X-ray flashes from a nearby supermassive black hole accelerate mysteriously
Their source could be the core of a dead star that’s teetering at the black hole’s edge, MIT astronomers report.
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New filter captures and recycles aluminum from manufacturing waste
MIT engineers designed a nanofiltration process that could make aluminum production more efficient while reducing hazardous waste.
An abundant phytoplankton feeds a global network of marine microbes
New findings illuminate how Prochlorococcus’ nightly “cross-feeding” plays a role in regulating the ocean’s capacity to cycle and store carbon.
MIT scientists pin down the origins of a fast radio burst
The fleeting cosmic firework likely emerged from the turbulent magnetosphere around a far-off neutron star.
MIT engineers grow “high-rise” 3D chips
An electronic stacking technique could exponentially increase the number of transistors on chips, enabling more efficient AI hardware.
Physicists magnetize a material with light
The technique provides researchers with a powerful tool for controlling magnetism, and could help in designing faster, smaller, more energy-efficient memory chips.
MIT astronomers find the smallest asteroids ever detected in the main belt
The team’s detection method, which identified 138 space rocks ranging from bus- to stadium-sized, could aid in tracking potential asteroid impactors.
Want to design the car of the future? Here are 8,000 designs to get you started.
MIT engineers developed the largest open-source dataset of car designs, including their aerodynamics, that could speed design of eco-friendly cars and electric vehicles.
To design better water filters, MIT engineers look to manta rays
New research shows the filter-feeders strike a natural balance between permeability and selectivity that could inform design of water treatment systems.
New AI tool generates realistic satellite images of future flooding
The method could help communities visualize and prepare for approaching storms.
How can electrons split into fractions of themselves?
Physicists surprised to discover electrons in pentalayer graphene can exhibit fractional charge. New study suggests how this could work.
When muscles work out, they help neurons to grow, a new study shows
The findings suggest that biochemical and physical effects of exercise could help heal nerves.
Asteroid grains shed light on the outer solar system’s origins
A weak magnetic field likely pulled matter inward to form the outer planetary bodies, from Jupiter to Neptune.
Revealing causal links in complex systems
MIT engineers’ algorithm may have wide impact, from forecasting climate to projecting population growth to designing efficient aircraft.
2024 Math Prize for Girls at MIT sees six-way tie
Contest hosted by the Department of Mathematics attracts 274 participants and celebrates 16th anniversary.