Researchers at MIT and Stanford University have developed a new approach to harnessing low-temperature waste heat, leveraging the thermogalvanic effect to produce electricity. The system combines battery charging-discharging cycles with heating and cooling, allowing for efficient energy conversion even with small temperature differences.
Scientists have developed a new imaging system that reveals neural activity throughout the brains of living animals in 3-D. The technique allows for simultaneous imaging of every neuron in the worm Caenorhabditis elegans and the entire brain of a zebrafish larva, providing a more complete picture of nervous system activity.
A new glasses-free 3D projector design uses multiperspective technology to provide a cheaper alternative to holographic video, improving resolution and contrast. The system can also enhance conventional 2D video with increased brightness and sharpness, making it an attractive transitional technology for content producers.
A new study reveals that powerful tropical cyclones are now reaching their peak intensity farther from the equator and closer to the poles. The trend is statistically significant and consistent with a warming climate, posing potentially profound consequences for life and property in regions further north and south of the equator.
A new activity-recognition algorithm has been developed, enabling computers to efficiently search video for actions. The algorithm's execution time scales linearly with the size of the video file, and it can make good guesses about partially completed actions.
Researchers develop nanoparticles that release two chemotherapy drugs, erlotinib and doxorubicin, at staggered times to weaken tumor cells' defenses before delivering DNA-damage. This approach dramatically shrinks lung and breast tumors in mice, including aggressive triple-negative breast cancer cells.
The Abdul Latif Jameel World Water and Food Security Lab will spearhead research to address global water and food scarcity, targeting half a billion people by 2025. MIT faculty from various departments will collaborate across disciplines to develop regionally appropriate solutions.
Researchers at MIT describe a new technique that could reduce the number of sensors needed for terahertz or millimeter-wave imaging by a factor of 10, enabling more practical high-resolution imaging systems. The technique exploits the sparsity of scenes in certain ranges, allowing for efficient reconstruction without aliasing.
Researchers at MIT have developed a technique that allows them to track neural communication in the brain over time, offering a new window on brain function. The technique uses magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) along with a specialized molecular sensor to monitor dopamine levels in specific regions of the brain.
Researchers have finally found a theoretical explanation for the differences in thermal conductivity between similar materials, which could lead to the discovery of new thermoelectric materials. The findings are reported in the journal Nature Communications and were partly supported by the U.S. Department of Energy.
Researchers found hundreds of distinct genetic subpopulations within a single species of ocean microbe, Prochlorococcus, and discovered that these subpopulations are finely tuned for specific ecological niches. The study suggests that the remarkable diversity of Prochlorococcus is not random but rather a result of natural selection.
Researchers at MIT and City College of New York directly image exciton movement using a new technique, enabling insights into device efficiency and natural energy-transfer processes. The study provides new information on how crystal structure affects exciton diffusion.
A new design for nuclear plants built on floating platforms could provide enhanced safety, as they would be automatically cooled by surrounding seawater in a worst-case scenario. The concept takes advantage of mature technologies and minimizes technological risks.
Researchers have created nanoparticles that can deliver three or more different chemotherapy drugs to cancer cells, offering new hope for more effective treatments. The particles are designed to release the drugs in response to specific triggering mechanisms, reducing side effects and increasing efficacy.
A new MIT study finds that international efforts to limit ozone-depleting chemicals have been successful in preventing extreme Arctic ozone losses, unlike Antarctica.
Researchers at MIT have developed a new type of tiny particle that can be used to authenticate currency, electronic parts, and luxury goods. The particles contain colored stripes of nanocrystals that glow brightly when lit up with near-infrared light.
A new study reveals that the brain achieves focused attention on faces or other objects by synchronizing activity in the inferior frontal junction (IFJ) with specific brain regions. The IFJ coordinates with the fusiform face area (FFA) and parahippocampal place area (PPA), suggesting a parallel process involving different areas.
Scientists at MIT and Harvard have developed a method to couple individual atoms with photons, enabling the creation of quantum switches that can transmit information. This technique allows for the scaling up of quantum computing processing available within small spaces.
A new study by MIT researchers reveals that coughs and sneezes create a multiphase turbulent buoyant cloud that extends the range of infectious droplets. Smaller droplets can travel up to 200 times farther than previously estimated, while larger droplets fall out, allowing smaller drops to be resuspended by gas clouds.
A new algorithm developed by MIT researchers can aid robots in navigating unfamiliar buildings and understanding scenes. The algorithm identifies dominant orientations in 3D scenes, making it easier to re-identify landmarks and segment planes.
A team at MIT has figured out a way to measure the fundamental charge transfer rate in porous battery electrodes, revealing significant surprises. The study found that the Butler-Volmer equation is inaccurate, especially at higher voltage levels, and that electron transfer between two solids determines the rate.
Researchers are exploring strain engineering to alter materials' properties, which could improve energy storage and conversion rates in devices like batteries and fuel cells. By applying and managing stresses within known materials, scientists can achieve exponential improvements in key reaction rates.
A recent study by MIT economists finds strong convergence of prices within the Eurozone, with prices differing by 30-50% lower than in neighboring countries. The research suggests that the common currency drives identical pricing, contradicting previous findings.
A team of MIT researchers suggests that methane-producing archaea, specifically Methanosarcina, were responsible for the largest mass extinction in Earth's history. The microbe's explosive growth was fueled by a sudden increase in nickel, emitted by massive volcanic eruptions.
Researchers successfully used CRISPR gene-editing to correct a defective gene in adult mice, allowing them to survive without treatment. The study offers promising hope for treating genetic disorders, including hemophilia and Huntington's disease.
Researchers at MIT analyzed the shells of a sea creature to determine why they are exceptionally tough and optically clear. The shells' unique properties emerge from a specialized nanostructure that allows optical clarity, as well as efficient energy dissipation and localized deformation.
Researchers at MIT have developed a new system that selectively filters light waves based on their direction of propagation. The technique, which uses a stack of ultrathin layers with precise thickness control, could improve efficiency in solar photovoltaics, detector systems for telescopes and microscopes, and display screens.
Researchers found that 69% of Exhibit sites use the JSON format for storing data, and users often exploit complex relationships among data beyond spreadsheet capabilities. The study suggests that spreadsheet designers should offer tools to make it easier for novice developers to organize their data in more sophisticated ways.
Researchers at MIT have developed a new way to image a reporter gene that turns on or off to signal events in the body using MRI. This approach allows scientists to determine when and where the gene is turned on, providing insights into brain function and memory formation.
Researchers find that a wide range of lock-free algorithms offer performance guarantees comparable to wait-free algorithms, even with complex scheduler variations. This discovery simplifies multicore chip programming, as programmers often program under the assumption of benevolent schedulers.
Researchers created a robotic clam called RoboClam that can burrow into undersea soil using little energy. By mimicking the movement of an Atlantic razor clam, RoboClam can liquefy the soil around its shell, reducing drag and allowing it to move quickly and efficiently.
Researchers at MIT have successfully designed and created living materials that incorporate non-living components, such as gold nanoparticles and quantum dots. These hybrid materials exhibit unique properties, including the ability to conduct electricity and emit light, making them suitable for various energy applications.
A team of MIT chemists has designed a way to manufacture peptides in mere hours, which could have a major impact on peptide drug development. The new system can assemble an entire peptide in under an hour, allowing for rapid testing and design of new peptides.
Researchers at MIT discovered that tiny pores in the inner ear membrane filter sound frequencies, allowing humans to differentiate between competing sounds. The optimal pore size determines hearing sensitivity, with smaller or larger pores impairing hearing.
Researchers embedded carbon nanotubes into chloroplasts to capture light energy by 30 percent. Plants were also modified to detect nitric oxide, a common environmental pollutant. This represents the first steps in launching plant nanobionics, a field that could turn plants into self-powered devices.
Researchers discover that only 20-30% of water vapor molecules condense on a liquid surface, while the majority bounce away. The study's findings could lead to more efficient desalination membranes and fundamental understanding of fluid flow at the nanoscale.
Researchers at MIT create a self-contained autonomous soft robot capable of rapid body motion, mimicking the escape maneuver of real fish. The robotic fish uses fluid flow through flexible channels to change direction quickly and explore new advantages in soft robotics.
Researchers identified key mutations and genetic disturbances that arise at certain stages of lung cancer development, including a gene called Mycl1 that is found in nearly all tumor cells. They also discovered that loss of the Pten gene leads to overactive cell growth and rapid tumor progression.
MIT researchers have successfully created devices that harness or emit light using a novel material called tungsten diselenide, which is just a few atoms thick. This breakthrough could lead to the development of ultrathin, lightweight, and flexible photovoltaic cells, LEDs, and other optoelectronic devices.
The MIT team proposes using contingency propellant from past missions to fuel future spacecraft, reducing the need for additional fuel storage. By utilizing a 'steady-state' approach and stockpiling fuel at depots in space, lunar missions can carry heavier payloads with less fuel.
Scientists at MIT and NASA have identified a process in the Earth's magnetosphere that reinforces its shielding effect, keeping incoming solar energy at bay. A plume of low-energy plasma particles slows magnetic reconnection, blunting the sun's effects on Earth.
Researchers at MIT and ETH Zurich develop technique to measure river network change, finding some rivers shifting due to imbalance in drainage divides. The study suggests that regions like the southeastern US are experiencing river network movement due to tectonic activity.
A new paper by an MIT political scientist suggests a way to assess the relative impact of several factors at once in politics, using conjoint analysis. The method allows for direct comparison of how voters weigh different candidate characteristics, providing insights into voter preferences.
A team of MIT researchers has discovered that a small piece of sapwood can filter out over 99% of bacteria from contaminated water. The xylem tissue in the sapwood allows water to flow through while blocking most types of bacteria, making it a promising low-cost material for water filtration.
During major events like elections and sporting events, social media messages are found to be significantly shorter in length as the volume of activity increases. This phenomenon is observed across various social media platforms, including Twitter, which has a character limit of 140 characters.
Researchers at MIT developed a new method to create controlled-size holes in graphene sheets, enabling the production of highly selective filters for improved desalination. The graphene filters can sustain higher water flow rates than conventional membranes, making them suitable for efficient desalination and nanofiltration applications.
Researchers have developed a new version of Sketch that can handle complex synthesis tasks more efficiently, enabling it to produce working code in milliseconds. The system treats program synthesis as a search problem and finds a way to shrink the search space, making it more suitable for real-world applications.
Researchers found that flowing water impeds bacterial movement, making microbes more likely to attach to surfaces. This discovery has implications for studying marine ecosystems and preventing infections in medical devices.
A new paper diagnostic for cancer has been developed by MIT engineers, which can detect the disease in minutes using a urine sample. The technology relies on nanoparticles that interact with tumor proteins, releasing biomarkers that are easily detectable in urine.
Researchers at MIT have proposed an experiment using distant quasars to determine the settings of particle detectors, which could close the 'free will' loophole and provide evidence for quantum mechanics. This setup would utilize the oldest light in the universe to eliminate potential biases.