An engineer’s guide to birds
In her new book, “Birds Up Close,” MIT materials engineer Lorna Gibson explores feathers, bones, bills, eggs, and flight, and the mechanics behind birds’ extraordinary abilities.
Department
Materials Science and Engineering
Light-activated gel could impact wearables, soft robotics, and more
New MIT work advances the growing field of ionotronics, in which data are transferred through ions, potentially providing a bridge between electronics and biological tissue.
Geothermal energy turns red hot
MIT Energy Initiative symposium maps a path to tap the planet’s heat-rich rocks for clean power at scale.
MIT faculty, alumni receive 2025-26 American Physical Society honors
Two faculty and six additional alumni win top APS awards and prizes; four faculty and 12 additional alumni named APS Fellows.
MIT graduate engineering and business programs ranked highly by U.S. News for 2026-27
Graduate engineering program is No. 1 in the nation; MIT Sloan is No. 6.
MIT researchers use AI to uncover atomic defects in materials
A new model measures defects that can be leveraged to improve materials’ mechanical strength, heat transfer, and energy-conversion efficiency.
Why solid-state batteries keep short-circuiting
New insights into metallic cracks that harm battery performance could advance the longstanding quest to develop energy-dense solid-state batteries.
QS World University Rankings rates MIT No. 1 in 12 subjects for 2026
The Institute also ranks second in seven subject areas.
Lasers, robots, action: MIT workshop explores Raman spectroscopy
Participants learn how laser “fingerprinting” can help identify materials in fields ranging from law enforcement to art restoration.
Recreating the forms and sounds of historical musical instruments
Through an interdisciplinary collaboration between MIT and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, researchers are creating playable physical and synthesized replicas.
Bridging science and society in the emerging bioeconomy
In STS.059 (The Bioeconomy and Society), students explore the social and political factors at work in the biology, biotech, and biological engineering sectors.
MIT community members elected to the National Academy of Engineering for 2026
Seven faculty members, along with 12 additional alumni, are honored for significant contributions to engineering research, practice, and education.
Accelerating science with AI and simulations
Associate Professor Rafael Gómez-Bombarelli has spent his career applying AI to improve scientific discovery. Now he believes we are at an inflection point.
How generative AI can help scientists synthesize complex materials
MIT researchers’ DiffSyn model offers recipes for synthesizing new materials, enabling faster experimentation and a shorter journey from hypothesis to use.
Rhea Vedro brings community wishes to life in Boston sculpture
The MIT lecturer and artist-in-residence transformed hundreds of inscribed and hammered steel plates into “Amulet,” a soaring public artwork at City Hall Plaza.