Researchers at MIT's Computer Graphics Group have developed new methods to efficiently simulate blur in digital computer graphics, reducing rendering time by minutes. By simplifying the computation of blur, these techniques can create more convincing video games and frames of digital video, improving overall visual quality.
The new composites have a co-continuous structure, allowing for the combination of materials with different properties. This results in materials that are stiff, strong and tough, as well as damage-tolerant even when subjected to multiple cracks.
Researchers discovered that babies as young as 12 months old can use their knowledge of basic rules to form expectations about new events. A computational model accurately predicts infants' surprise at unexpected events, suggesting they reason by mentally simulating possible scenarios.
A new study from MIT neuroscientists shows that the most memorable photos are those containing people, followed by static indoor scenes and human-scale objects. The researchers developed a computer algorithm to rank images based on memorability, which could be useful for graphic designers and photo editors.
Researchers have developed a method to boost algal hydrogen production by 400% using bioengineered proteins, demonstrating the competition between sugar and hydrogen production in algae. This discovery paves the way for large-scale hydrogen fuel manufacturing using water and sunlight.
A new study models technology complexity to predict rapid improvement. The researchers found that more complex systems change and improve slowly over time.
A study by MIT researchers found that remanufacturing products can be more energy-efficient in some cases, but new technology often cancels out savings. The team looked at life-cycle analysis and found that many remanufactured products are less energy-efficient due to newer versions being more efficient.
MIT physicists have discovered a new physical phenomenon that can greatly enhance capacitance in transistors, which may lead to increased clock speed and reduced heat. The discovery, reported in the journal Science, challenges existing understanding of physics and has potential implications for computer chip design.
A new computational model analyzes any type of complex network, revealing critical points for controlling the entire system. Researchers found sparse networks require more nodes to control, while dense networks need fewer. The algorithm offers potential applications in reprogramming adult cells and identifying new drug targets.
A new MIT study highlights the variability in greenhouse gas emissions from alternative fuels, suggesting that conventional fossil fuels may sometimes be a more environmentally friendly choice. The research found that different types of land used for biofuel production can result in varying levels of carbon dioxide emissions, with some...
A study by MIT researchers calculated the likelihood of a particular evolutionary adaptation reversing itself. They found that only a small percentage of evolutionary adaptations in drug-resistance genes can be reversed, but only if they involve fewer than four discrete genetic mutations.
A team of MIT chemical engineers has created a new detector that can pick up a single molecule of an explosive such as TNT, surpassing the sensitivity of existing explosives detectors. The sensor uses protein fragments to recognize nitro-aromatic compounds and can identify unique 'fingerprints' for different explosives.
Researchers at MIT have found a way to manipulate the electrical and thermal properties of materials by changing external conditions such as temperature. The technique can change electrical conductivity by over 100 times and heat conductivity by threefold, making it suitable for various applications including electronic circuitry and t...
Researchers at MIT have developed a new system for harnessing the sun's heat to generate electricity, producing power with an efficiency roughly eight times higher than previous devices. The system uses flat, stationary panels and eliminates the need for tracking systems, making it potentially less expensive to produce.
MIT scientists have designed a new type of nanoparticle that can target nearly any type of tumor by utilizing the acidic environment shared by most cancers. The particles are designed to break down in the slightly more acidic environment near a tumor, revealing another layer that can penetrate individual cells.
A team at MIT led by Mark Bathe has developed software to predict the three-dimensional shape of complex DNA structures, making it easier to create nanoassembly technology. This advancement enables biologists, chemists, and materials scientists to design and build intricate shapes using DNA without extensive expertise in DNA origami.
Researchers at MIT have developed a novel method to enhance solar-cell efficiency by utilizing viruses to assemble carbon nanotubes on a surface. This technique has shown significant improvements in power-conversion efficiency, with enhancements up to 10.6 percent.
MIT researchers develop new communications protocols using motion detection to improve handoffs, throughput and bit rate selection on wireless networks. Experiments show gains of up to 50% in network performance.
Researchers at MIT have created ultracold gas clouds that repel each other, unlike normal gases. This discovery could help explain the behavior of high-temperature superconductors and neutron stars.
Researchers at MIT have identified a genetic change that helps lung tumors metastasize, with reduced NKX2-1 activity associated with higher death rates for lung-cancer patients. Understanding this gene's role may help scientists develop drugs to counteract its loss.
A new microfluidic device, developed by MIT researchers, can detect single cancer cells in a blood sample and also identify viruses like HIV. This device has the potential to revolutionize cancer diagnosis and make it more accessible in developing countries.
Researchers at MIT have devised a new method to detect internal damage in airplane composite materials, allowing for faster inspection. The approach uses a handheld device and heat-sensitive camera to reveal underlying problems.
Researchers created a computational model that describes how intestinal cells in mice respond to TNF, revealing the importance of location and protein interactions in cell fate. The study demonstrates the power of systems biology in modeling complex biological systems and predicting disease outcomes.
Researchers at MIT have identified a single mutation in the H1N1 genetic makeup that would allow it to be much more easily transmitted between people. The finding should give the World Health Organization something to watch out for, as new strains of the virus may emerge with greater ability to infect humans.
Researchers at MIT propose an experiment using a large number of photons and beam splitters to calculate complex distributions. The challenge lies in simulating the sampling process, which is currently computationally intractable.
In people born blind, parts of the visual cortex are recruited for language processing, overturning the idea that language processing occurs in highly specialized brain regions. The study suggests that brain function is more dynamic and adaptable than previously thought.
MIT researchers discovered that ocean currents cause elongated microbes to filter light, affecting photosynthesis and phytoplankton growth rates. This phenomenon was previously overlooked in models of light propagation, but fluid flow can change things, influencing carbon fixation and remote sensing estimates.
Scientists have designed a new type of nanoparticle that can deliver synthetic versions of proteins normally produced by viruses, eliciting a strong immune response comparable to live virus vaccines. The nanoparticles consist of concentric fatty spheres that can be used to develop vaccines against cancer and infectious diseases.
High-functioning autistic adults tend to blame others for accidents, even if they had good intentions. This challenges the typical understanding of theory of mind and morality in autism.
Researchers at MIT have discovered a new process relating to the way drops of water spread after striking a surface, which could help engineers design more durable condensing surfaces. The effect explains why blades used in power-plant turbines tend to degrade rapidly and need frequent replacement.
Researchers found that endothelial cells lining blood vessels secrete molecules suppressing tumor growth and invasion. The discovery could lead to a new way to treat cancer by implanting these cells adjacent to the tumor.
Researchers at MIT's Picower Institute of Learning and Memory discovered that relatively minor details are sometimes linked to long-term memories. They found that irrelevant information that follows a relevant event is more likely to be integrated into long-term memory, and that this can occur within an hour and a half after the event.
Researchers have developed nanoparticles that deliver the cancer drug cisplatin more effectively and safely, reducing its potentially severe side effects. The new particles successfully shrink tumors in mice using only one-third of the conventional dose.
The study found that a specific protein called GRA15 triggers inflammation in the host, leading to brain damage. Researchers hope to develop new drugs or vaccines to block this process and prevent chronic infections.
Researchers at MIT's Picower Institute for Learning and Memory found that some neural sequences in mice' brains that fired during a novel experience had already occurred before the animal rested. This phenomenon, called preplay, helps encode related experiences occurring in the future.
Researchers discovered a carbon-rich atmosphere in WASP-12b, suggesting rocky exoplanets could be composed of pure carbon rocks like diamond or graphite. This finding introduces an entirely new class of exotic exoplanets to explore, with implications for the possibility of life on these planets.
Researchers at MIT discovered that restoring the p53 gene function can slow down the spread of malignant lung tumors in mice, but not in benign ones. The study suggests that p53 restoration could help prevent aggressive cancers from metastasizing.
Researchers at MIT and Harvard discovered that the brain assigns gender to faces based on location, challenging a long-held neuroscience principle. The study found that when people view computer-generated faces without other distinguishing features, patterns of biases emerge based on where the face appears on the screen.
Researchers at MIT have created computer models that show a face shield can significantly reduce traumatic brain injury by impeding direct transmission of blast waves to the face. The study's findings offer a potential solution for preventing head injuries sustained by US troops during explosions.
Researchers at MIT identified a new cancer drug target by shutting down an enzyme that controls DNA repair, which can enhance the effectiveness of traditional chemotherapy drugs. The findings suggest that inhibiting this enzyme may help treat difficult cancers resistant to ordinary treatments and prevent drug resistance.
Researchers at MIT have genetically engineered periwinkle plants to produce unnatural variants of their usual alkaloid products, which could lead to more effective cancer treatments. The team successfully attached halogens to vinblastine precursors using bacterial genes, expanding the plant's pharmaceutical repertoire.
Tumor cells can escape chemotherapy by hiding in the thymus, an organ where immune cells mature, and are bathed in growth factors that protect them from drugs' effects. Researchers plan to test drugs that interfere with these protective factors to prevent cancer relapse.
Scientists at MIT find molecular mechanism for storing and releasing heat on demand, enabling potential for rechargeable batteries and fuel, and opening door to more abundant materials.
More intense storms will occur in the Southern Hemisphere year-round, while the Northern Hemisphere will experience stronger storms during winter and weaker ones in summer. Global warming's effects on storm patterns can lead to increased air pollution and changes in ocean circulation.
MIT neuroscientists identify a 'chain reaction' of brain activity that controls the timing of song in birds, with individual neurons firing at precise intervals to produce a stereotypical song. The study's findings support the 'synfire chain' model, where each neuron triggers the next, like falling dominos.
Researchers found that brains of congenitally blind individuals showed greater reorganization of the visual cortex, which processes motion, compared to sighted individuals who became blind at a later age. This suggests that early life plays a crucial role in shaping brain function and that retraining may be possible.
Scientists compare ocean microbe genomes to understand environmental adaptations and evolutionary changes. The study found significant differences in phosphorus-related genes between Atlantic and Pacific populations, revealing a strong selective force driving these adaptations.
Scientists have developed a microchip technology that rapidly tests potential drugs on tiny worms, identifying promising chemicals for regenerating nerve cells. The technique has already found one class of neuronal regenerators and holds promise for treating Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and ALS.
Researchers created a new method called BLINC to directly observe protein-protein interactions in live brain cells. They found that synaptic activity affects the growth of a complex that mediates signaling into neurons, leading to excitatory synapse maturation.
Researchers found that group collective intelligence accounts for 40% of performance variation across diverse tasks. Teams with more women demonstrated greater social sensitivity and collective intelligence compared to teams with fewer women.