School of Science

The Tadpole Galaxy, a disrupted spiral galaxy, shows streams of gas stripped by gravitational interaction with another galaxy. Molecular gas is the required ingredient to form stars in early universe galaxies.

New insights into the early universe’s galaxy clusters

MIT Kavli Institute scientists help conduct one of the largest-ever studies of molecular gas in distant galaxy clusters.

July 25, 2017

Tracy Robyn Slatyer, the Jerrold R. Zacharias CD Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics, receives her award from Dennis Freeman, dean for undergraduate education.

Second annual MIT Teaching with Digital Technology Awards recipients selected

Faculty and instructors recognized for improving classroom instruction and student engagement through innovative uses of digital technology.

July 25, 2017

Troy Van Voorhis is the Haslam and Dewey Professor of Chemistry.

Laying the foundation for new energy technology

Theoretical chemist Troy Van Voorhis probes big energy-related questions, scrutinizing electrons and chemical bonds to improve sustainable energy solutions.

July 24, 2017

“The Indian monsoon is considered a textbook, clearly defined phenomenon, and we think we know a lot about it, but we don’t,” says Senior Research Scientist Chien Wang. An image from Varanasi, India, shows flooding in 2011.

Study: Indian monsoons have strengthened over past 15 years

A 50-year dry spell has reversed, with more rain to come.

July 24, 2017

“[MIT] is a fantastic place,” says associate professor Markus Klute, a member of the Laboratory of Nuclear Science. “Where else in the world do you get this amount of freedom?”

Particle hunter

Now that the Higgs boson has come to light, Markus Klute is looking at physics beyond the Standard Model.

July 21, 2017

Carl Garland, professor emeritus of chemistry, dies at 87

Physical chemist and MIT professor for over 40 years was “part of a golden age of physical chemistry at MIT.”

July 18, 2017

Susan Solomon, the Lee and Geraldine Martin Professor of Environmental Studies

Susan Solomon awarded the Royal Society's Bakerian Medal

Professor of atmospheric chemistry honored for her contributions to atmospheric science.

July 18, 2017

A new technique for imaging biopsy samples relies on an approach known as expansion microscopy, in which the researchers expand a tissue sample to 100 times its original volume before imaging it.

Microscopy technique could enable more informative biopsies

Expanding tissue samples before imaging offers detailed information about disease.

July 17, 2017

Researchers have discovered how moss and green algae can protect themselves from too much sun.

Harnessing the right amount of sunshine

Study reveals the mechanisms of a protein that helps moss and green algae defend against too much light.

July 17, 2017

“My training at MIT gave me an empathy for microbes,” says Emily Greenhagen. “It’s an approach that a lot of chemical engineers don’t necessarily think about and has been key to my success.”

A rose by any other name would smell as yeast

Emily Havens Greenhagen ’05 leads a team of scientists brewing perfume from yeast.

July 14, 2017

Researchers have developed a metal-free contrast agent for MRI scans, which could be safer for certain patients.

Metal-free MRI contrast agent could be safer for some patients

New agent could be used for certain high-risk groups and may enable longer-term tumor imaging.

July 12, 2017

“In the Southwest, water availability for irrigation is already a concern,” says Elodie Blanc, a research scientist at MIT’s Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change. “If we mitigate, this could prevent added stress associated with climate change and a severe decrease in runoff in the western United States. But it will be even worse in the future if we don’t do anything a...

Climate change to deplete some US water basins, reduce irrigated crop yields

By 2050, the Southwest will produce significantly less cotton and forage, researchers report.

July 11, 2017

Nested cubes are assembled on a lab shelf in Buliding 18, nestled among snorkel fume hoods. The display was part of a thesis project by Angel Chen MS '17.

The art of construction: Chemistry lab takes center stage in an artist’s exhibition

In search of a space under construction in which to stage an art installation, grad student Angel Chen was drawn to Building 18’s fourth floor lab renovation.

July 10, 2017

Robert Griffin awarded Richard R. Ernst Prize in Magnetic Resonance

Griffin honored for pioneering contributions to high-resolution solid state nuclear magnetic resonance and its applications to biological systems.

July 7, 2017

The Marble Center for Cancer Nanomedicine’s faculty is made up of Koch Institute members who are committed to fighting cancer with nanomedicine through research, education, and collaboration. Top row (l-r) Sangeeta Bhatia, director; Daniel Anderson; and Angela Belcher. Bottom row: Paula Hammond; Darrell Irvine; and Robert Langer.

Converging on cancer at the nanoscale

Marking its first anniversary, the Koch Institute’s Marble Center for Cancer Nanomedicine goes full steam ahead.