Researchers at MIT create a switchable surface that can change from water-attracting to water-repelling by applying an electric field, with potential applications in drug delivery and biomedical engineering. The surface's properties are controlled using conformational transitions, allowing for reversible modification.
A team led by Professor Ram Sasisekharan at MIT has created designer drugs for preventing blood clots that can cause strokes and heart disease during surgery. The new formulations are more potent and effective than conventional forms of the drug, offering a potential alternative to existing treatments.
Researchers have found that traditional Chinese approaches combined with modern techniques can provide the same living conditions as high-rise structures while reducing energy consumption. The design incorporates natural ventilation, solar heating, and green spaces to create a comfortable and sustainable living environment.
A recent MIT study suggests that irrigation pumping may increase or decrease arsenic levels in Bangladesh's drinking wells, with complex effects on groundwater chemistry. The researchers found that degradation of organic carbon by microbes mobilizes arsenic, but deeper wells may reduce arsenic concentrations in some areas.
Researchers successfully transmitted haptic (touch) feedback across the Atlantic, enabling collaborative tasks like lifting a virtual box. The demonstration uses a robotic arm to simulate touch, allowing users to feel each other's manipulations in real-time.
A focused microwave heat therapy technique shows promise in killing tumor cells before surgery and radiation, with a majority of patients experiencing significant tumor kill. The technology was invented by MIT researchers and is being developed into a clinical thermotherapy system by Celsion Corporation.
The MIT model provides predictive capabilities for understanding defect nucleation and growth, crucial for nanotechnology. It explains how defects like cracks or dislocations develop from waves in four stages, providing a key finding for materials science.
A 150-ton magnet in Japan is a testbed for the 925-ton magnet needed for ITER, which aims to demonstrate nuclear fusion as an energy source. The team has made progress in understanding the magnet's performance and reducing costs.
A study by MIT researchers found that nitrate pollution has a mitigating effect on arsenic release in polluted lakes. The discovery sheds light on the complex dynamics of water quality management and has implications for other pollutants, including phosphate and toxic metals.
A new MIT technique involves growing cartilage cells within a novel gel, which is then delivered to damaged joints. The engineered tissue has mechanical and biochemical properties similar to native cartilage.
The study provides direct measurements of nanoscale forces between cartilage molecules and a tiny probe tip, shedding light on the complex biocomposite material's behavior. The results reveal a mix of electrical repulsive and steric forces contributing to its unique properties.
Researchers at MIT have created a biodegradable polymer called biorubber that can stretch and snap back into shape, mimicking the elasticity of human organs. This breakthrough material has potential applications in tissue engineering, including heart tissue, blood vessels, and whole organs for transplantation.
Researchers at MIT have developed a biodegradable smart suture that can change shape in response to temperature changes, potentially solving medical implant challenges. The new material has shown promise for creating temporary shapes in confined spaces, such as those associated with minimally invasive surgery.
MIT scientists develop polymer fibers with a 'perfect mirror' structure, enabling reflection of light across various wavelengths and potential applications in optical textiles. The breakthrough utilizes dielectric materials to control the fiber's optical properties.
A new MIT model proposes that cosmic explosions may be triggered by a cosmic tango between a black hole and its companion, a spinning torus of stellar material. The model suggests that the energy released during this dance could explain recent observations of gamma-ray bursts.
The MIT team's X-Cell 60 model rotorcraft performed a 360-degree aileron roll autonomously, marking the first-ever achievement in its kind. The helicopter's small size and low cost make it an attractive option for military reconnaissance or aerial filming.
Researchers used molecular scissors to alter the sugar coats of cancer cells, promoting tumor growth with one fragment and inhibiting it with another. This discovery could lead to targeted cancer treatments by exploiting the biological balancing act between different sugar fragments and signaling molecules.
A team of MIT researchers led by Susan Murcott aims to provide clean drinking water for people in developing countries. They have developed a system that can remove particles and microorganisms from water, which is crucial for preventing waterborne diseases in rural areas like Nepal.
Researchers have developed a semiconductor technology that converts waste heat into electricity with unprecedented efficiency. The new device, called 'thermal diodes,' operates at high temperatures and has the potential to revolutionize power generation and recovery of waste heat from power plants and automobiles.
The MIT worldwide mobility study highlights the need to reinvent public transport and create a portfolio of mobility options to address chronic gridlock, pollution and environmental damage. The study also warns of the growing impact of air and freight transportation on carbon emissions.
The MilliWave Viscometer measures viscosity in molten materials, indicating chemistry and quality. It enables feedback control, maximizing waste loading and improving efficiency in glass production, with significant economic impact on environmental clean-up efforts.
Ocean fertilization could remove carbon from the atmosphere but poses risks to global oceans. MIT prof Sallie Chisholm argues that large-scale implementation is not a solution to climate change.
The Phase II trial treating women with early-stage breast cancer has shown significant cell kill without damage to the skin. The technology uses adaptively focused microwave radiation that selectively heats and kills cancer cells, potentially reducing or eliminating breast surgery.
Researchers are applying their radar technology to detect missiles to a FDA-approved Phase II clinical trial for treating breast cancer. The treatment involves heated microwave radiation that kills cancer cells without burning the skin.
Researchers have created filtration membranes with hydrophilic outer surfaces to resist fouling, increasing the amount of solution that can be passed through. The membranes also exhibit self-healing properties.
Researchers at MIT have developed a new alternator design that significantly increases electrical power in future cars while also improving fuel efficiency. The technology, which uses active switches to control current flow, solves several technical problems associated with higher-voltage systems.
The MIT researchers used their new analytical tool to determine the sequence of a heparin fragment and produced a surprising result that contradicts earlier findings. The correct sequence reveals that the heparin fragment contains only a partial active site, affecting drug activity.
The MACE-II experiment, launched on September 8 aboard the space shuttle Atlantis, will test techniques for predicting motion and controlling vibrations in zero gravity. With multiple months of testing, researchers will interact with the experiment remotely to refine its performance.
Theoretical waveguide may create fast, high-bandwidth conduit for today's Internet applications. The all-dielectric coaxial cable could lead to significant miniaturization of integrated optical devices.
Researchers using the VLA radio telescope found a pulsar that is at least 40,000 years old and may be as old as 170,000 years. This discovery challenges current understanding of neutron stars and their ages.
Researchers are using focused microwave radiation to heat and kill breast cancer cells, achieving significant tumor shrinkage in clinical trials. The technique uses high water content in cancer cells to deliver precise heat damage.
The MIT robot significantly improved patients' recovery of arm movement in a clinical trial involving 56 stroke victims. The robot provided adjustable levels of guidance and assistance to facilitate patients' arm movements, resulting in twice as high scores on tests measuring increased movement.
A 150-ton magnet has passed its initial operating test in Japan, producing a magnetic field of 13 Tesla and storing 640 megajoules of energy. The successful test demonstrates superconducting performance parameters and manufacturing methods for larger magnets planned for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER).
Researchers at MIT have discovered a key role for the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor in fetal development of the respiratory system. The study found that abnormal activity of this receptor may lead to problems in newborns, such as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and breathing difficulties.
Researchers created a laboratory test to accelerate concrete aging three times over, allowing them to predict how concrete will weather over hundreds of years. The tests also revealed significant loss of frictional performance in artificially aged cement paste under triaxial stress.
The SPHERES project aims to test formation flying technologies and measure key parameters in microgravity. The mini satellites, the size of volleyballs, are being tested aboard NASA's KC-135 airplane, allowing researchers to validate control algorithms, metrology, and autonomy.
A new ultrasound technique using sound can painlessly extract important molecules from the skin, opening up possibilities for non-invasive glucose monitoring in diabetics. The researchers also discovered that this approach could be combined with drug delivery via ultrasound, paving the way for a potential wristwatch or patch.
Researchers created a new barium hexaaluminate (BHA) catalyst that allows for low-temperature combustion and high-temperature thermal stability, reducing pollutants from natural gas power plants. The catalyst can withstand temperatures up to 1300°C and has been shown to be stable in the presence of water vapor and other poisons.
A clinical trial using a robot to aid in therapy for stroke patients showed significant improvements in short- and long-term recovery of arm movement. The robot provides quantitative data on forces and movements, increasing the productivity of human therapists while maintaining its role as a complementary tool.
The MIT plasmatron device has been successfully installed in a commercial car engine, reducing nitrogen oxide emissions by two orders of magnitude. The next step is to integrate the system into an actual vehicle, with the team aiming to install it on a bus within a year.
A new sequencing technique allows scientists to determine the linear order of building blocks in complex sugars, a crucial step in understanding their biological functions. This breakthrough could lead to significant advances in fields such as glycosaminoglycans and tissue development.
A new MIT study analyzes the economic and atmospheric impacts of the Kyoto Protocol, showing that controlling multiple gases can greatly reduce costs. The research indicates flaws in the protocol's 'yardstick' for comparing greenhouse gases, highlighting the need for an integrated systems approach to mitigate climate change.
Researchers have successfully engineered cardiac tissue, a crucial step towards repairing damaged heart tissue and testing new drugs. The team characterized the tissues' structural and electrical properties, identifying key parameters for growth and development.
The research describes a cone-like deformation as the basic building block of a crumpled object, found in mountains and wrinkled materials. The study also reveals that crumpling is dominated by bending rather than stretching in its initial stages.
The High Energy Transmission Grating Spectrometer has made the most precise measurements ever recorded of a star's corona, revealing new insights into stellar behavior. The instrument's success marks a major milestone for modern astronomy, enabling scientists to study the chemical composition and temperature of the corona with unpreced...
Researchers at MIT have developed a new probe that can detect the motion of molecules in polymers as they are being stretched. This breakthrough allows for a fundamental understanding of polymer behavior, which can improve material design and mechanical properties.
Researchers have created a highly accurate global map of Mars' topography, providing insights into the planet's evolution over 4 billion years. The map reveals the Hellas basin's massive size and its impact on water transport and cycles, with dramatic slopes affecting ponding of water in certain areas.
The MIT Touch Lab researches the hand's intricate mechanisms, aiming to enhance hand impairments diagnosis and virtual reality experiences. Advanced technologies, such as ultrasound microscopes and haptic interfaces, are being developed to study human perception and touch.
A Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor has developed a quick and easy test that can analyze thin films used in microelectronics components using an optical method. The device, which uses short laser pulses to generate ultrasonic waves, can measure film thickness to within one layer of atoms in one second.
A US team, led by MIT, has completed a 40-ton magnet that will be used to test the world's most powerful pulsed superconducting magnet. The combined magnet weighs over 150 tons and is part of an international collaboration to demonstrate nuclear fusion as an energy source.