A recent MIT study warns that increasing levels of human-generated ozone will damage global vegetation, particularly crops, resulting in significant economic costs. By 2100, crop production is projected to decline by 10-12 percent, with the most affected regions being northern temperate areas.
Researchers at MIT have made significant advances toward a novel therapeutic device that can selectively provide signals to cells traveling through the bloodstream. The technology leverages cell rolling, a biological process that slows down cells as they flow through blood vessels, allowing them to sense signals from nearby tissues.
The team developed a structured gel with tunable optical properties that can rapidly change color in fractions of a second. The gel's color shift is limited to one dimension due to its one-dimensional periodic stack structure, resulting in a dramatic improvement over earlier color-changing gels.
MIT scientists propose that blood modulates how neurons process information and regulate brain activity. Blood flow affects the activity of nearby neurons, changing how they transmit signals and hence regulating information flow throughout the brain.
Scientists at MIT have identified a critical blood protein called HRI that plays a pivotal role in the body's iron recycling process. This discovery holds promise for developing new treatments for conditions like beta-thalassemia and erythropoietic protoporphyria.
Researchers at MIT discovered a link between gene SIRT1 and cholesterol flushing pathway, which could lead to drugs lowering risk of diseases like atherosclerosis and Alzheimer's. Potential treatments based on polyphenols may be developed to enhance SIRT1 effects.
Researchers at MIT have created an algorithm to convert brain signals into action in patients with paralysis or amputations, unifying disparate approaches to neural prosthetic devices. The technique provides a common framework for various measurement techniques and brain regions.
Researchers discovered that genes significantly impact people's perception of fairness in economic games, with identical twins showing greater similarity in gameplay than fraternal twins. Genetic influences account for up to 40% of the variation in response to unfair offers.
Researchers from MIT and Alnylam Pharmaceuticals have shown that siRNA does not interfere with the microRNA pathway, achieving 80% silencing of target genes in mice and hamster liver cells. This approach could lead to treatments for a wide range of diseases.
A new MIT model can predict structural changes in antibodies to enhance their effectiveness. The team has already created a new version of a cancer treatment drug with improved binding affinity.
Researchers at MIT have created an exoskeleton device to lighten the burden of heavy backpacks, transferring weight to the ground. The prototype successfully takes on 80% of an 80-pound load but impairs natural walking gait.
Researchers from the Picower Institute at MIT have identified the gene Ten_m3 as crucial for creating matched projections from both eyes in the brain. In mice with this gene knocked out, visual deficits persisted even when one eye was covered, but blocking the output of one eye restored vision.
Researchers at MIT have found that the body's innate ability to adapt to recurring stimuli can be leveraged to design more effective and less costly artificial respirators. By taking into account a patient's natural breathing rhythm, doctors may be able to minimize the need for induced sedation or paralysis.
Gene therapy holds great promise but faces safety concerns due to virus-based delivery methods. MIT researchers have created biodegradable polymers that can deliver genes safely and effectively, showing promise for ovarian cancer treatment and other applications.
Research using fMRI and behavioral studies confirms that adult human brain can reorganize and adapt after damage, such as stroke or visual disorders. The study found that the visually deprived cortex assumed new functional properties, affecting visual perception and leading to distortions in perception.
Researchers at MIT have developed an elegant method to synthesize the lethal components of red tides, shedding light on how algae generate these toxins. The breakthrough could help scientists prevent red tide outbreaks and accelerate the development of cystic fibrosis treatments.
Researchers at MIT have developed a technique to create 3D images of living cells, revealing internal structures and enabling the study of cellular function in its native state. The method uses interferometry and refractive index properties, producing high-resolution images with resolutions as low as 150 nanometers.
A new study predicts that Americans' 401(k) plans will be substantially wealthier in real terms by 2040, even if stock market returns are lower than historical values. The research found that future retirees will likely have more assets due to longer working careers and the shift towards 401(k) plans.
A new MIT study finds that mature brains process and retain rich, contextual memories better than younger brains. Adults demonstrated a more developed prefrontal cortex leading to enhanced contextual memory formation.
The new dredge, which uses jets of water to lift scallops off the seafloor without physically contacting it, caught 50-60% of a normal catch rate in field tests. This technology has the potential to reduce damage to marine habitat and catch essential fish species.
The MIT team has successfully built a mechanical fin that can propel a submarine like a bluegill sunfish. The fin uses a propeller-driven system and is made of a cutting-edge polymer that conducts electricity.
A new MIT model can predict how cells will respond to targeted drug therapies, enabling better treatment choices for individual patients. The model is based on similarities in cell signaling pathways and could help test the effectiveness of drugs for various diseases.
The new engine technology can improve fuel economy by several miles per gallon, cutting oil demand in the US by a million barrels a day. The mode-switching capability could appear in production models within a few years.
MIT scientists have discovered a connection between two proteins found in brain tumors that could help treat glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most aggressive form of brain cancer. Attacking both EGFRvIII and c-Met simultaneously is more effective than targeting either protein alone, offering new hope for treating this deadly disease.
An MIT team has solved the case of the throbbbing oil drop, explaining how evaporation-induced variations in surface tension cause a periodic expansion and contraction. The mechanism, which involves three interfaces between oil, water, and air, has implications for environmental engineering and could be applied to biological systems.
The BioSuit is a lightweight, skintight suit designed to allow superior mobility when humans reach Mars or return to the moon. It uses mechanical counter-pressure and stretches with the body, allowing freedom of movement.
Researchers at MIT's Picower Institute have discovered a molecular mechanism that governs the formation of fears stemming from traumatic events. Inhibiting a kinase called Cdk5 facilitates the extinction of fear, while increased activity persists fear learned in a particular context.
MIT and BU researchers develop modular system to design phages targeting specific bacterial biofilms, achieving high success rates. The technology has potential applications in treating infections and cleaning products.
Engineers at MIT developed a simple system to determine an area's landslide risk using data on history of landslides, bedrock type, slope inclination, and vegetation growth. The tool is especially applicable to developing countries in Southeast Asia where detailed analysis has not been performed.
MIT researchers have reversed symptoms of mental retardation and autism in mice with Fragile X Syndrome, a leading inherited cause of the conditions. The study identifies p21-activated kinase as a key enzyme that can be inhibited to reverse symptoms.
Researchers at MIT have successfully demonstrated wireless power transfer using coupled resonant objects, enabling the charging of devices without physical connections. The team's 'WiTricity' concept uses magnetic fields to transfer energy efficiently, promising a future free from bulky batteries and power cords.
An international team of researchers led by MIT Professor Subra Suresh has demonstrated that the parasite protein RESA causes red blood cells to become less deformable, a hallmark of deadly malaria. The study's findings could lead to treatments targeting this protein.
Researchers mapped the stiffness of bovine shin bone using a molecular force probe, revealing non-uniformity in bone's mechanical properties within a single region. The study's findings could lead to improved diagnoses and treatments of bone diseases, as well as the development of new materials with improved toughness.
Researchers at MIT have discovered a direct linear pathway connecting three molecules involved in synaptic formation, shedding light on the 'pruning' of neural circuits during development. This new pathway's role in development and learning could advance our understanding of devastating developmental neurological disorders.
Researchers found that transcription factors bind to different sites in human and mouse liver cells, suggesting distinct regulatory mechanisms. This discovery could help identify patterns in gene expression and provide guidance for researchers using mice to understand human biology.
A new highly sensitive NMR technique using a microscopic detector decreases protein sample size by several orders of magnitude, making it possible to diagnose diseases like Alzheimer's and Huntington's at an early stage. The technology could lead to the development of tabletop NMR devices in every research laboratory and medical office.
Researchers at MIT have developed a humanoid robot called Domo that can adapt to new environments, grasp objects, and interact with humans. The robot learns from its experiences and can perform tasks like putting away dishes, which could help elderly or wheelchair-bound people.
Researchers developed a tool to analyze brain folds using computer graphics techniques, providing insights into cortical development. The model may serve as a biomarker for early diagnosis of autism and other neurological diseases.
Researchers adapt oil industry technology to image the core-mantle boundary at 2,900 kilometers beneath Central and North America, providing detailed views of the lower mantle. The technique helps understand Earth's internal heat engine and giant cycle of heat production and transfer.
MIT researchers have cooled a dime-sized mirror to 0.8 degrees Kelvin, a temperature that would take 13 billion years for it to circle the Earth. The team hopes to use this technique to observe quantum behavior in large objects, which is currently only possible at extremely low temperatures.
A new device created by MIT researchers allows biologists to physically arrange cells to be touching, close but not touching, or completely separated. This enables researchers to study cell interactions and changes over time without breaching the divide, leading to insights into liver cell differentiation and cancer.
A new ocean model at MIT captures the diversity of underwater forests, simulating the growth and population patterns of microscopic plants that produce half the oxygen we breathe. The model's approach reflects natural selection, allowing for a more accurate representation of real-world ecosystems.
The MIT team has visualized a complex network of two types of curves formed by two distinct groups of particles. The first type of curve attracts other fluid particles, while the second type repels them. This discovery may lead to better understanding of turbulent mixing and aid in designing more efficient vehicles.
Scientists at MIT have developed a way to reversibly silence brain cells using pulses of yellow light, potentially leading to the development of optical brain prosthetics. The method could enable specific treatments with few or no side effects, offering new hope for neurological and psychiatric diseases.
A study shows that a wearable robotic therapy device improved arm function by an average of 23% in severely impaired stroke patients. The device, developed by MIT engineers, uses electrical muscle activity to provide power assistance and facilitate movement.
Researchers at MIT developed a new biopolymer suture made from material produced naturally by the human body, which is 30% stronger and more flexible than current sutures. The sutures have been cleared by the FDA for use in abdominal closures and tendon stitching, offering a potential solution to re-opening wounds.
Researchers at MIT and Harvard discover the final piece of vitamin B12's synthesis pathway, solving a decades-long mystery. The enzyme BluB catalyzes the formation of a key fragment, DMB, through an unusual cannibalization reaction.
The researchers created an inexpensive method to screen for millions of different biomolecules using tiny customizable particles. The technology has the potential to make possible the development of low-cost clinical bedside diagnostics and could be used for disease monitoring, drug discovery, or genetic profiling.
Susan Murcott, an MIT engineer, collaborates with people from developed and developing countries to solve humanitarian problems. Her co-evolutionary engineering design approach ensures sustainable, affordable, and safe drinking water solutions.
Researchers developed a new computer modeling approach to study material behavior under stress, offering insights into designing materials with optimal balance between strength and ductility. The model reveals that twin boundaries play a critical role in the strength and ductility of metals.