Researchers link bacterial spacing to photosynthesis, providing new insights into ancient fossils and the evolution of life. By studying microbial mats, they discovered a consistent one-centimeter spacing that records the maximum distance bacteria can compete for nutrients.
Researchers develop micromasonry technique to assemble artificial tissues by encapsulating living cells in cubes and arranging them in 3-D structures. The method holds potential for building artificial tissue or medical devices with controlled microarchitecture.
Researchers found that Cdk5rap2 and pericentrin work together to regulate neural growth in the developing brain. Loss of these proteins leads to genetic disorders characterized by abnormally small head circumference. The study may offer insight into human evolution and provide potential treatments for related diseases.
Researchers create powerful new tool for calculating Casimir forces, allowing repulsion in microelectromechanical systems. This breakthrough could significantly reduce the failure rate of existing MEMS devices and enable affordable, new technologies.
Researchers have discovered that individuals with a specific HLA B57 gene carry more potent killer T cells, which can recognize and attack HIV-infected cells. This finding may lead to the development of vaccines that provoke a similar response in people without the gene.
MIT researchers have developed a new tool for rapid DNA damage analysis, combining the comet assay's versatility with high-capacity platforms. The technology enables automated readout and can be used to test potential cancer drugs and detect environmental toxin effects.
Researchers at MIT have developed a new method to measure liquid-solid interaction with unprecedented precision, improving resolution by a factor of 10,000 or more. This allows for detailed studies of wetting on curved, textured, or complex surfaces.
Researchers at MIT discovered that tumor cells develop enhanced DNA repair pathways to evade cell death when treated with cisplatin. This finding offers insights into the mechanisms of resistance and may lead to the development of more effective cancer treatments.
Researchers at MIT and Harvard developed a new sensor to measure the rate of cell mass accumulation, finding that individual cells exhibit varying growth rates. The discovery sheds light on how cells control their growth, with implications for understanding cancer development.
A team of MIT researchers has developed a novel method to mimic photosynthesis by splitting water into oxygen and hydrogen atoms using modified viruses as biological scaffolding. This process can be powered directly by sunlight, skipping intermediate steps, and shows fourfold improvement in efficiency.
A team of MIT researchers has made significant progress on lithium-air batteries by identifying metal catalysts that can improve efficiency and increase energy density. The study finds that electrodes with gold or platinum catalysts show higher activity and efficiency than simple carbon electrodes.
Researchers disrupted activity in the right temporo-parietal junction using transcranial magnetic stimulation to impair subjects' ability to make moral judgments requiring understanding of others' intentions. This finding highlights the critical role of the TPJ in making moral judgments.
A new study suggests that emotions are crucial for making moral judgments. Patients with damage to the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VMPC) have difficulty responding emotionally to hypothetical situations and may judge others' actions as morally permissible even if they intended harm.
Researchers at MIT and Korea have developed a new approach to desalination called ion concentration polarization that can remove contaminants, viruses, and bacteria while producing fresh water. The system is small, portable, and efficient, making it suitable for disaster sites or remote locations.
Researchers have discovered how cyanobacteria's rate of cell division is regulated by the same circadian clocks that control human sleep patterns. The study found that cells divide once per day at specific points in the 24-hour cycle, with implications for understanding cellular renewal and cancer.
MIT researchers use high-speed atomic force microscopy to image bacteria in real-time, revealing a two-step process for AMP-induced cell death. The technique allows scientists to study living cells and gain insights into how bacteria become resistant to antimicrobial peptides.
Researchers used computer models to simulate silk's molecular and atomic mechanisms, revealing the arrangement of atomic bonds responsible for its strength. The study found that a critical size of beta-sheet crystals is necessary for silk to exhibit ultra-strong and ductile characteristics.
Researchers at MIT have discovered a new phenomenon that causes powerful waves of energy to shoot through carbon nanotubes, enabling the production of electricity. The discovery has led to the creation of a system that produces energy about 100 times greater than an equivalent weight of lithium-ion battery.
Researchers at MIT have developed a method to transform polyethylene into a thermally conductive material, outperforming some metals in thermal conductivity. The new process involves aligning polymer molecules to enhance heat transfer efficiency.
A new sensor array made of carbon nanotubes can detect single molecules of hydrogen peroxide emanating from a single living cell. The detection could lead to new targets for potential cancer drugs and diagnostic devices for some types of cancer.
Researchers found that random fluctuations in gene expression can cause some individuals to express a trait even if they have the mutated gene. This phenomenon is controlled by specific fluctuations in mRNA production and appears to be influenced by environmental factors.
Researchers at MIT have successfully built a germanium laser that can emit wavelengths useful for optical communications. This breakthrough paves the way for the development of light-based computers that could process data more efficiently than current electrical systems.
A new magnesium compound, MgT, has been shown to boost learning abilities, working memory, and short- and long-term memory in rats. The study suggests that maintaining normal or higher levels of magnesium may help slow age-related loss of cognitive function and prevent diseases affecting cognitive function.
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.