An engineer’s guide to birds
In her new book, “Birds Up Close,” MIT materials engineer Lorna Gibson explores feathers, bones, bills, eggs, and flight, and the mechanics behind birds’ extraordinary abilities.
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The MIT-IBM Computing Research Lab launches to shape the future of AI and quantum computing
Building on a long-standing MIT–IBM collaboration, the new lab will chart the convergence of AI, algorithms, and quantum computing.
Mapping molecular markers of physical fitness
A new study reveals cellular pathways that appear to underlie some differences in physical fitness.
Six from MIT awarded 2026 Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans
Fellowship honors contributions of immigrants to American society by awarding $90,000 in funding for graduate studies.
Self-organizing “pencil beam” laser could help scientists design brain-targeted therapies
MIT researchers leveraged a surprise discovery to devise a faster and more precise biomedical imaging technique.
Three from MIT named 2026 Goldwater Scholars
Rising seniors Deeksha Kumaresh, Anna Liu, and Charlotte Myers are honored for their academic achievements.
MIT affiliates elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences for 2026
The prestigious honor society honors four MIT faculty and 13 additional MIT alumni among more than 250 new members.
Plants can sense the sound of rain, a new study finds
Experiments by MIT engineers show rice seeds sprout faster to the sound of rain.
Two MIT alumnae named 2026 Gates Cambridge Scholars
Mitali Chowdhury ’24 and Christina Kim ’24 will pursue graduate studies at Cambridge University in the UK.
Professor Michael Laub and MIT alumni named 2025 AAAS Fellows
The American Association for the Advancement of Science recognized Laub and 21 alumni for their efforts to advance science and related fields.
Bringing AI-driven protein-design tools to biologists everywhere
Founded by Tristan Bepler PhD ’20 and former MIT professor Tim Lu PhD ’07, OpenProtein.AI offers researchers open-source models and other tools for protein engineering.
Light-activated gel could impact wearables, soft robotics, and more
New MIT work advances the growing field of ionotronics, in which data are transferred through ions, potentially providing a bridge between electronics and biological tissue.
Youth may increase vulnerability to a carcinogen found in contaminated water and some drugs
A new study suggests that the chemical NDMA is much more likely to cause cancerous mutations after exposure early in life.
MIT faculty, alumni receive 2025-26 American Physical Society honors
Two faculty and six additional alumni win top APS awards and prizes; four faculty and 12 additional alumni named APS Fellows.
Multitasking quantum sensors can measure several properties at once
The devices represent a key step toward practical quantum sensing, with applications in biomedical sensing, materials characterization, and more.