Unmasking “zombie cells” in aging tissue with an AI-powered barcode
Tracking down senescent cells, which accumulate as we age, could help diagnose age-related disorders and guide researchers working on new treatments.
Department
Biological Engineering
A new understanding of how enzymes influence bacterial protein production
Novel research expands scientific understanding of how RNA shapes the reading of genetic information.
MIT School of Engineering faculty and staff receive awards in spring 2026
Faculty members and researchers were honored in recognition of their scholarship, service, and overall excellence.
New method allows scientists to follow gene activity over time in the same cells
In the new method, cells package and export their RNA, enabling researchers to sequence and analyze the RNA without killing the cells.
Giving farmers a more sustainable way to protect crops
Led by Andee Wallace PhD ’20, Robigo uses cutting-edge biotechnology to engineer microbes to fight pests, reducing the need for harmful chemical pesticides.
Looking beyond natural sequences
A new machine-learning framework aims to improve the success rate of computational protein design while moving away from results that reproduce sequences found in nature.
MIT engineers connect bacteria to create living transistors
By wiring together colonies of these bacteria, the researchers built circuits that can perform complicated calculations.
High-speed microscopy reveals electrical activity across the brain
The new technique could help scientists learn how the entire brain works to generate decisions and emotions.
Emery Brown, Daniel Hastings, and Douglas Lauffenburger named Institute Professors
Longtime professors and experts in the fields of anesthesiology, aerospace engineering, and biological engineering, respectively, receive MIT’s highest faculty honor.
Advancing stem cell research and building the next generation of biologists
Biology PhD student Giselle Valdes studies stem cell regeneration while encouraging aspiring students and researchers.
Brighter MRI signals
New MRI sensors developed at MIT sensitively detect target molecules in the brain and body.
Eleven from MIT accept 2026 Fulbright awards
This year, over half of MIT’s Fulbright applicants won awards. The current students and alumni will embark on research projects and teaching abroad in 2026-27.
Big strides in cancer detection and treatment from the tiniest technologies
The MIT Marble Center for Cancer Nanomedicine looks back at 10 years of turning big ideas about nanotechnology into transformative advances for cancer patients.
From technical solution to systems change: Tackling the problem of plastic waste
Akorfa Dagadu, an MIT senior in chemical engineering, learns the importance of community-engaged research and innovation through the PKG Center for Social Impact.
Powerful shrinking technique could enable devices that compute with light
MIT researchers created tiny 3D photonic devices with features small enough to channel visible light.