New five-planet system contains two that are in the ‘habitable zone’
Potentially habitable planets are slightly larger than Earth.
Search Stories
Islands in the rain
Researchers use volcanic islands to measure how rainfall sets the pace of landscape formation.
A ‘green’ Sahara was far less dusty than today
Research points to an abrupt and widespread climate shift in the Sahara 5,000 years ago.
Living in a material world
Report finds materials manufacturers will likely be unable to meet targets for carbon-emissions reductions by 2050.
A mighty wind
Thrusters powered by ionic wind may be an efficient alternative to conventional atmospheric propulsion technologies.
A new wrinkle in online education
An experimental online course gives some students scheduling freedom.
Research update: A new model accurately predicts three-dimensional sand flow
Model may be useful in improving the flow of grain in silos, and drug capsules in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Huge and widespread volcanic eruptions triggered the end-Triassic extinction
Some 200 million years ago, an increase in atmospheric CO2 caused acidification of the oceans and global warming that killed off 76 percent of marine and terrestrial species on Earth.
Searching for solar systems like our own
Josh Winn’s hunt for exoplanets may someday reveal habitable, Earth-like worlds.
MIT ‘cheetah’ robot rivals running animals in efficiency
Robot’s custom-designed electric motors are powerful and efficient.
Mapping the early history of the moon
In 41st annual Killian Lecture, Maria Zuber describes looking deep into the moon’s interior to chart its early history.
Mercury may have harbored an ancient magma ocean
Massive lava flows may have given rise to two distinct rock types on Mercury’s surface.
India joined with Asia 10 million years later than previously thought
New timeline suggests India’s size before this collision was much smaller than generally assumed.
Duflo, Lander, Lewin to lead spring-semester MITx courses
EdX takes stock of last semester’s MITx courses; data will be used to improve education online and in the classroom.
Students take control of satellites on the International Space Station
200 high-school students participate in MIT’s annual Zero Robotics competition.