Algorithm helps artificial intelligence systems dodge “adversarial” inputs Method builds on gaming techniques to help autonomous vehicles navigate in the real world, where signals may be imperfect. March 8, 2021 Read full story →
New “metalens” shifts focus without tilting or moving The design may enable miniature zoom lenses for drones, cellphones, or night-vision goggles. February 22, 2021 Read full story →
With Perseverance, MIT teams prepare for Mars rover landing Following touchdown, MOXIE will brew up oxygen while geologists comb for sediments to sample. February 17, 2021 Read full story →
Reductions in CFC-11 emissions put ozone recovery back on track Scientists observe reduction in emissions of banned ozone-depleting chemical after unexpected spike. February 10, 2021 Read full story →
An origami-inspired medical patch for sealing internal injuries The patch, which can be folded around surgical tools, may someday be used in robotic surgery to repair tissues and organs. February 2, 2021 Read full story →
Geologists produce new timeline of Earth’s Paleozoic climate changes The record shows ancient temperature variations coinciding with shifts in the planet’s biodiversity. February 1, 2021 Read full story →
Physicists create tunable superconductivity in twisted graphene “nanosandwich” Structure may reveal conditions needed for high-temperature superconductivity. February 1, 2021 Read full story →
Astronomers detect extended dark matter halo around ancient dwarf galaxy Findings suggest the first galaxies in the universe were more massive than previously thought. February 1, 2021 Read full story →
Search for axions from nearby star Betelgeuse comes up empty Results significantly narrow the range of possible places to find the hypothetical dark matter particles. January 21, 2021 Read full story →
Concept for a hybrid-electric plane may reduce aviation’s air pollution problem Proposed design could reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by 95 percent, a new study finds. January 14, 2021 Read full story →
Ten “keys to reality” from Nobel laureate Frank Wilczek To understand ourselves and our place in the universe, “we should have humility but also self-respect,” the physicist writes in a new book. January 12, 2021 Read full story →
Scientists discover slimy microbes that may help keep coral reefs healthy The bacteria scrub out nitrogen, potentially defending against certain nutrient overloads. January 8, 2021 Read full story →
Aerosols from pollution, desert storms, and forest fires may intensify thunderstorms Researchers identify a mechanism by which small particles in the atmosphere can generate more frequent thunderstorms. December 31, 2020 Read full story →
New type of atomic clock keeps time even more precisely The design, which uses entangled atoms, could help scientists detect dark matter and study gravity’s effect on time. December 16, 2020 Read full story →
Ultracold atoms reveal a new type of quantum magnetic behavior The findings may help researchers design “spintronic” devices and novel magnetic materials. December 16, 2020 Read full story →