Researchers at MIT's Haystack Observatory have measured the radius of a black hole at the center of a distant galaxy using the Event Horizon Telescope. The measurement confirms Einstein's theory of general relativity by showing that the accretion disk is spinning in the same direction as the black hole.
A team of MIT researchers has found a way to use oscillating microscopic beads to carry out biomedical tests, potentially enabling multiple medical tests on a tiny device. The technique allows for precise measurements of tiny quantities of materials and could lead to fast, compact, and versatile medical-testing devices.
A prototype sensor array worn on the chest automatically creates a digital map of the wearer's environment, recognizing movement between floors. The system is envisioned as a tool to help emergency responders coordinate disaster response by providing accurate location estimates and visual features of the surroundings.
A study by MIT estimates that tropical regions will see 10% heavier rainfall extremes with every 1 degree Celsius rise in temperature, posing significant risks for flooding. The research suggests a higher sensitivity of tropical extreme rainfall to global warming than previously thought.
MIT engineers enhance skin permeability using ultrasound waves, enabling efficient transdermal drug delivery. The technology could pave the way for needle-free vaccinations and improve treatment of skin conditions like acne or psoriasis.
A new study has outlined how interactions between genes, proteins and molecules direct the development of stem cells into mature heart cells. The research could help scientists better understand how genetic mutations lead to congenital heart defects and assist efforts to engineer artificial heart tissue.
A new study found that brain scans can predict patients' responses to cognitive behavioral therapy for social anxiety disorder. The researchers measured brain activity while patients looked at faces before treatment and found those with greater activity in high-level visual processing areas showed the most improvement after therapy.
Researchers found that a few marine microbes produce natural antibiotics that protect their populations from competitors and neighboring populations. This cooperative behavior, where some individuals act as protectors of the many, is a surprising example of social organization in microbial populations.
About 80 percent of the human genome is found to be biochemically active, regulating nearby genes and influencing expression in different cells. The discovery helps understand how mutations in regulatory elements lead to diseases like lupus and diabetes.
Researchers at MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory presented a new system called Pyxis that automatically streamlines website database access patterns. This results in significant speedups of up to three times and reduced bandwidth usage. Pyxis works with languages already favored by web developers, such as Java.
When the malaria parasite infects human red blood cells, it launches a 48-hour remodeling process that enhances cell membrane stiffness through the RESA protein. This increased rigidity impairs microcirculation, especially at fever temperatures.
Researchers at MIT have successfully produced complex electronic components from molybdenum disulfide, a material that naturally comes with a bandgap and could enable new products such as glowing walls, clothing with embedded electronics, and glasses with built-in display screens. The discovery opens up a new realm of research on two-d...
Researchers at MIT have developed a method to create alloys with extremely tiny grains that remain stable even under high heat. The new material, made of tungsten and titanium, has exceptional strength and impact resistance, making it suitable for various applications.
Researchers have successfully engineered a soil bacterium to produce isobutanol, a renewable fuel source that can be used in current engines with minimal modification. The microbe, Ralstonia eutropha, was modified to use carbon dioxide as its carbon source, paving the way for potential applications in industrial-scale production.
Researchers at MIT have developed a new process to create defect-free patterns of nanocrystal films with nanoscale resolution, enabling applications in electronic devices, solar cells, and biosensors. The electrical conductivity of the films is roughly 180 times greater than that of conventional methods.
A new study finds that strokes alter muscle synergy patterns, with distinct disruptions following stroke severity and time since the stroke. This discovery could lead to improved rehabilitation for stroke patients and a better understanding of brain motor control.
A new thruster design, developed by MIT, uses 500 microscopic tips to create a small puff of charged particles that can help propel small satellites forward. The microthrusters have the potential to enable CubeSats to change orbits and reduce space clutter by propelling them down to lower orbits where they can burn up.
MIT researchers have developed RNA-delivering nanoparticles that allow for rapid screening of new drug targets in mice. These nanoparticles target the ID4 protein, shrinking ovarian tumors in their first mouse study. The technology has the potential to relieve a significant bottleneck in cancer-drug development.
Researchers found that cells grown on different types of scaffolds vary in their ability to repair damaged blood vessels and suppress inflammation. Cells grown on porous surfaces tend to be more effective at repairing damage.
Researchers have found that plants exhibit a wide range of mechanical properties, from stiffness and strength. Fruits and vegetables are the least stiff, while densest palms can be 100,000 times stiffer. Plants' microstructures, such as cell wall composition and arrangement, contribute to this diversity.
New experiments show graphene reacts chemically and electrically differently depending on the substrate material, allowing for patterned surfaces with varying chemical behavior. This discovery enables the creation of microarrays of sensors and potential protective coatings for materials.
MIT's Robust Robotics Group has developed an algorithm that enables autonomous-control algorithms for indoor flight of GPS-denied airplanes, allowing for obstacle dodging and cargo capacity. The plane uses a laser rangefinder and inertial sensors to determine its state in real-time, and combines two different types of state-estimation ...
Researchers at MIT and Harvard have developed a soft, peristalsis-driven robot that can inch along surfaces using segments of artificial muscle made from nickel-titanium alloy. The robot, named Meshworm, is remarkably resilient, surviving multiple blows with a hammer without sustaining damage.
A new MIT study suggests that the protein SIRT1 plays a crucial role in protecting against metabolic disorders linked to high-fat diets, including diabetes. When given a high-fat diet, mice lacking SIRT1 developed metabolic disorders much sooner than normal mice, highlighting its potential as a safeguard against obesity-linked diseases.
MIT neuroscientists discovered that two major classes of brain cells repress neural activity through simple yet profound mathematical computations. The findings could help scientists understand diseases caused by imbalances in brain inhibition and excitation, including autism, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder.
Researchers at MIT and HMS have precisely measured the growth rates of single cells, revealing that mammalian cells divide when their growth rate hits a specific threshold. This breakthrough offers a possible explanation for how cells determine when to start dividing.
The new process creates wrinkled surfaces with precise sizes and patterns, useful for microfluidic systems, sensing and diagnostics, photonic devices, and more. The system produces deterministic two-dimensional patterns of wrinkles without masks or complex printing processes.
Researchers at MIT's CSAIL have developed Halide, a new programming language that simplifies image-processing algorithms and improves performance. The language automates code-optimization procedures, reducing the need for manual tweaking and allowing for significant speedups.
Researchers have developed multiprover interactive proofs that are resilient against entanglement, a breakthrough that has implications for cryptography and quantum physics. The findings provide insight into the complexity of computational problems and demonstrate the limitations of quantum information in cheating mechanisms.
Researchers at MIT have discovered a bacterial gene that enables microbes to thrive in oxygen-depleted conditions, producing lipid biomarkers that may signify dramatic changes in Earth's history. This discovery could provide insights into mass extinctions and climate disturbances.
A new model ranks US airports in terms of their spreading influence, with Honolulu surprisingly ranking third due to its location and connections. The study could inform vaccine allocation strategies and national security agencies.
Researchers analyzed images of Titan's river networks, finding that they resemble early stages of terrestrial rivers' evolution. In some regions, rivers have caused little erosion, raising questions about Titan's geologic past and potential processes such as tectonic upheaval and icy lava eruptions.
Researchers developed a new approach to creating microchip structures using self-assembling polymers, producing arrays of wires with perfect square and rectangular patterns. This technique can create complex shapes, such as cylinders, spheres, and double cylinders, with a simple template.
Researchers have designed an algorithm that enables robots to navigate and view complex structures on ships, including propellers and shafts, using sonar data. The system can detect small mines as small as an iPod and significantly improves the robot's path length, making it competitive with divers in speed and efficiency.
A new semiautonomous safety system, developed by MIT engineers, uses onboard cameras and laser rangefinders to identify hazards and detect safe zones. The system allows drivers to control the vehicle while avoiding obstacles, with few collisions reported in over 1,200 trials.
A clinical trial found that Souvenaid improved verbal-memory performance in 40% of patients with mild Alzheimer's, while a control group showed deterioration. The nutrient cocktail boosts new synapse formation, potentially reversing cognitive decline.
A new algorithm developed by MIT and Harvard researchers drastically reduces the time it takes to find a particular gene sequence in a database of genomes. The more genomes it's searching, the greater the speedup it affords.
Researchers from MIT and NUS have developed an algorithm that enables Wi-Fi-connected cars to aggregate data from hundreds of vehicles, uploading it to the Internet. The system can reduce bandwidth requirements by identifying key nodes in the network, which can then share their connections with others.
A new study reveals how cells exploit gene sequences to survive toxic attacks by rapidly producing proteins that counteract the harm. The research found that toxic stresses reprogram the tRNA modifications to divert the cell's protein-building machinery away from routine activities to emergency action.
Researchers at MIT have developed a new remote-login program called Mosh, which solves many of SSH's problems and handles roaming better. The underlying communication scheme could also improve other mobile applications, such as Gmail or Google Chat.
A new analysis of surface textures reveals that microscale roughening can improve heat transfer by more than doubling the maximum dissipation. The research found that a simple roughening of the surface improved heat transfer as much as previous techniques used to produce nanoscale patterns, and provides a theoretical framework for anal...
A multidisciplinary team at MIT developed a new mathematical approach to simulate noncrystalline materials, which could lead to more efficient solar cells and organic LED lights. The method uses free probability applied to random matrices, achieving accurate predictions with great precision.
Researchers at MIT used zebrafish to study genes associated with autism, finding that nearly all produced brain abnormalities when deleted. The study identified two key genes, kif22 and aldolase a, which may contribute to the development of neurological disorders.
Scientists used data from orbiting spacecraft to determine the size of carbon dioxide snow particles in Martian clouds. The study found particles at both poles are about the size of a red blood cell, with differences in size between the south and north poles.
MIT engineers have developed a fuel cell that runs on glucose, potentially powering brain implants to help paralyzed patients. The glucose fuel cell strips electrons from glucose molecules to create a small electric current, and its biocompatibility has been proven through platinum catalysts.
Researchers at MIT have developed an algorithm allowing robots to quickly learn an individual's preference for a task and adapt accordingly. This enables robots and humans to work side by side, improving productivity and efficiency in manufacturing plants.
A new MIT study examines how chronic inflammation can lead to cancer. The researchers found that the liver and colon respond differently to infection, with neutrophils secreting hypochlorous acid damaging proteins and DNA in the colon. The study could help predict the risk of chronic inflammation and develop ways to halt it.
A survey by MIT reveals that 95% of major Latin American cities are planning for climate change, compared to only 59% in the US. Cities worldwide are taking proactive steps to adapt to global warming, often due to natural disasters and changing climate conditions.
A team of researchers has created nanoparticles made from DNA and RNA that can deliver snippets of RNA directly to tumors, turning off genes expressed in cancer cells. The new particles pose less risk of side effects and offer better targeting due to their biodegradable nature.
A new system developed by MIT researchers can accurately analyze surveillance camera footage in real-time, reducing false alarms and increasing response time. By using a mathematical framework to weigh the pros and cons of different algorithms, the system can identify potential threats quickly and efficiently.