Researchers have found a way to reduce the contact time of water droplets on surfaces by at least 40%, potentially aiding in ice prevention and wing efficiency. The breakthrough could also have implications for ecology and industry, including reducing corrosion and improving turbine blade efficiency.
Researchers at MIT have discovered a way to boost heat transfer using magnetic nanoparticles, which could lead to more efficient cooling systems. The system relies on a slurry of tiny magnetite particles that are attracted to the heated surface by magnets, resulting in significantly improved heat transfer.
Scientists have found that Mars can also stir up asteroid surfaces, refreshing them over time. The research suggests that the Red Planet plays a key role in altering the chemical nature of asteroids' surfaces, changing their reddish hue.
A new study from MIT biologists found that tumor cells with mutated p53 can be made more vulnerable to chemotherapy by blocking the MK2 gene. In a study of mice, tumors lacking both p53 and MK2 shrank dramatically when treated with the drug cisplatin.
Researchers at MIT have found a way to add genetically modified viruses to the production of nanowires, which can serve as one of a battery's electrodes. This increases the surface area, allowing for more efficient charging and discharging.
Researchers have created a cocktail boat that uses the Marangoni effect to move through an alcoholic drink, propelled by a difference in surface tension. A floral pipette resembling an upside-down flower captures and closes around a drop of liquid, serving as a palate cleanser.
Researchers have developed nanotube-based sensors that can monitor nitric oxide levels in living animals for more than a year. The sensors, made of carbon nanotubes, can be implanted under the skin and used to monitor inflammation, potentially leading to new tools for cancer research and diabetes management.
A recent study by MIT economists provides justification for current rules in job-placement programs, which can accommodate married couples. The researchers found that a properly calibrated system can work well even with large job markets and specific constraints. In fact, data from the medical job market suggests that stable matching i...
Researchers have developed a computerized system that can track patients' brain activity and automatically adjust drug dosages to maintain the correct state during medically induced comas. The system uses EEG patterns and real-time feedback to optimize anesthesia levels, eliminating the need for constant monitoring by nurses.
Researchers at MIT have discovered an exoplanet named Kepler 78b that is approximately 1.2 times the size of Earth and has a mass about 1.7 times that of our planet. The planet's density is also similar to Earth's, suggesting it may be composed mainly of rock and iron.
A new algorithm proposed by MIT professor Berthold Horn aims to alleviate traffic flow instabilities, which can cause unexplained traffic jams. The algorithm uses sensor information from cars behind and in front of each other to stabilize traffic flow and reduce the risk of jams.
MIT researchers have achieved a significant breakthrough by coupling photons and electrons in a topological insulator material for the first time. This novel approach enables the creation of materials whose electronic properties can be 'tuned' in real-time using precise laser beams.
Researchers used the Anklebot robot to characterize the normal mechanics of the joint in healthy volunteers, finding that the ankle is strongest when moving up and down and weakest when turning inward. The findings may help clinicians better understand physical limitations caused by strokes and other motor disorders.
Researchers at MIT have discovered a link between abnormal brain waves and schizophrenia symptoms in mice. The study found that mice lacking the brain protein calcineurin exhibit hyperactive brain-wave oscillations during rest and impaired mental replay, mirroring some schizophrenia symptoms.
Researchers at MIT have created a noninvasive diagnostic test that detects blood clots in urine, enabling early detection and treatment of life-threatening conditions such as strokes and heart attacks. The test uses nanoparticles to detect thrombin, a key factor in blood clotting, allowing for rapid screening and diagnosis.
A new microfluidic device can quickly identify harmless bacteria and those that produce biofilms, which are associated with disease. This breakthrough could enable faster diagnosis and more effective treatment of conditions such as cystic fibrosis.
Researchers at MIT discovered that ghrelin, a stress-induced hormone, primes the brain for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Chronic stress elevates ghrelin levels, making the brain more vulnerable to traumatic events. Blocking ghrelin receptors or growth hormone may help protect people at high risk for PTSD.
A new study from MIT and SFI reveals a significant rise in renewable-energy patents, driven by research investments and market growth. Patents for solar and wind energy increased dramatically between 2004 and 2009, while fossil-fuel technologies showed modest growth.
A new study by MIT economists Christopher Knittel and Aaron Smith challenges the notion that increasing ethanol content in gasoline reduces its price. The study found no causal link between ethanol and lower gas prices, contradicting previous claims of a $0.89 to $1.09 per gallon reduction.
MIT researchers discovered that under certain conditions, a cracked piece of metal can close and heal due to grain boundary migration. The mechanism, which involves disclination defects, has potential applications in designing self-healing materials for various industries.
A unique experiment involving 500 industrial plants in Gujarat, India, reveals that changing the auditing system from firm-paid to central-funded auditors significantly reduced pollution levels and increased accuracy. The study's findings have implications for the global debt-rating system and corporate financial reports.
The Deshpande Center is awarding grants to researchers developing innovative technologies in disease monitoring, cancer treatment, water desalination, and digital printing. The project focuses on developing proof-of-concept explorations and validation for emerging technologies with a potential impact on quality of life.
A new robot-vision algorithm based on the Bingham distribution can identify object orientations more accurately than existing algorithms, with a 50% improvement in cases of poor visual information. The algorithm combines probabilities from different sources and has been successfully tested in cluttered scenes.
Researchers at MIT have developed a new concept for a microscope that uses neutrons to create high-resolution images, enabling the probing of internal structures in metal objects and biological materials. The device could improve existing neutron imaging systems by a factor of 50, allowing for sharper images and smaller instruments.
The MIT researchers' new system of self-assembling robots uses a surprisingly simple scheme to overcome the complexity of traditional modular robot designs. By giving up on static stability and leveraging clever engineering, they create cubes that can climb, roll, and even move while suspended upside down.
A team of researchers from MIT has generated the first map of clouds on an exoplanet, Kepler 7b, which reveals a dense layer of clouds on one hemisphere. The study suggests that this cloud cover creates an atmosphere conducive to further cloud formation and regulates the planet's temperature.
Researchers at MIT have discovered charged droplets that can improve power plant efficiency by repelling each other and applying an external electric field. This technology has the potential to enhance heat transfer on condensers and even generate electricity from ambient air.
New tools developed by MIT researchers allow people with minimal programming skills to rapidly build cellphone applications for disaster relief, utilizing the App Inventor and RDF standards. The apps can monitor multiple data sources, display information on Google maps, and enable users to annotate or supplement the data.
Scientists at MIT have created tiny ceramic objects that can bend up to 7% without cracking, overcoming the material's brittleness. The flexible ceramics have potential for biomedical applications, such as triggering actions in microdevices.
Researchers have developed nanoparticles that can protect vaccines from being cleared by the lungs, allowing them to generate a strong immune response in both the lungs and distant mucosal surfaces. The technology has shown promise in preventing infections such as influenza and HIV, as well as delivering cancer vaccines.
A team of researchers has carried out the first detailed measurements of a unique kind of magnetism found in herbertsmithite. The study reveals a signature in the material's optical conductivity that supports theoretical predictions about the influence of magnetism on electrons.
Researchers developed a microfluidic device to study cancer cell extravasation, the process by which cells escape blood vessels. The device revealed that most arrested cells are trapped and eventually squeeze through, with their nuclei escaping even earlier than expected. Understanding this process can help identify therapies to preven...
A new study from MIT reveals a gene essential for memory extinction, which could benefit people with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Enhancing the activity of this gene, Tet1, might make it easier to replace fearful memories with more positive associations.
A recent MIT study found that high-energy electron activity in space may contribute to failures in geostationary satellites. The research team analyzed data from eight satellites and found that most failures occurred during declining phases of the solar cycle, particularly when Kp index was three or less.
Researchers at MIT developed a new model of malaria transmission that combines global forecasts with local rainfall data, predicting minimal increase in disease incidence despite projected temperature and rainfall changes. The study aims to provide more accurate predictions for specific variables relevant to society, such as malaria in...
Researchers at MIT have developed a software system, Jigsaw, that optimizes cache management for multicore chips, improving performance by an average of 18% and reducing energy consumption by up to 72%. The system adapts to changing computational patterns, allowing it to dynamically allocate cache space and minimize energy usage.
Researchers found that molecules of precise size can zip through nanotubes five times faster than those of a different size. This discovery could be used to design better membranes for desalination and develop sensors capable of detecting specific contaminants in water.
A new system enables cloud customers to quickly verify the proper execution of their software, protecting against malicious code and ensuring data privacy. The system uses a practical, succinct zero-knowledge proof that can fit in a single data packet.
The Center for Brains, Minds and Machines aims to foster collaboration across disciplines to understand intelligence and develop intelligent machines. The center will focus on four main research themes: integrating intelligence, circuits for intelligence, developing intelligence in children, and social intelligence.
Researchers at MIT have developed an inflatable antenna that can significantly amplify radio signals, allowing CubeSats to transmit data higher rates and farther. The design uses a sublimating powder to inflate the antenna in space, increasing its communication range seven times compared to existing CubeSats.
A team of MIT and Washington University researchers developed a terramechanics model called Artemis, simulating rover mobility over various soil types and terrain. The model predicts safest paths for rovers and can help mission planners avoid sand traps like the Spirit rover.
Researchers at MIT have elucidated a 37th type of chemical reaction, crucial for understanding climate-affecting aerosols and human physiology. The reaction involves the decomposition of complex organic molecules and has significant implications for combustion reactions in engines.
Researchers developed a new method to control genes by targeting transcription, allowing for positive and negative regulation with the same protein. The technique has the potential to enable complex synthetic biology circuits and applications such as disease detection and drug production.
Researchers propose a rigorous evidence-based approach to identify what works and doesn't work in collaborations, aiming to improve the efficiency of drug development. Thousands of organizations have come together in over 100 multi-stakeholder collaborations to solve specific problems.
E. coli bacteria produce at most six times more heat than needed to meet thermodynamic constraints, suggesting they could grow faster and still obey the second law of thermodynamics. This finding has implications for synthetic biology applications and may support the hypothesis that RNA evolved before DNA.
A paper by MIT economist Alp Simsek suggests that financial innovation does not reduce portfolio risk, but instead raises it by spreading risk through new financial instruments and creating situations where parties hold opposing views. This can lead to increased average portfolio risks as speculative variance becomes dominant.
Gold nanoparticles with special coatings can deliver drugs or biosensors to a cell's interior without damaging it. Researchers have figured out how the process works, including the crucial first step of fusing with lipids in the cell wall.
Researchers at MIT have identified a key brain circuit that controls anxiety levels, providing new insights into the development of effective treatments. The study found that manipulating this circuit can boost or reduce anxiety in mice, suggesting a promising avenue for future research.
Researchers at MIT have developed nanosensors that can detect variations in binding strength of antibody drugs, enabling more efficient production. The sensors also measure weak interactions with sugar chains, which are essential for drug effectiveness.
A new rechargeable flow battery has been engineered by MIT researchers, generating three times as much power per square centimeter as other membraneless systems. The device stores and releases energy through laminar flow, without relying on expensive membranes, and may enable cheaper, large-scale energy storage.