Astronomers discover a brand-new type of astrophysical object: A black hole star
The mashup of a black hole and an enormous star has never been seen before and could explain the mysterious little red dots often found in deep-space images.
High-orbit satellites could light the way for travel to the moon
Acting as cooperative optical beacons, the satellites could provide GPS-like navigation and communications support for spacecraft operating across cislunar space.
Then and now: How MIT Lincoln Laboratory has served as a driving force in national security innovation
Members of the laboratory community reflect on technology impacts that shaped the United States and the world over the past 75 years.
MIT researcher proposes a way to detect nuclear weapons in space
The 1967 Outer Space Treaty bans nuclear weapons in space, but there’s currently no way to verify that satellites aren’t carrying them.
MIT student teams win top honors in NASA competition
Three MIT teams took five top awards in the 2026 NASA RASC-AL Competition for designing critical elements for the moon base and future missions to Mars.
Antenna array could provide protected tactical satellite communications in low-Earth orbit
The prototype array uses a small, lightweight, low-power, and low-cost aperture.
MIT SPURS looks to the future of urban technology and policy
As the international program approaches its 60th year, leaders are reshaping its curriculum to address emerging technologies and the policies shaping their use in urban planning.
MIT astronomers discover the earliest known flickering quasar
When the universe was just 850 million years old, this voracious black hole was already surprisingly mature, a new study finds.
New propulsion system could make tiny satellites both fast and fuel-efficient
For satellites as small as a briefcase, getting around in space just got a whole lot easier.
Managing traffic in space
Associate Professor Richard Linares is helping satellites safely navigate in increasingly congested orbits.
Flying at the edge of the stratosphere
MIT students see the Earth's curvature in reborn AeroAstro intro course.
Bridging space research and policy
PhD student Carissma McGee studies exoplanets and examines intellectual property frameworks for space collaborations.
Two physicists and a curious host walk into a studio…
On GBH’s new show The Curiosity Desk, MIT LIGO researchers revel in the beauties of fundamental discovery science and MIT astronomers talk planetary defense.
Investigating Antarctic ice shelf melting with global navigation satellite systems
Observations suggest a major melting event at the Ross Ice Shelf was connected to atmospheric turbulence.
Featured video: How tiny satellites help us track hurricanes and other weather events
Mini microwave sounders developed at Lincoln Laboratory, demonstrated on a NASA mission, and now transferred to industry, are expanding storm-forecasting capabilities.