Scientists discover slimy microbes that may help keep coral reefs healthy The bacteria scrub out nitrogen, potentially defending against certain nutrient overloads. January 8, 2021 Read full story →
Aerosols from pollution, desert storms, and forest fires may intensify thunderstorms Researchers identify a mechanism by which small particles in the atmosphere can generate more frequent thunderstorms. December 31, 2020 Read full story →
New type of atomic clock keeps time even more precisely The design, which uses entangled atoms, could help scientists detect dark matter and study gravity’s effect on time. December 16, 2020 Read full story →
Ultracold atoms reveal a new type of quantum magnetic behavior The findings may help researchers design “spintronic” devices and novel magnetic materials. December 16, 2020 Read full story →
MIT oceanographers have an explanation for the Arctic’s puzzling ocean turbulence New study suggests waters will become more turbulent as Arctic loses summertime ice. December 15, 2020 Read full story →
Model could help determine quarantine measures needed to reduce Covid-19’s spread A key finding: Early reopening last spring led to a dramatic drop in “quarantine strength” in southern and west-central U.S. states. December 14, 2020 Read full story →
A technique to sift out the universe’s first gravitational waves Identifying primordial ripples would be key to understanding the conditions of the early universe. December 9, 2020 Read full story →
Physicists capture the sound of a “perfect” fluid The results should help scientists study the viscosity in neutron stars, the plasma of the early universe, and other strongly interacting fluids. December 3, 2020 Read full story →
Mini-satellite maker With her students, aerospace engineer Kerri Cahoy is developing small, affordable “CubeSats” to monitor weather and search for exoplanets. November 17, 2020 Read full story →
No matter the size of a nuclear party, some protons and neutrons will always pair up and dance Findings on short-range nuclear interactions will help scientists investigate neutron stars and heavy radioactive nuclei. November 9, 2020 Read full story →
Astronomers report first detection of ultrabright radio flashes in our own galaxy The fast radio bursts are likely generated by a magnetar, the most magnetic type of star in the universe. November 4, 2020 Read full story →
Artificial intelligence model detects asymptomatic Covid-19 infections through cellphone-recorded coughs Results might provide a convenient screening tool for people who may not suspect they are infected. October 29, 2020 Read full story →
“What to Expect When You’re Expecting Robots” Book co-authored by Associate Professor Julie Shah and Laura Major SM ’05 explores a future populated with robot helpers. October 22, 2020 Read full story →
To make mini-organs grow faster, give them a squeeze Study finds that compressing cells, and crowding their contents, can coax them to grow and divide. October 13, 2020 Read full story →
Institute Professor Emeritus Mario Molina, environmental leader and Nobel laureate, dies at 77 The atmospheric chemist shared the Nobel Prize for the discovery that chemicals known as CFCs deplete the ozone layer. October 9, 2020 Read full story →