Burning things to make things
Sili Deng, the Doherty Chair in Ocean Utilization and associate professor of mechanical engineering at MIT, is driving research into sustainable and efficient combustion technologies.
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Designing better, longer-lasting medicines
Adding amino acids to certain protein-based medications can improve stability and effectiveness. New MIT research demonstrates how it works.
Studying war in the new nuclear age
MIT political scientist Caitlin Talmadge scrutinizes military postures and international dynamics to understand the risks of escalation.
Over 1,000 MIT students inspired to work toward climate solutions
Incoming students tested the climate simulation tool En-ROADS with the goal of creating “a healthier, safer, more prosperous, and more sustainable world.”
Geologists discover the first evidence of 4.5-billion-year-old “proto Earth”
Materials from ancient rocks could reveal conditions in the early solar system that shaped the early Earth and other planets.
3 Questions: Addressing the world’s most pressing challenges
Mihaela Papa discusses the BRICS Lab, her role at the Center for International Studies, and the center's ongoing ambition to tackle the world's most complex challenges in new and creative ways.
Responding to the climate impact of generative AI
Explosive growth of AI data centers is expected to increase greenhouse gas emissions. Researchers are now seeking solutions to reduce these environmental harms.
How federal research support has helped create life-changing medicines
A new study finds over half the drugs approved this century cite government-funded research in their patents.
Understanding shocks to welfare systems
Angie Jo’s doctoral studies find that when a collective crisis strikes, nations with shallow social safety nets, like the US, respond with massive spending.
Study links rising temperatures and declining moods
An analysis of social media in 157 countries finds hotter weather is associated with more negative sentiments.
How government accountability and responsiveness affect tax payment
Study participants in an in-person tax-paying experiment in China were more likely to pay their taxes if government officials were monitoring and punishing corruption.
Study shows how a common fertilizer ingredient benefits plants
The findings could enable new ways to increase plants’ resilience to UV stress and enhance seedling growth.
Nth Cycle is bringing critical metals refining to the U.S.
Co-founded by Professor Desirée Plata, the company is already producing nickel and cobalt from battery scrap in Ohio.
How we really judge AI
Forget optimists vs. Luddites. Most people evaluate AI based on its perceived capability and their need for personalization.
Eight with MIT ties win 2025 Hertz Foundation Fellowships
The fellowships recognize doctoral students who have “the extraordinary creativity and principled leadership necessary to tackle problems others can’t solve.”