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.
Research across over 100 languages reveals a consistent pattern of language divide towards warmer and cooler colors. The findings suggest that human languages prioritize labeling warm colors consistently due to their prevalence in foreground scenes.
Researchers create novel microparticles that can deliver multiple doses of a drug or vaccine with just one injection, using a biocompatible polymer and custom-built 3D printing method. The particles release drugs or vaccines at specific time intervals, mimicking the way a series of vaccines would be given, potentially improving patient...
Two new studies from MIT and UMass Medical School shed light on the link between maternal infection during pregnancy and autism. Researchers found that bacterial populations in the mother's digestive tract can influence offspring behavior and discovered specific brain changes associated with autistic-like behaviors.
Researchers at MIT's CSAIL developed a printer-ink material that expands after solidification, allowing the creation of self-folding devices. The technique enables the custom manufacture of sensors, displays, or antennas with three-dimensional shapes.
Researchers at MIT have found a new way to control the adhesion of freezing droplets on surfaces by manipulating their thermal properties. This discovery could lead to improved coatings in industries such as 3-D printing and turbine blade manufacturing.
Researchers develop a general-purpose technique to analyze neural networks trained for natural-language-processing tasks. The method applies to any black-box text-processing system, revealing idiosyncrasies in human translators' work and identifying gender biases in machine translation systems.
A new study by MIT researchers finds that retracted papers can lead to a 10% drop in citations for remaining work, with high-profile cases experiencing an even larger decline. The study suggests the scientific community reacts to new information through peer review, adjusting its view on the value of certain scholars' work.
A study from MIT suggests that cervical mucus analysis can predict preterm births, potentially allowing doctors to intervene earlier. Researchers found significant differences in mucus permeability and adhesiveness between women who delivered prematurely and those who did not.
Researchers from MIT and global partners conducted a comprehensive survey of atmospheric chemistry in a Colorado forest, identifying previously unmeasured semi-volatile and intermediate-volatility organic compounds. The findings provide new insights into air quality, ecosystem health, and climate change.
Researchers from MIT's CSAIL have developed a new caching system that uses flash memory, reducing energy consumption by up to 90%. The system, dubbed BlueCache, achieves this through clever engineering tricks, including pipelining and the use of DRAM, while maintaining fast performance.
A robotic system has been developed to automate the patch clamping technique, allowing for precise targeting of specific neurons. This technology can shed light on normal neuron function and how it goes awry in diseases like Alzheimer's or schizophrenia.
Engineers at MIT created a robot that can follow pedestrian rules, avoiding collisions while keeping pace with foot traffic. The 'socially aware navigation' system uses reinforcement learning to adapt to unpredictable pedestrian behavior.
MIT researchers developed a system that uses drones to relay RFID signals, allowing for accurate location tracking of inventory items. The system can be used for continuous monitoring and resolving mismatches between inventory records and stock levels, potentially saving retailers billions lost due to errors.
Researchers at MIT and Cisco Systems have developed a new approach to network monitoring called Marple, which allows routers to report on their own state without relying on external servers. By using a programming language and simple circuit design, Marple enables precise traffic analysis while reducing the need for additional hardware.
Geologists at MIT found that ancient Earth's mantle was up to 200 degrees Celsius hotter, causing subducting plates to sink all the way to the bottom of the mantle. This led to a 'graveyard' of slabs atop the Earth's core, suggesting a significant change in how mantle convection and plate tectonic processes occurred.
Engineers at MIT found that organelles like mitochondria and lysosomes encounter different types of resistance in cytoplasm based on size and speed. The researchers developed a phase diagram to describe the material properties of cytoplasm from an organelle's perspective, which may aid in pharmaceutical designs.
Researchers found that angled hairs can affect fluid flow, slowing it down like a grate. This discovery may help illuminate the role of hairy surfaces in the body and enable the design of new microfluidic devices.
Researchers have identified a distinct 'detour' circuit in the hippocampus that is necessary for memory recall, but not for memory formation. This circuit branches off from the original memory circuit and connects to the entorhinal cortex, enabling easier editing or updating of memories.
A team at MIT has carried out detailed tests that resolve the questions surrounding a compound called lithium iodide, a possible solution to some of the lithium-air battery's problems. The study finds that LiI can enhance water's reactivity and interfere with charging, but suggests ways to suppress these reactions to make it work better.
Researchers from MIT and Rutgers University found evidence of an active lunar dynamo that generated a magnetic field lasting at least 1 billion years longer than previously thought. The study suggests two possible mechanisms that powered the moon's ancient core, shedding new light on the phenomena that produced the lunar dynamo.
Researchers at MIT have developed a new terahertz laser design that boosts the power output of chip-mounted lasers by 80 percent, opening up new possibilities for medical and industrial imaging and chemical detection. The device has been selected by NASA for its Galactic/Extragalactic ULDB Spectroscopic Terahertz Observatory mission.
Researchers at MIT have found a way to precisely target the enzyme HDAC2, which blocks genes required for memory formation in Alzheimer's patients. By blocking its interaction with Sp3, they were able to reverse memory loss in mice, offering a potential new treatment approach.
A new AI algorithm developed by MIT researchers uses radio signals to monitor sleep stages without sensors attached to the body. The device analyzes reflections of radio waves off the person's body, eliminating irrelevant information using deep neural networks.
Researchers at MIT developed a new design system that catalogs physical properties of tiny cube clusters, enabling computationally efficient evaluation of macroscopic designs. The system explores the entire space of properties to determine printable clusters, which can be used to optimize object materials and properties.
The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) will identify over 20,000 extrasolar planets, including Earth-sized and 'super Earth' planets. The satellite's four cameras have been mounted onto the camera plate and successfully demonstrated operation with the flight computer.
Researchers develop noninvasive method to gauge cell stiffness, a key indicator of diseases like cancer and asthma. By analyzing particles' movements at high frame rates, scientists can determine a cell's mechanical properties without direct contact.
Researchers from MIT and Google developed a machine-learning system that can retouch images in real-time, producing visually indistinguishable results from existing algorithms. The system processes low-resolution images, reducing time and energy consumption, and can be applied to a range of styles, including high-dynamic-range images.