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.
A new MIT software has significantly improved the accuracy of a robotic system used in cancer treatment, reducing errors from 7-8mm to under 1/3mm. This breakthrough technology has potential applications beyond cancer therapy, including inspection and repair work in nuclear power facilities.
The MIT microchip can store and release different chemicals on demand from tiny reservoirs built into its silicon structure. This technology has the potential to revolutionize fields such as diagnostics, drug delivery, and wearable technology, by allowing for precise control over chemical releases and enabling new applications like imp...
Researchers found that the fen-phen diet drug combination was potentially toxic due to the destruction of serotonin control in blood plasma. This could lead to primary pulmonary hypertension and heart valve lesions in some users. The study highlights the importance of complete and up-to-date drug labels.
A rapidly spinning neutron star, SAX J1808.4-3658, is providing proof for the theory that millisecond pulsars are propelled to mind-boggling speeds by accretion of material from a companion star. This discovery fills an important niche in our understanding of star evolution.
Astronomers have observed a significant increase in Triton's surface temperature, causing its thin atmosphere to thicken, and potentially leading to global warming. The moon is approaching an unusually warm summer season, with temperatures rising by 5% over the past nine years.
A team of MIT researchers has identified a new battery material that is cheap, light, and powerful. The breakthrough was achieved by predicting the composition of the material via computer models and testing it successfully, paving the way for the widespread use of electric cars.
A team of researchers, led by Maureen E. Raymo, have discovered millennial-scale climate instabilities that existed much further back in time than previously thought. These rapid climate fluctuations were found to be tied to changes in ocean circulation and heat transfer.
A new device approved by the US FDA uses ultrasound technology to estimate bone density of the heel, identifying women at risk of developing osteoporosis. The Sahara Clinical Bone Sonometer can be used in offices and could increase access to testing, especially in rural areas.
Researchers develop a new trap to confine Bose-Einstein condensates using light, enabling the manipulation of ultracold atoms. The team observes a Feshbach resonance for the first time in ultracold atoms, opening up new possibilities for studying and controlling this form of matter.
Researchers developed a mini respirator for mutant mice, increasing survival rate by over 50 percent. The machine uses oscillated pressure to inflate and deflate the lungs, addressing limitations of conventional respirators in small animals.
Researchers create new materials with exceptional properties using a mathematical theory developed by Professor Subra Suresh and visiting scientist Antonios Giannakopoulos. The theory allows for the efficient testing of graded materials, including dental implants, tank armor, and gears in car transmissions.
Researchers discovered a simple mechanism of aging in yeast cells, where extrachromosomal ribosomal DNA (ERCs) replicates until the cell dies. ERCs' accumulation causes enlargement and fragmentation of the nucleolus, leading to cell death, suggesting a potential target for intervening aging processes.
Researchers grew viable cartilage tissue from bovine cells on polymer scaffolds, but found that tissues grown in space were smaller and mechanically weaker than those on Earth. This study demonstrates the feasibility of cultivating cells and tissues in space over long periods.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) biologists have found direct evidence for the function of a key protein involved in cells' uptake of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. The discovery could lead to new treatments for atherosclerosis, a leading cause of death in Western industrialized countries.
The primary visual cortex, V1, is found to process optical illusions and complex images, contrary to previous beliefs. This discovery provides insights into how the brain cooperates to process different aspects of vision.
Astrophysicists at MIT propose that newly discovered planets in Jupiter-sized systems underwent violent instability upon formation. This instability can lead to the ejection of one planet and a smaller, eccentric orbit for another, with potential consequences for planetary system evolution and intelligent life.