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Making physics and astronomy more welcoming to African-American students
Report co-chaired by MIT professor cites need for “sweeping changes” in academic culture.
January 13, 2020 -
A new approach to making airplane parts, minus the massive infrastructure
Carbon nanotube film produces aerospace-grade composites with no need for huge ovens or autoclaves.
January 13, 2020 -
How strong is your knot?
With help from spaghetti and color-changing fibers, a new mathematical model predicts a knot’s stability.
January 2, 2020 -
How long will a volcanic island live?
Plate tectonics and mantle plumes set the lifespan of volcanic islands like Hawaii and the Galapagos.
January 1, 2020 -
Scientists pin down timing of lunar dynamo’s demise
Findings suggest the moon’s magnetic field was produced by the fallout of a crystallizing iron core.
January 1, 2020 -
Researchers produce first laser ultrasound images of humans
Technique may help remotely image and assess health of infants, burn victims, and accident survivors in hard-to-reach places.
December 19, 2019 -
A sign that aliens could stink
A molecule that’s known for its smelly and poisonous nature on Earth may be a sure-fire sign of extraterrestrial life.
December 18, 2019 -
2.009 lights up the stage
Student projects presented at the annual MIT event range from beekeeping safety to custom cosmetics.
December 11, 2019 -
Is there dark matter at the center of the Milky Way?
A new analysis puts dark matter back in the game as a possible source of energy excess at the galactic center.
December 10, 2019 -
New instrument extends LIGO’s reach
Technology “squeezes” out quantum noise so more gravitational wave signals can be detected.
December 5, 2019 -
Researchers generate terahertz laser with laughing gas
Device may enable “T-ray vision” and better wireless communication.
November 14, 2019 -
Flexible yet sturdy robot is designed to “grow” like a plant
Its extendable appendage can meander through tight spaces and then lift heavy loads.
November 7, 2019 -
Technique helps robots find the front door
Navigation method may speed up autonomous last-mile delivery.
November 4, 2019 -
Two-legged robot mimics human balance while running and jumping
New control system may enable humanoid robots to do heavy lifting and other physically demanding tasks.
October 30, 2019 -
Putting the “bang” in the Big Bang
Physicists simulate critical “reheating” period that kickstarted the Big Bang in the universe’s first fractions of a second.
October 24, 2019 -
Cell stiffness may indicate whether tumors will invade
Study shows tumors with softer, larger cells at their periphery are more likely to spread; may suggest new route for cancer therapy.
October 21, 2019 -
Antarctic ice cliffs may not contribute to sea-level rise as much as predicted
Study finds even the tallest ice cliffs should support their own weight rather than collapsing catastrophically.
October 21, 2019 -
Giving robots a faster grasp
An algorithm speeds up the planning process robots use to adjust their grip on objects, for picking and sorting, or tool use.
October 17, 2019 -
Scientists discover fractal patterns in a quantum material
The X-ray-focusing lens used in the experiment is based on a design used in lighthouses for centuries.
October 16, 2019 -
Astronomers use giant galaxy cluster as X-ray magnifying lens
New lens technique spots tiny dwarf galaxy in the first, super-energetic stages of star formation.
October 14, 2019 -
“Electroadhesive” stamp picks up and puts down microscopic structures
New technique could enable assembly of circuit boards and displays with more minute components.
October 11, 2019 -
Scientists observe a single quantum vibration under ordinary conditions
Studying a common material at room temperature, researchers bring quantum behavior “closer to our daily life.”
October 6, 2019 -
Oobleck’s weird behavior is now predictable
MIT engineers develop a model that predicts how the cornstarch-water mixture turns from liquid to solid, and back again.
October 5, 2019 -
This is how a “fuzzy” universe may have looked
Scientists simulate early galaxy formation in a universe of dark matter that is ultralight, or “fuzzy,” rather than cold or warm.
October 3, 2019 -
This flat structure morphs into shape of a human face when temperature changes
New structural design could lead to self-deploying tents or adaptive robotic fins.
September 30, 2019