Scientists at MIT and Harvard University developed a new imaging technique called LASE microscopy, which uses tiny particles to create sharper images of deep tissue and cells. The particles emit laser light when stimulated by a laser beam, resulting in higher-resolution images.
A new study finds that both patients and healthcare providers account for half of the regional spending differences in medical costs. Patient characteristics, such as basic health and care preferences, contribute to nearly 50% of these disparities, while provider practices and incentives drive the remaining 50%. The research provides i...
Researchers create reconfigurable array of traps for single atoms, enabling the manipulation of up to 50 individual atoms in separate traps deterministically. The technique uses lasers as optical tweezers to pick and hold individual atoms in place, paving the way for large-scale atom arrays in quantum computing.
Researchers at MIT and NASA have developed a new morphing wing architecture that could greatly simplify the manufacturing process and reduce fuel consumption. The wing's shape can be changed and twisted uniformly along its length by activating two small motors, allowing for improved agility and aerodynamics.
Researchers have engineered a new antimicrobial peptide that can destroy many types of bacteria, including those resistant to most antibiotics. The peptide also suppresses the overactive inflammatory response and destroys biofilms, making it a promising alternative for treating infections.
MIT engineers have transformed spinach plants into sensors that can detect explosives and wirelessly relay information to a handheld device. The carbon-nanotube-enhanced plants send an alert when sensing dangerous chemicals, making them ideal for environmental monitoring.
Researchers at MIT's CSAIL have developed a new way to train neural networks that provide not only predictions and classifications but also rationales for their decisions. The system consists of two modules: one extracts segments of text from training data and scores them, while the other performs prediction or classification tasks.
Researchers have developed a new algorithm that can efficiently fit probability distributions to high-dimensional data, even when the dataset contains corrupted entries. The algorithm relies on two insights: selecting an appropriate metric for measuring distance from distributions and identifying regions where cross-sections should begin.
Researchers at MIT have created tiny, star-shaped structures that shrink in size when heated to 540 degrees Fahrenheit. The structures, made from interconnected beams with different thermal expansion coefficients, exhibit negative thermal expansion and may enable applications in heat-resistant circuit boards.
Activating dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area of the brain causes active emergence from general anesthesia. This could lead to faster recovery times and reduced side effects for patients. The researchers are now conducting further experiments to confirm these findings and develop a new treatment.
A new cancer treatment combines four therapies to activate both branches of the immune system, leading to complete disappearance of large tumors in mice. The approach allows the immune system to remember the target and destroy new cancer cells that appear after treatment.
Researchers at MIT used cellphone data and crowd-sourced images to identify visual features that contribute to perceptions of safety in urban environments. The study found that buildings with street-facing windows, green spaces, and well-maintained areas increase people's sense of safety, while poorly maintained areas decrease it.
Researchers at MIT develop algorithms that automate key steps in big-data analysis, reducing time from months to days. The new approaches enable faster data preparation and problem specification, allowing data scientists to produce value quickly.
Researchers developed an imaging technique that creates a 3-D video of serotonin transport, mapping its activity across multiple brain regions. This tool could aid the research and development of antidepressants by analyzing how inhibitors like SSRIs work in different parts of the brain.
Researchers at MIT have developed a computational model that analyzes ambient vibrations to detect signs of building stability. The model may help monitor buildings over time for potential damage or stress, providing a database like a health book for the structure.
Developed by MIT and Harvard Medical School, the fibers are made from hydrogel material that can stretch and bend like taffy. They can sense signs of disease and could be used to deliver therapeutic pulses of light, enabling long-lasting implantable medical devices.
Researchers developed a new way to drive fluid droplets across surfaces in a precisely controlled manner using temperature differences. The method opens up possibilities for highly adaptable microfluidic devices and de-icing technologies.
Researchers at MIT have developed a new class of materials for supercapacitors that can produce more power than existing carbon-based versions. The material, called Ni3(hexaiminotriphenylene)2, is highly porous and conducts ions well, making it suitable for use in energy storage devices.
Researchers at MIT and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute developed a novel way to test tumors for drug susceptibility using a device that measures single-cell masses. They successfully tested this approach with glioblastoma and acute lymphocytic leukemia, finding that susceptible cells reduce growth rates while resistant cells continue unaf...
A study in rural India shows that informal healthcare providers can improve their skills with modest levels of medical training, leading to better case management and reduced errors. The training program, which consisted of 150 hours over nine months, increased the providers' ability to develop checklists and make accurate diagnoses.
Researchers at MIT have developed a new microencapsulation technique that produces uniform, multilayered particles with high consistency. The technique uses 3D printing to create emitters that encapsulate materials, enabling efficient production of particles for pharmaceuticals and other applications.
Researchers fabricate fur-like, rubbery pelts to trap warm pockets of air in dense layers of fur. The findings provide a detailed mechanical understanding of how mammals insulate themselves while diving underwater.
Researchers have observed a unique phenomenon in perovskite oxides, where they oscillate when exposed to water vapor and electron beams, generating oxygen gas. The exact frequency of the oscillations can be precisely tuned, which could have practical applications for battery development and water-splitting devices.
A new computational imaging method identifies letters printed on the first 9 pages of a stack of paper, demonstrating the feasibility of reading closed books. The MIT system exploits the unique properties of terahertz radiation to penetrate surfaces and analyze materials in thin layers.
Researchers at MIT deciphered the structure of a long noncoding RNA and found that it interacts with a protein to control heart muscle cell development. The study reveals the importance of RNA structure in understanding its function, which could lead to new therapeutic approaches for cardiovascular disease.
Researchers found two brain regions, RSC and OPA, involved in creating panoramic memories. Participants performed better identifying linked images through immersive virtual reality headsets.
A recent study found increased ocean acidification in the northeast Pacific Ocean, primarily caused by anthropogenic carbon dioxide. The region's pH has dropped by 0.002 units per year, making it harder for marine species to build shells.
A new technique invented at MIT can precisely measure the growth of many individual cells simultaneously, offering insights into growth variation across single cells within larger populations. The device's increased throughput enables fast drug tests and tracking of dynamic cell growth to changing environmental conditions.
A team of MIT researchers developed a system that can drastically reduce pesticide droplet bounce rate by using two inexpensive additives. The new approach creates hydrophilic defects on leaf surfaces, sticking the droplets and increasing retention. This could cut agricultural runoff, improving soil and water pollution.
Researchers at MIT have developed a new solar cell that combines two layers to harvest more of the sun's energy, reaching theoretical efficiencies above 40 percent. The device can be manufactured at a fraction of the cost due to a novel low-cost manufacturing process, making it ready for commercialization within the next year or two.
Researchers at MIT have developed a simple equation to predict the force required to push objects through sand, using resistive force theory. The equation can be used to optimize vehicles driving over gravel and soil, as well as animals burrowing through earth.
Researchers developed a new computational system that leverages cellphone location data to create detailed models of urban mobility patterns. By analyzing six weeks' worth of data from over 1.9 million residents in the Boston area, the system was able to infer patterns of activity with high accuracy.
Researchers at MIT and SUTD used light to print 3D structures that can remember their original shapes after being stretched, twisted, and bent. The structures can be printed with micron-scale features and have potential applications in biomedical devices, soft robotics, and solar panel tracking.
A new device developed by MIT and Connecticut Children's Medical Center could significantly improve doctors' ability to accurately diagnose ear infections. The shortwave infrared instrument can penetrate deeper into the tissues of the ear than existing otoscopes, revealing buildups of fluid behind the eardrum more clearly.
Researchers at MIT have discovered a new method for producing metal antimony using electricity, which could lead to more efficient and environmentally friendly metal production systems. The process uses electrolysis to separate the metal from a compound, reducing pollution and energy costs.
In laboratory experiments, scientists found that normally mutualistic strains of yeast became competitive and even drove one strain to extinction when environmental conditions were benign and nutrients were plentiful. The researchers developed a model to predict the type of mutualistic relationship that would develop between species ba...
Researchers at MIT have developed programmable routers that can implement diverse traffic management schemes, improving network resilience. The new design allows for flexible traffic management without compromising operating speeds, enabling innovation and rapid prototyping.
Researchers visualized fluid-fluid displacement in porous media, revealing optimal wettability conditions for efficient displacement. The findings could improve carbon sequestration, oil recovery, and fuel cell performance.
Researchers at MIT create a bubble-wrapped, sponge-like device that captures ambient sunlight and concentrates it to heat water to boiling temperatures. The structure achieves 20% conversion efficiency and can be used for desalination, residential heating, wastewater treatment, and medical tool sterilization.
Scientists found that sections of the West Napa Fault continued to slip after the primary earthquake, posing additional hazards to infrastructure. The afterslip caused certain areas to shift by as much as 40 centimeters in the month following the main earthquake.
Researchers devise a way to record analog memories in human cells by using CRISPR and self-targeting guide RNA strands. This allows them to track biological events such as inflammation or infection and monitor cell differentiation into various tissues during development.
MIT scientists developed a technique to interpret Raman spectra, identifying samples with high hydrogen-to-carbon ratios that may preserve ancient microbial life. The new method enables the 2020 Mars rover to select ideal samples for further study, potentially revealing signs of past life on Mars.
A comprehensive study found that 90% of personal vehicles on the road can be replaced by low-cost electric vehicles, reducing emissions and meeting near-term climate targets. The study analyzed driving behavior and energy requirements to demonstrate the feasibility of widespread EV adoption.
Scientists at MIT and the University of São Paulo have identified the structure of an enzyme that targets parasites responsible for spreading these diseases. The distinctive structure of the class I fumarate hydratase enzyme makes it a promising target for new medical therapies.
A new system has been developed at MIT that allows glass to rapidly switch from transparent to dark, and vice versa, using electrochromic materials. This technology has the potential to significantly reduce energy consumption by blocking sunlight on hot days.
Researchers developed a new language called Simit that automatically switches between low-level and high-level descriptions of physical systems, reducing simulation time and code complexity. The language has applications in various fields, including machine learning, data analytics, and robotics.
Researchers from MIT and Indiana University developed a new system to protect genomic database privacy through differential privacy. The system adds noise to query results, making it difficult for attackers to extract private information.
Researchers from MIT and Lincoln Laboratory have developed a prototype chip that can trap ions in an electric field with built-in optics, enabling the miniaturization of qubit technology. This breakthrough could lead to practical quantum computers by scaling up trapped-ion quantum information processing.
A new MIT study reveals that brain regions dedicated to reading already exist with pre-existing connections even before children learn to read. These connections can predict the precise location where each child's word recognition area develops.
A new metabolic engineering technique could significantly reduce the cost and environmental impact of producing liquid biofuels and biochemicals. The approach eliminates the need for antibiotics during biofuel production by giving producer microbes an advantage over unwanted invaders.