Researchers at MIT and Rockefeller University have successfully grown hepatitis C virus in lab-grown liver cells, allowing for testing of new treatments. The innovation enables prolonged cell survival and reproduction, enabling scientists to study the virus's responses to different drugs.
A new experiment has confirmed that a levitating magnet can create a dense plasma, a crucial step in achieving fusion reactions. The findings offer a potential new path to fusion energy, which could provide a long-term solution to the planet's energy needs without contributing to global warming.
Asteroids that come within a quarter of the distance between Earth and the moon experience seismic shakes strong enough to create fresh surface material. The finding helps answer decades-long questions about meteorite origins and opens a new field of asteroid seismology.
A twin study found that face recognition is heritable and influenced by separate genes than general intelligence or IQ. The study's findings support a modularity hypothesis, suggesting specialized brain regions for specific cognitive skills like face recognition.
Researchers have developed targeted nanoparticles that can deliver medicine directly to damaged artery walls, potentially eliminating the need for arterial stents in some patients. The nanoparticles, called nanoburrs, release their drug payload over several days and can be designed to target specific areas of damage.
A team of MIT materials scientists report that the scaly-foot snail's three-layered shell structure helps dissipate mechanical energy, making it stronger than other naturally occurring or manmade armor. By copying this unique design, scientists could develop better armor for military use.
Researchers at MIT have found that cells with higher activity levels are more likely to survive and integrate into the adult brain. This discovery is significant for cell replacement therapies used to treat neurological diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
A combination of nutrients, including uridine, choline, and DHA, has shown promise in improving verbal memory in patients with mild Alzheimer's disease. The study found that 40% of treated patients improved performance in a test of verbal memory, while 24% of control subjects showed improvement.
Neuroscientists at MIT have developed a powerful new class of tools that can reversibly shut down brain activity using different colors of light. These 'super silencers' exert exquisite control over the timing of shutdown, allowing researchers to study neural circuits and potentially treat disorders such as chronic pain, epilepsy, and ...
Researchers at MIT have developed a novel RNA interference technique that can silence multiple genes in the liver, offering potential new treatments for diseases such as cancer. The breakthrough delivery method uses lipid-like molecules to improve efficacy and reduce dosage requirements.
Researchers at MIT have found that chemical energy from ATP controls the shape of red blood cell membranes and determines their membrane vibrations. The study, published in PNAS, provides conclusive evidence that these vibrations require ATP input to occur.
Researchers strengthen the connection between sirtuins and calorie restriction's life-extending effects by targeting a brain system controlling growth and lifespan length. The findings suggest that drugs boosting sirtuin production could help fight diseases of aging, improving health in later life.
Researchers at MIT have developed a novel method for moving tiny objects using magnetic fields, mimicking the motion of cilia in cells. The system could provide precise control over liquids and particles, enabling virtual microfluidics and potentially advancing biomedical screening and medical diagnostics.
Researchers at MIT and Boston University have identified a novel mechanism by which the drug hydroxyurea kills bacteria, inducing the production of toxic molecules that ultimately lead to cell death. This discovery raises the possibility of developing new antibiotics that target similar mechanisms.
MIT chemists develop a new platinum compound called mitaplatin that selectively destroys tumor cells while leaving normal cells intact. The compound combines cisplatin and dichloroacetate to target cancer cells' altered mitochondrial properties.
Researchers at MIT have developed a new method to tune terahertz quantum cascade lasers, enabling the creation of compact and tunable scanners capable of identifying explosives. The technique involves manipulating the transverse mode of the laser using a mechanical lever, allowing for precise control over the emitted frequency.
Researchers propose a novel configuration of existing components to create a power plant that runs on natural gas without emitting greenhouse gases. The system has the advantage of producing clean water as a side benefit and could be retrofitted with carbon capture technologies.
Researchers developed a computer model to predict physiologically realistic drug delivery patterns from stents in branched arterial vessels. The model shows that spatial variation in drug distribution can be significant and may affect treatment outcomes.
Researchers at MIT have developed a new technology that can convert waste heat into electricity with an efficiency of up to 90% of the Carnot Limit. This could lead to significant improvements in energy efficiency, such as double the talk time on cellphones and longer laptop battery life.
Scientists at MIT have discovered that tumors can arise from different types of cells in the pancreas, depending on whether they are injured or inflamed. This finding could lead to new treatments and early diagnosis methods for pancreatic cancer.
Researchers at MIT and San Camillo Hospital have shown that motor impairments in stroke patients can be understood as impairments in specific combinations of muscle activity. The findings support the concept of synergies, which are thought to represent fundamental building blocks for complex movements.
Researchers identified populations of neurons coding time with extreme precision in the primate brain's prefrontal cortex and striatum. This fine-scale coverage enables precise timing of actions, such as speaking or driving a car.
Researchers at MIT have successfully generated blood vessels near damaged tissue using enhanced stem cells equipped with genes producing growth factors. The breakthrough could lead to new treatments for infarctions and induced blood supply for engineered tissues.
A new analysis by MIT researchers reveals that even moderate carbon-reduction policies can substantially lower the risk of future climate change. To avoid a 2 degree Celsius temperature increase, global emissions reductions are required now to provide a good chance of stabilizing the climate.
A team of researchers found that some microscopic marine organisms recovered within a century after the mass extinction, contradicting previous estimates of millions of years. This discovery suggests that the atmosphere cleared quickly, allowing ecosystems to recover from the impact's effects.
Researchers at MIT have designed a retinal implant that can help restore some vision in individuals who have lost their sight due to these conditions. The chip stimulates nerve cells in the retina to bypass damaged layers and transmit signals to the brain.
Researchers at MIT have developed a pressurized oxy-fuel combustion system that reduces energy penalty and increases efficiency of carbon capture systems for power plants. The technology aims to make carbon sequestration more practical and affordable, helping to curb global climate change.
Researchers used high-resolution spectrograph to reveal unexpected tilt of up to 70 degrees from vertical in binary star DI Herculis. The discovery resolves longstanding mystery and sheds light on formation and evolution of binary stars, with implications for Einstein's theory of relativity.
Researchers found that dynamic information is critical to learning to segregate objects from backgrounds. After three patients regained sight, their performance improved over time, with success rates increasing to almost normal when objects were in motion.
Researchers at MIT's Picower Institute for Learning and Memory found that rats use a mental instant replay of their actions to help them decide what to do next. The study reveals that these sequences also occur when the animals are awake and may help them consider future options.
A new MIT study forecasts an increase in extreme rainfall events, with precipitation in these events expected to rise by 6% for every one degree Celsius temperature increase. Climate models show varying results within the tropics, prompting further research to determine outcomes in tropical regions.
A team of MIT chemists has created a new synthesis technique that allows for the easy addition of fluorine atoms to aromatic compounds, commonly used in drugs. This breakthrough could lead to more flexible and cost-effective drug design and development.
Researchers at MIT's Picower Institute for Learning and Memory discovered that brain waves regulate the timing of attention shifts in the visual system. The study found that brain waves cycle between high and low activity states, providing a framework for shifting attention from one location to another.
Researchers at MIT have successfully grown carbon nanotubes without a metal catalyst, using zirconium oxide instead, which could improve electronic performance and material strength
New research by MIT cancer biologists shows that tumor mutations can predict chemotherapy success. Genetic profiling of tumors can help doctors tailor treatments to each patient. The study identified specific genes and their interactions to determine how well cancer cells respond to chemotherapy.
A genetic mutation in a single amino acid causes defective collagen molecules to repel each other, leading to brittle bones and tissue failure. This study uses molecular-based multi-scale analysis to understand the impact of material properties on human disease.
MIT researchers have confirmed a long-predicted breakdown in Planck's blackbody radiation law, allowing for increased heat transfer between objects. The discovery has significant implications for applications such as hard disk storage and energy harvesting from wasted heat.
A new gene therapy technique using nanoparticles has shown promise in suppressing ovarian tumor growth in mice, offering a potential treatment for late-stage ovarian cancer. The nanoparticles deliver a killer gene that kills cells by disrupting protein production, avoiding toxic side effects common with traditional chemotherapy.
Researchers at MIT's Picower Institute for Learning and Memory found that brain cells only change their responses after a successful behavior, but not after a failure. This study sheds light on the neural mechanisms underlying learning and memory, with implications for understanding how we learn and treating learning disorders.
Researchers found that brain initially stores improvements in one pathway before transferring to motor pathway for long-term storage. Young zebra finches learn to sing by mimicking their fathers' song and eventually master the syllables and rhythms through repeated practice.
A team from MIT and the CDC discovered that the new H1N1 strain's surface protein binds to human receptors less effectively than other flu viruses. This restricted binding along with a genetic variation in an H1N1 polymerase enzyme explains why the virus has not spread as efficiently as seasonal flu.
A new computer model developed at MIT allows researchers to design more stable antibodies, reducing clumping and aggregation issues. The model identifies regions responsible for aggregation and enables mutation of amino acids to increase stability without affecting function.
Researchers develop nanocomposite materials that can endure high temperatures, radiation, and extreme mechanical loading. The ultimate goal is to use these materials in energy applications including nuclear power, fuel cells, solar energy, and carbon sequestration.
Researchers at MIT identified the cause of concrete creep and found a way to slow its rate, enabling ultra-high-density materials that can last hundreds of years. This breakthrough could lead to enormous cost-savings and reduced CO2 emissions in construction.
A team of MIT researchers has developed a new approach to designing stretchable electronics by studying the delamination of stickers, which can lead to damage in twisted materials. By controlling the strength of adhesion and elastic properties, they can create devices that allow wires to move with the material without breaking.
Researchers discovered that ultracool subdwarfs have unique and diverse orbits around the Milky Way, with some stars traveling at speeds of over a million miles per hour. One star may be an intergalactic visitor, originating from another galaxy.
Researchers at MIT created a model to describe and predict phantom traffic jams, which form when high-density traffic becomes self-sustaining. The model could help engineers design roads with enough capacity to prevent such jams, as well as identify safe speed limits and hot spots for accidents.
Researchers created a fast, low-power radio chip inspired by the human inner ear's cochlea, enabling wireless devices to receive cell phone, Internet, radio, and TV signals. The chip is faster than any human-designed spectrum analyzer and operates at much lower power.
A new system developed by MIT scientists can monitor the fetal heartbeat noninvasively, allowing for early detection of potential problems. The system separates the maternal ECG signal from the fetus's and background noise thanks to a complex algorithm, enabling clinicians to catch subtle variations in the fetal heartbeat.
Researchers have developed cells that can count up to three cellular events, mimicking computer chips with simple circuits. The RTC Counter uses a series of genes activated in a specific order, while the DIC Counter stores digital memory by encoding 'bits' of information.