Researchers at MIT have developed a new way to make highly detailed images of internal body structures using light-emitting particles called quantum dots. The particles emit infrared light and can capture video footage of blood flow, allowing for the detection of individual blood cells and the tracking of tumor development.
Researchers discovered that memories are formed simultaneously in the hippocampus and long-term storage location in the cortex. Traces of memories remain in the hippocampus for two weeks before becoming mature, challenging standard models of memory consolidation.
Researchers found that aneuploidy, a condition causing abnormal chromosome numbers, can lead to varying outcomes in genetically identical cells. The study's findings have significant implications for cancer treatment, as it may explain why some cancer cells respond differently to therapy.
Researchers at MIT have developed a new method for detecting foodborne pathogens like E. coli using specialized droplets that can bind to bacterial proteins, allowing for fast and affordable testing with smartphones.
A recent study analyzes the words 'a' and 'the' to understand language acquisition, revealing that experience is crucial for early-childhood language development. The study found that children rapidly generalize grammatical structures they hear, with a significant increase in linguistic productivity around age 2.
Engineers at MIT have developed a microfluidic technique to capture and count circulating plasma cells from small samples of blood, potentially providing a less painful test for multiple myeloma. The device uses conventional blood draws and can detect the ratio of different antibodies produced by cancerous and healthy cells.
Three MIT-affiliated research teams receive $10M in funding to develop novel energy storage technologies for future mobility and autonomous systems. The projects focus on lithium-ion batteries and nanostructured catalysts for oxygen reduction, with the goal of accelerating materials discovery and reducing CO2 emissions.
Engineers at MIT have created a method to iron out wrinkles in graphene, producing uniform performance and increasing its electrical conductivity. The technique enables the mass production of single-domain graphene wafer-scale, paving the way for faster electronic devices.
Scientists have created a new type of stretchable neural implant that can be used to study spinal cord neurons and potentially restore function. The fibers, developed by MIT researchers, can flex and stretch while delivering both optical and electrical impulses.
A new MIT study reveals that 31% of NIH grants contribute to private-sector patents in biomedicine, while 8% generate patents directly. The research shows no significant difference between 'basic' and 'applied' research grants in terms of patent generation.
Researchers at MIT Media Lab describe a new technique that makes image acquisition using compressed sensing 50 times as efficient. The technique enables the development of novel imaging systems without lenses, opening new prospects for design and applications in harsh environments or non-visible spectrum wavelengths.
New research reveals Prochlorococcus' metabolism has evolved to trigger complex marine ecosystems and global changes. The study finds a cooperative system between Prochlorococcus and SAR11, with mutual recycling of waste products.
Researchers from MIT's CSAIL develop a new system called Flowtune that allocates network bandwidth more fairly in data centers, reducing lag and improving page load speeds. In tests, Flowtune completed the slowest 1% of data requests nine to 11 times as rapidly as existing systems.
Researchers at MIT have developed a way to detect aflatoxin exposure by sequencing DNA of liver cells, potentially leading to earlier diagnosis and treatment. The technique can identify rare mutations caused by aflatoxin long before tumors form.
A team of researchers at MIT and University of Chicago has developed a self-assembly technique to produce narrow wires on microchips, breaking through fundamental limits in manufacturing processes. The new method uses block copolymers and could be scaled up for mass manufacturing with standard equipment.
Researchers at MIT create a new 3D-printed device that responds to mechanical stresses by changing the color of its surface, inspired by the golden tortoise beetle. The device has potential applications in flexible sensor-laden robots and self-assembling structures.
Researchers at MIT and Stanford develop Splinter, a system that disguises database queries to protect user privacy. The system uses function secret sharing to split queries across multiple servers, making it impossible for anyone other than the user to determine what query was executed.
Researchers found a circuit in the central amygdala that responds to rewarding events and stimulates reward-related behavior, contradicting the consensus that the structure is primarily linked with fear.
Researchers from MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory present a system called Flexplane that tests new traffic management protocols at realistic speeds without altering network hardware. The system uses a compact, efficient computational model of a network to schedule transmissions on the real network.
Engineers at MIT develop microfluidic device mimicking nature's hydraulic pumps, enabling passive water pumping and potential use in small robots. The 'tree-on-a-chip' uses a sugar-powered hydraulic system to maintain constant flow rate for several days.
Researchers at MIT and Boston Children's Hospital have identified a key signaling molecule that triggers the formation of scar tissue around implantable medical devices. Blocking this molecule prevents scar tissue from forming, extending the lifespan of devices such as glucose sensors, pacemakers, and insulin delivery systems.
Researchers at MIT developed a strategy to make tumor cells more susceptible to certain types of cancer treatment by coating them with nanoparticles. The particles increase the forces exerted on the cells, making them more likely to die, and were found to be 50% more effective in tests in mice.
A team at MIT has developed a new mathematical approach to analyzing phonon-dislocation interactions, resolving longstanding mysteries about how dislocations affect material properties. The findings could inform future efforts to develop thermoelectric devices and other electronic systems.
Researchers discovered a supermassive black hole 'choking' on stellar debris, producing small fluctuations in the energy emitted by the flare. The study provides insight into how black holes grow and evolve, offering a potential window into hidden black holes.
A team of researchers at MIT has developed a novel material with a laminated nanostructure that reduces metal fatigue, allowing it to deform without spreading microcracks. This breakthrough could lead to improved structural components in industries such as aerospace and automotive.
Researchers at MIT have discovered a new method to control electrons in two-dimensional materials, potentially paving the way for valleytronic devices with enhanced control over electronic valleys. This breakthrough could lead to faster, more efficient data storage and computer logic systems.
Researchers found that light rain can disperse up to several thousand bacteria from the soil into the air, where they can travel long distances before settling back on the ground. Global precipitation may be responsible for releasing 1.6 to 25 percent of total bacteria emissions from land.
Scientists have identified a mechanism by which deep waters may rise to the surface through turbulence generated by underwater topographic features. This finding could help estimate how long the ocean stores carbon in its deepest regions before returning it to the surface.
A new study reveals that ride-sharing is feasible in various cities worldwide, with the potential for sharing autos being more similar than expected. Over 99% of trips in New York and over 97% in San Francisco, Singapore, and Vienna are shareable, highlighting the importance of daily mobility patterns rather than city layout.
Researchers at MIT have created a new system for 3D printing with cellulose acetate, a renewable and biodegradable alternative to traditional plastics. The new process allows for customization and functionalization of the printed parts, making it suitable for various applications including medical devices and sustainable products.
A new study found that chance encounters contribute to variations in human gut microbiome populations, which can influence health and disease outcomes. The researchers used genetically identical worms to model the gut's microbe communities, showing that initial colonization events can lead to dominant populations of bacteria.
The new device, an array of tiny carbon electrodes, measures dopamine levels at millisecond timescales and can be used to monitor therapies aimed at boosting dopamine levels. The researchers found that dopamine levels vary greatly across the striatum, with implications for understanding learning and brain disorders.
A seven-year experiment has confirmed that two photons are indeed exchanged during electron-proton interactions, contradicting theoretical predictions. The OLYMPUS study, led by MIT researchers, used polarized electron beams to measure the intensity of scattered electrons at different angles.
Researchers developed a new method to capture and analyze individual cells from a small sample of blood using graphene oxide sheets. The system demonstrates high efficiency in capturing specific immune cells that are markers for certain cancers, with an estimated production cost of $5 per device.
Excess emissions from Volkswagen's diesel cars sold between 2008 and 2015 will cause approximately 1,200 premature deaths across Europe. The countries hardest hit include Germany, Poland, France, and the Czech Republic.
A new study by MIT researchers finds that firms with high debt levels laid off more workers during the Great Recession, exacerbating unemployment spikes. The research analyzed employment and housing data across the US, revealing a strong link between firm leverage and local unemployment.
A new study by MIT scholars found that voters in the US heavily rely on their pre-existing views when deciding if politicians' statements are true or not. The study used Trump's statements during the 2016 presidential primaries to examine how partisanship and prior beliefs interact with evaluations of objective fact.
Scientists have created a way to measure the heme levels within malaria parasites, which could help develop more effective treatments. The discovery could provide insights into how the parasites control their own heme levels and may lead to the development of new antimalarial drugs that target these mechanisms.
Researchers at MIT have developed a machine that can rapidly produce large quantities of customized peptides in about 37 seconds. This technology could help researchers generate new peptide drugs to test on various diseases and also produces customized cancer vaccines for individual patients.
Researchers have developed a single flexible fiber that can deliver optical, electrical, and chemical signals to the brain, enabling precise recordings of neuronal activity. This breakthrough could provide a significantly more accurate understanding of brain function and interconnections.
The MIT-led project aims to standardize vaccine manufacturing at globally affordable costs by combining automation and reducing labor costs. The goal is to produce vaccines for less than 15 cents a dose, with the potential to make global vaccination more accessible.
Researchers have discovered a drug combination that can regenerate hair cells in the inner ear, offering a potential new way to treat hearing loss. The treatment involves expanding progenitor cells and stimulating them to become mature hair cells.
Researchers at MIT have designed a power converter that maintains efficiency across a wide range of current levels, reducing resting power consumption by 50%. The converter uses a variable clock and advanced control circuitry to accommodate high-power transmissions, enabling new possibilities for energy-harvesting devices.
A new study by MIT Professor César Hidalgo and colleagues found that the complexity of a country's exports is a strong predictor of its level of economic equality. The researchers analyzed data from 1996 to 2008 and found that countries with more diverse export portfolios and higher technological infrastructure tend to have greater inc...
A new study maps where US patients appear more ill than they are, highlighting the impact of diagnostic intensity on population health. Researchers found that areas with more aggressive medical practices tend to have higher health scores, while less aggressive areas have lower scores.
Researchers at MIT developed a method to produce high-resolution images of individual biomolecules without requiring crystallization. The technique uses nitrogen vacancy centers in diamond crystals to detect tiny variations in magnetic fields, achieving resolutions up to 100 times higher than conventional methods.
Scientists have observed the first time a star pulsates in response to its orbiting planet, HAT-P-2b. The star's brightness oscillates ever so slightly every 87 minutes, suggesting that the massive exoplanet may periodically distort its star, causing it to flare or pulse.
Researchers have developed new iron oxide nanoparticles with zwitterion coating that can produce similar MRI contrast to gadolinium-based agents without the risk of adverse effects. The particles are water-soluble, compact and biocompatible, making them a potential safer substitute for current contrast agents.
Researchers designed a novel genetic switch that shuts down competing metabolic pathways in bacteria, allowing for increased production of glucaric acid and other chemicals. The switch uses quorum sensing to autonomously control the cells' growth, enabling efficient production without adding new chemicals or changing process conditions.
Researchers at MIT have developed a new portable technology called Seq-Well, which enables rapid analysis of large numbers of cells for single-cell RNA sequencing. This breakthrough allows scientists to easily identify different cell types found in tissue samples, facilitating the study of immune cell responses and cancer treatment.