata transfer and increasing bandwidth. The 'Banshee' system adds three bits of data to each entry, enabling efficient storage and retrieval of frequently used data.
Researchers at MIT have developed a synthetic gene circuit that can trigger the immune system to target cancer cells. The circuit is designed to detect two specific cancer markers and only activates a therapeutic response when both are present, offering new pathways for cancer immunotherapy.
Researchers tracked eye movements to show how minds imagine possible outcomes, finding that counterfactual simulation is a pervasive cognitive process. The study used billiard ball collisions to demonstrate the concept, which can inform notions of causality in law and other fields.
Researchers at MIT have found a low-temperature electrochemical process to convert methane into valuable derivatives, potentially leading to lower-cost methane conversion and reduced flaring. This technology could provide an alternative to high-temperature industrial processes and pave the way for widespread adoption.
A recent study from MIT found that pressurization doesn't exacerbate membrane fouling in reverse osmosis (RO) systems. Researchers devised a method to isolate pressure's effects and discovered no impact on fouling rates or cleaning outcomes.
Researchers at MIT developed a new way to screen for genes that protect against specific diseases by adapting the CRISPR genome-editing system. The new technology identified genes that protect yeast cells from a protein associated with Parkinson's disease, which may also provide protective effects in human neurons.
Scientists have identified distinct neural signatures for explicit and implicit learning, which could guide the development of training techniques to mitigate learning and memory deficits. The findings may also help diagnose Alzheimer's disease at an earlier stage.
Engineers at MIT developed a new model to simulate dynamic soaring in albatrosses, finding that shallow arcs help birds stay aloft with less effort. The research also sheds light on the optimal flight pattern for wind-propelled drones and gliders.
A new analysis suggests that metal shortages will not significantly impact battery production, but short-term bottlenecks in lithium and cobalt supplies are possible. Researchers recommend monitoring supply chains to avoid disruptions and exploring alternative materials.
Researchers at MIT have developed an 'air-breathing' battery that can store electricity for months, reducing costs to around $20-$30 per kilowatt hour. The battery uses sulfur and oxygen to generate charge, making it a potential solution for widespread renewable energy integration.
Researchers at MIT have developed a flexible sensor that can be ingested to diagnose gastrointestinal disorders such as slow digestion and monitor food intake. The sensor measures the rhythmic contractions of the digestive tract, providing valuable information on stomach movement.
A study reveals that lab researchers should engage with industry counterparts to better understand the needs and challenges of real-world applications. This approach helped researchers adjust their focus and develop a potentially more useful set of applications for their work. By bridging the gap between research and commercialization,...
The new book, 'Public Space? Lost and Found,' examines the crucial role of art in shaping our sense of community and politics. It argues that public space is an essential requirement of contemporary life and can never be politically neutral ground.
Scientists have discovered a way to create and control skyrmions at will in specific locations, paving the way for a new form of data storage. This breakthrough enables the storage of vast amounts of data in a tiny area, potentially extending Moore's Law.
Researchers used CMS open data to analyze jets produced from proton collisions, revealing a universal feature within subatomic particles. The study demonstrates the scientific value of open access in particle physics and provides a stepping stone for future analysis.
A new paper-based test developed by MIT researchers can diagnose Zika infection within 20 minutes, accurately distinguishing it from Dengue virus. The test uses antibodies specific to Zika virus's NS1 protein, avoiding false positives common with existing tests.
The new model predicts how glucose-responsive insulin (GRI) will affect patients' blood sugar levels based on chemical traits. The MIT team identified several strong GRI candidates and plans to test them in animals.
Researchers found that flu viruses can evolve rapidly due to their ability to hijack host chaperone proteins, which help mutated viral proteins fold and function. Targeting these proteins could delay viral evolution and decelerate escape from existing drugs and vaccines.
Researchers have developed a framework to identify key patterns that precede extreme events in complex systems. The method combines equations and data analysis to predict precursors, achieving high accuracy rates in simulations.
Researchers at MIT discovered that imperfections in metal oxide materials can alter their properties, enabling new types of low-energy computer memory and processing devices. The findings provide a theoretical framework to understand the effects of defects on material stability and structure under strong electric fields.
A study found that babies who watched an adult struggle before succeeding tried harder at their own difficult task compared to those who saw an adult succeed effortlessly. The researchers also discovered that direct interactions made a difference in how hard the babies tried.
A study by MIT professor Daniel Rothman suggests that a sixth mass extinction may occur if the world's oceans hold enough carbon to destabilize the system. By 2100, human activities are estimated to add about 310 gigatons of carbon to the oceans, potentially tipping the planet into unknown territory.
Researchers at MIT have designed a synthetic delivery system that is four times more effective than delivering mRNA on its own. The system uses a protein cap and poly-A binding protein to help mRNA bind to ribosomes and begin translation, resulting in higher protein expression.
Researchers at MIT's CSAIL developed a new system called CodeCarbonCopy that allows programmers to transplant code from one program into another. The system can translate between different data representations used by the donor and recipient programs, making it possible to import code seamlessly.
Scientists at MIT and their collaborators have developed a new approach to ultrafast light pulses by coupling molecular aggregates with thin layers of metals like silver. This enhancement increases the material's response time tenfold, making it suitable for applications in photonic chips and signal processing.
Scientists have devised a way to intercept exosomes from blood using microfluidics and sound waves, which can be used to diagnose problems like cancer or fetal abnormalities. The new device analyzes patient blood samples for rapid diagnosis in under 25 minutes.