Materials Science and Engineering

Cody Friesen is the winner of the 2019 Lemelson-MIT Prize for invention.

Cody Friesen PhD ’04 awarded $500,000 Lemelson-MIT Prize

Materials scientist recognized for social, economic, and environmentally-sustaining inventions that impact millions of people around the world.

September 18, 2019

In a demonstration of the basic chemical reactions used in the new process, electrolysis takes place in neutral water. Dyes show how acid (pink) and base (purple) are produced at the positive and negative electrodes. A variation of this process can be used to convert calcium carbonate (CaCO3) into calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2), which can then be used to make Portland cement without producing any gre...

New approach suggests path to emissions-free cement

MIT researchers find a way to eliminate carbon emissions from cement production — a major global source of greenhouse gases.

September 16, 2019

Using the 3D printing method developed by the MIT researchers, a structure such as this model airplane wing could have both light emitters and light detectors embedded in the material, so that it could continuously detect any micro-cracks as they begin to form.

Engineers develop multimaterial fiber “ink” for 3-D-printed devices

Filaments with embedded circuitry can be used to print complex shapes for biomedical and robotic devices.

September 11, 2019

High-resolution mapping of the distribution of elements in a sample from the 2,000-year-old Temple Scroll, as shown by the colors at the right of this image, is providing insight into the scroll's ancient fabrication methods.

How to make a book last for millennia

Study of Dead Sea Scroll sheds light on a lost ancient parchment-making technology.

September 6, 2019

Left to right: Postdoc Shu Fen Tan, graduate student Kate Reidy, and Professor Frances Ross, all of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, sit in front of a high vacuum evaporator system.

Creating new opportunities from nanoscale materials

MIT Professor Frances Ross is pioneering new techniques to study materials growth and how structure relates to performance.

September 5, 2019

MIT researchers have 3-D printed ultrathin ceramic films that convert energy from one form into another for flexible electronics and biosensors. Here, they’ve printed the piezoelectric films into a pattern spelling out “MIT.”

Ultrathin 3-D-printed films convert energy of one form into another

Low-cost “piezoelectric” films produce voltage, could be used for flexible electronic components and more.

August 28, 2019

A new study finds that depending on the location, in some cases an equivalent or even bigger reduction in emissions could be achieved by switching to lightweight conventional (gas-powered) vehicles instead of electric power vehicles.

What’s the best way to cut vehicle greenhouse-gas emissions?

Study finds that in some locations, lightweight gas-powered cars could have a bigger emissions-reducing impact than electric ones.

August 26, 2019

Diagram illustrates the structure of the tiny bubbles, called liposomes, used to deliver drugs. The blue spheres represent lipids, a kind of fat molecule, surrounding a central cavity containing magnetic nanoparticles (black) and the drug to be delivered (red). When the nanoparticles are heated, the drug can escape into the body.

A new way to deliver drugs with pinpoint targeting

Magnetic particles allow drugs to be released at precise times and in specific areas.

August 19, 2019

Jaume Plensa sculpture, "The Alchemist" on MIT's campus

School of Engineering second quarter 2019 awards

Faculty members recognized for excellence via a diverse array of honors, grants, and prizes over the past quarter.

July 30, 2019

MIT researchers have developed a noninvasive hydration sensor that is based on the same technology as MRI, but, unlike MRI scanners, it can fit in a doctor’s office.

Hydration sensor could improve dialysis

Noninvasive device could benefit patients with kidney disease, congestive heart failure, or dehydration.

July 24, 2019

Left to right: MIT professors Eytan Modiano, Erin Kelly, and Ju Li.

Portraits of mentoring excellence

Committed to Caring honors professors Modiano, Kelly, and Li, and calls for nominations.

July 18, 2019

Summer 2019 MIT and FIT AFFOA Workshop in Advanced Functional Fabrics participants

MIT and Fashion Institute of Technology join forces to create innovative textiles

Advanced functional fabrics workshop, held jointly with AFFOA and industrial partner New Balance, develops concepts for biodegradable footwear, active textiles.

July 17, 2019

A new MIT-invented system automatically designs and 3-D prints complex robotic actuators optimized according to an enormous number of specifications, such as appearance and flexibility. To demonstrate the system, the researchers fabricated floating water lilies with petals equipped with arrays of actuators and hinges that fold up in response to magnetic fields run through conductive fluids.

Automated system generates robotic parts for novel tasks

When designing actuators involves too many variables for humans to test by hand, this system can step in.

July 12, 2019

The tiny coils in the fiber developed by MIT researchers curl even tighter when warmed up. This causes the fiber to contract, much like a muscle fiber.

Artificial “muscles” achieve powerful pulling force

New MIT system of contracting fibers could be a boon for biomedical devices and robotics.

July 11, 2019

MIT engineers have devised a way to stimulate T cells (shown in red) to attack tumors by activating them with a vaccine that accumulates in the lymph nodes. B cells in the lymph nodes are labeled in blue.

New vaccine strategy boosts T-cell therapy

Super-charging a treatment for leukemia also makes it effective on solid tumors.