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Avinatan Hassidim, a postdoc in the Research Laboratory of Electronics, writes out a system of four linear equations with four variables. The quantum algorithm that he, Seth Lloyd, and Aram Harrow devised can solve systems with a trillion equations and a trillion variables.

Quantum computing may actually be useful

A quantum algorithm that solves systems of linear equations could point in a promising new direction.

October 9, 2009

A unique lineage of four teachers and students, in MIT's Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences. From left: Professors Mary Potter and Nancy Kanwisher; Assistant Professor Rebecca Saxe; and postdoctoral associate Liane Young.

Following in their footsteps

A unique lineage of four women in the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at MIT discuss their 'special responsibility' to help others succeed in academia

September 29, 2009

3 Questions: Phillip Sharp calls for 'New Biology' push

The U.S. needs an ambitious biology research initiative to tackle broad challenges involving food, energy, the environment and health, says Nobel laureate.

September 25, 2009

This schematic drawing shows the sensor Manalis and colleagues built to weigh single cells. Cells flow through a channel (dark blue lines) that carries them to the end of a vibrating cantilever and back.

In Profile: Scott Manalis

His technology to weigh single cells led to an unexpected research focus: figuring out how cancerous cells escape normal growth controls.

September 23, 2009

Fall 2009 Letter to the Community

September 22, 2009

Maria Zuber, chair of MIT's Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Science

In Profile: Maria Zuber

Planetary scientist is driven by the thrill of exploring uncharted territory

September 18, 2009

Biochemist JoAnne Stubbe wins National Medal of Science

Nation's top science honor goes to MIT biochemist for her role in helping reveal the mechanism of enzymes involved in DNA replication and repair

September 17, 2009

Researchers at MIT have shown the benefits of a new approach toward eliminating carbon-dioxide emissions at coal-burning power plants.

Concentrating emissions

Ahmed Ghoniem of mechanical engineering leads an MIT effort to make coal plants cleaner by using a pressurized combustion system to capture carbon dioxide.

September 17, 2009

This artist's conception of the double-star system DI Herculis illustrates the key findings from the new research. Spectroscopic observations showed that the two stars are both tipped over almost horizontally, relative to the plane of their orbits around each other. Because they are rotating rapidly which creates equatorial bulges, the tidal interactions between the two slows down a regular variat...

New observations solve longstanding mystery of tipped rotation. In addition to shedding light on how binary stars form, the explanation knocks down a possible challenge to Einstein's theory of relativity.

September 17, 2009