New synthesis method yields degradable polymers
Materials could be useful for delivering drugs or imaging agents in the body; may offer alternative to some industrial plastics.
Putting the “bang” in the Big Bang
Physicists simulate critical “reheating” period that kickstarted the Big Bang in the universe’s first fractions of a second.
Antarctic ice cliffs may not contribute to sea-level rise as much as predicted
Study finds even the tallest ice cliffs should support their own weight rather than collapsing catastrophically.
Giving robots a faster grasp
An algorithm speeds up the planning process robots use to adjust their grip on objects, for picking and sorting, or tool use.
Scientists discover fractal patterns in a quantum material
The X-ray-focusing lens used in the experiment is based on a design used in lighthouses for centuries.
Study reveals how mucus tames microbes
Specialized sugar molecules called glycans can disarm opportunistic pathogens and prevent infection.
“Electroadhesive” stamp picks up and puts down microscopic structures
New technique could enable assembly of circuit boards and displays with more minute components.
New method visualizes groups of neurons as they compute
Fluorescent probe could allow scientists to watch circuits within the brain and link their activity to specific behaviors.
Using machine learning to hunt down cybercriminals
Model from the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory identifies “serial hijackers” of internet IP addresses.
A new mathematical approach to understanding zeolites
Study of minerals widely used in industrial processes could lead to discovery of new materials for catalysis and filtering.
Oobleck’s weird behavior is now predictable
MIT engineers develop a model that predicts how the cornstarch-water mixture turns from liquid to solid, and back again.
A new way to corrosion-proof thin atomic sheets
Ultrathin coating could protect 2D materials from corrosion, enabling their use in optics and electronics.
This flat structure morphs into shape of a human face when temperature changes
New structural design could lead to self-deploying tents or adaptive robotic fins.
Technique can image individual proteins within synapses
Rapid imaging method could help reveal how conditions such as autism affect brain cells.
Scientists detect tones in the ringing of a newborn black hole for the first time
Results support Einstein’s theory and the idea that black holes have no “hair.”