MIT Global Seed Funds catalyze research in over 20 countries
Launched in 2008, the program has expanded exponentially and spent $30 million on high-impact research.
New software designs eco-friendly clothing that can reassemble into new items
To reduce waste, the Refashion program helps users create outlines for adaptable clothing, such as pants that can be reconfigured into a dress. Each component of these pieces can be replaced, rearranged, or restyled.
In a surprising discovery, scientists find tiny loops in the genomes of dividing cells
Enabled by a new high-resolution mapping technique, the findings overturn a long-held belief that the genome loses its 3D structure when cells divide.
Method teaches generative AI models to locate personalized objects
After being trained with this technique, vision-language models can better identify a unique item in a new scene.
Darcy McRose and Mehtaab Sawhney ’20, PhD ’24 named 2025 Packard Fellows for Science and Engineering
McRose, an environmental microbiologist, is recognized for researching the ecological roles of antibiotics in shaping ecosystems, agriculture, and health.
MIT-Toyota collaboration powers driver assistance in millions of vehicles
A decade-plus alliance between MIT’s AgeLab and Toyota’s Collaborative Safety Research Center is recognized as a key contributor to advancements in automotive safety and human-machine interaction.
MIT engineers solve the sticky-cell problem in bioreactors and other industries
Their system uses electrochemically generated bubbles to detach cells from surfaces, which could accelerate the growth of carbon-absorbing algae and lifesaving cell therapies.
Why some quantum materials stall while others scale
In a new study, MIT researchers evaluated quantum materials’ potential for scalable commercial success — and identified promising candidates.
Earthquake damage at deeper depths occurs long after initial activity
While the Earth’s upper crust recovers quickly from seismic activity, new research finds the mid-crust recovers much more slowly, if at all.
Engineering next-generation fertilizers
MIT postdoc Giorgio Rizzo harnesses plant chemistry to design sustainable fertilizers that could reshape modern farming.
Optimizing food subsidies: Applying digital platforms to maximize nutrition
An algorithm can change the face of food assistance policy in the Global South, says MIT assistant professor and J-WAFS researcher Ali Aouad.
Checking the quality of materials just got easier with a new AI tool
Acting as a “virtual spectrometer,” SpectroGen generates spectroscopic data in any modality, such as X-ray or infrared, to quickly assess a material’s quality.
New MIT initiative seeks to transform rare brain disorders research
The Rare Brain Disorders Nexus aims to accelerate the development of novel therapies for a spectrum of uncommon brain diseases.
Geologists discover the first evidence of 4.5-billion-year-old “proto Earth”
Materials from ancient rocks could reveal conditions in the early solar system that shaped the early Earth and other planets.
A new system can dial expression of synthetic genes up or down
The promoter editing system could be used to fine-tune gene therapy or to more efficiently reprogram cells for therapeutic use.