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“If (mixotrophs) weren’t in the oceans, we’re suggesting atmospheric carbon dioxide might be higher, because there would less of the large, carbon rich particles formed which efficiently transfer carbon to depth,” Mick Follows says.

Living a “mixotrophic” lifestyle

Some tiny plankton may have big effect on ocean’s carbon storage.

February 1, 2016

In this image, the middle "explosion" is a cloud of hot electrons, inside graphene, that bounce off one another as they reach equilibrium and spread out. The red spheres are those electrons that are energetic enough to escape the hot cloud in less than 30 femtoseconds and generate an electric current. MIT researchers have developed a technique to access and control these ultrafast processes.

Physicists control electrons at femtosecond timescales

Results may help improve efficiency of solar cells, energy-harvesting devices.

January 22, 2016

Scientists tune polymer material’s transparency

Material may offer cheaper alternative to smart windows.

January 22, 2016

Engineers at MIT have developed a queuing model that may help air traffic controllers direct departures more efficiently, minimizing runway congestion.

Cutting down runway queues

Model that predicts time from gate departure to takeoff could cut airport congestion, fuel waste.

January 14, 2016

MIT graduate students Pronoy Biswas (left) and Mark Chodas prepare the REgolith X-Ray Imaging Spectrometer (REXIS) instrument for flight.

Student-built instrument headed to asteroid and back

Created by MIT students, REXIS has been integrated onto NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft.

January 8, 2016

Astronomers have detected a massive, sprawling, churning galaxy cluster that formed only 3.8 billion years after the Big Bang. The cluster, shown here, is the most massive cluster of galaxies yet discovered in the first 4 billion years after the Big Bang.

Most distant massive galaxy cluster identified

Formed in the first 4 billion years of the universe, cluster is 1,000 times more massive than the Milky Way.

January 7, 2016

As bacteria stream through a microfluidic lattice, they synchronize and swim in patterns similar to those of electrons flowing through a magnetic material. This image shows a microfluidic 6x6 lattice. The left-hand side shows the original data as seen under the microscope. The overlaid color coding on the right-hand side shows the relative strength of clockwise (purple) or anti-clockwise (green) ...

Study reveals shared behavior of microbes and electrons

Bacteria streaming through a lattice behave like electrons in a magnetic material.

January 5, 2016

In a new study published this week, MIT researchers report that global action on reducing mercury emissions will lead to twice the economic benefits for the U.S., compared to domestic action, by 2050.

Global reductions in mercury emissions should lead to billions in economic benefits for U.S.

Benefits from international regulations may double those of domestic policy.

December 28, 2015

A patterned and cylindrical structure made up of carbon nanotubes.

New device uses carbon nanotubes to snag molecules

Nanotube “forest” in a microfluidic channel may help detect rare proteins and viruses.

December 21, 2015

A new high-speed microscope produces images of chemical processes taking place at the nanoscale, at a rate that is close to real-time video. This closeup shot of the microscope shows transparent tubes used to inject various liquids into the imaging environment. This liquid can be water, acid, buffer solution for live bacteria, cells, or electrolytes in an electrochemical process. Researchers use o...

New microscope creates near-real-time videos of nanoscale processes

Instrument scans images 2,000 times faster than commercial models.

December 14, 2015

(Left to right) Ade Samuel, Ellen Rice Staten, Rasheed Auguste, Tiera Guinn, Alberto Hernandez, and Isaiah Borne.

Black student leaders present recommendations for a more inclusive MIT

Students are working closely with senior administration; President Reif praises collaboration.

December 9, 2015

"At MIT there are so many different viewpoints on design, all exciting, and I thought this would be a great place for me to find the right cohort of people to work with,” Maria Yang says.

An eye for design

Maria Yang helps product designers hone the creative process.

December 9, 2015

A new stretchy hydrogel can be embedded with various electronics. Here, a sheet of hydrogel is bonded to a matrix of polymer islands (red) that can encapsulate electronic components such as semiconductor chips, LED lights, and temperature sensors.

Stretchable hydrogel electronics

Water-based “Band-Aid” senses temperature, lights up, and delivers medicine to the skin.

December 7, 2015

“Searching for the Oldest Stars: Ancient Relics from the Early Universe” (Princeton University Press) by Anna Frebel (pictured)

3 Questions: Anna Frebel on searching for the oldest stars

New book details astronomers’ hunt for clues to the early universe.

December 3, 2015

MIT mathematicians have identified the limits to heat flow at the nanoscale.

An extreme close-up on heat transfer

New formula identifies limits to nanoscale heat transfer, may help optimize devices that convert heat to electricity.

November 24, 2015

MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology

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