Chemistry

Researchers at MIT have devised tiny “microlenses” from complex liquid droplets, such as these pictured here, that are comparable in size to the width of a human hair.

Scientists make microscopes from droplets

With chemistry and light, researchers can tune the focus of tiny beads of liquid.

March 10, 2017

AJAS attendees Jessica Frank (left) and Sriharshita Musunuri (right) chat with MIT Professor Phillip Sharp, former AAAS president and Nobel laureate.

Top high school researchers from across the nation meet at MIT

Talented high school researchers attending the annual AAAS/AJAS conference in Boston meet with MIT faculty.

March 8, 2017

MIT rates No. 1 in 12 subjects in 2017 QS World University Rankings

MIT ranked within the top 5 for 19 of 46 subject areas.

March 8, 2017

Clara Dresselhaus (left) and MIT graduate student Leora Cooper experience the red carpet at the 2017 Academy Awards, through sponsorship from GE. The women were invited to walk in honor of their grandmother, the late Mildred Dresselhaus, who starred in a recent GE campaign focused on supporting women in the STEM fields.

3Q: Leora Cooper on the legacy of her grandmother, Mildred Dresselhaus

After Dresselhaus’ recent passing, GE invited PhD candidate Leora Cooper to walk the red carpet at the 2017 Academy Awards in her grandmother's stead.

February 27, 2017

MIT researchers have designed a machine that can rapidly produce large quantities of customized peptides.

New technology offers fast peptide synthesis

Automated manufacturing could make it easier to develop and test new peptide drugs.

February 27, 2017

This high-resolution transmission electron micrograph of particles made by the research team shows the particles’ highly uniform size and shape. These are iron oxide particles just 3 nanometers across, coated with a zwitterion layer. Their small size means they can easily be cleared through the kidneys after injection.

A new contrast agent for MRI

New iron oxide nanoparticles could help avoid a rare side effect caused by current contrast agents.

February 14, 2017

MIT researchers have developed a portable technology, known as Seq-Well, that can rapidly prepare the RNA of many cells for sequencing simultaneously.

Making single-cell RNA sequencing widely available

Portable tool could help scientists learn more about cells’ roles in many diseases.

February 13, 2017

Left to right: Gabriela Schlau-Cohen, Rafael Jaramillo, David Hsu, Nuno Loureiro

New faculty strengthen, broaden MIT’s energy expertise

MIT's newest faculty bring a wide array of energy interests and developments to the Institute.

February 7, 2017

MIT and Boston College chemists have devised a way to attach fluorine-containing chemical groups to drug compounds, which could make the drugs more potent.

Catalyst adds fluorine-containing groups to make new compounds

Introducing such groups to potential drugs could make them more effective.

January 23, 2017

“MIT has not only provided a very valuable classroom experience, but also given me all these other tools in research, technology innovations, and social entrepreneurship that I can take and [use to] help people in developing countries,” says Jiwon Park, a chemistry major, global traveler, and accomplished pianist.

Jiwon Park: Reaching out to the world

MIT senior leads diverse projects to help women and students in developing countries.

January 23, 2017

MIT grad student Maher Damak (left) and professor of chemistry Moungi Bawendi

Two from MIT honored at World Technology Awards

PhD candidate Maher Damak and Professor Moungi Bawendi recognized for advances in engineering and chemistry.

January 20, 2017

MIT chemists have now developed a 3-D printing technique that allows them to print objects and then go back and add new polymers that alter the materials’ chemical composition and mechanical properties. These new polymers can be reactivated by light.

Technique enables adaptable 3-D printing

Once fabricated, objects can be altered by adding new polymers.

January 13, 2017

Barbara Imperiali, Class of 1922 Professor of Biology and professor of chemistry

Probing the function of key proteins

Professor Barbara Imperiali creates better biochemical tools for basic biology and drug development.

January 12, 2017

Through the RAPID Manufacturing Institute, MITEI and partner organizations like the U.S. Department of Energy support researchers’ studies of modular chemical process intensification. Process intensification involves combining many of the steps of traditional manufacturing — mixing, reacting, and separation — into a single process. This could dramatically reduce the size and scale of equipme...

U.S. Department of Energy announces MIT Energy Initiative will join new Manufacturing USA Institute

MITEI faculty affiliates to contribute clean energy expertise to national coalition that will address manufacturing challenges in energy-intensive processing industries.

January 11, 2017

This photosynthetic antenna consists of several pigments, which collect light energy, and their associated proteins.

How photosynthetic pigments harvest light

New model could help scientists design materials for artificial photosynthesis.