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Janus emulsion droplets are captured in the process of changing form in response to the presence of contamination by a food pathogen in a lab setting. The emulsions can be viewed by the naked eye and, with the aid of a handheld sensor currently in development, can quantify the presence and amount of bacterial contamination in food.

MIT spinout seeks to transform food safety testing

An affordable, easy-to-use handheld sensor, soon to enter the market, can indicate the presence of bacterial contaminants in food in seconds.

April 9, 2019

“What makes The Deep unique is that the students have a lot of ownership, and the students help run the space,” says Professor Marty Culpepper, who is known as the Institute's “Maker Czar.”

Welcome to The Deep

A new creative space opens as maker culture continues to thrive at MIT.

April 8, 2019

MIT Professor Gerald Fink delivers the 2018-2019 James R. Killian Jr. Faculty Achievement Award Lecture, titled, “What is a Gene?”

The evolving definition of a gene

Professor Gerald Fink, a pioneer in the field of genetics, delivers the annual Killian Lecture.

April 5, 2019

Jacquin Niles named director of the Center for Environmental Health Sciences

Niles, an associate professor of biological engineering and infectious disease expert, succeeds John M. Essigmann.

April 5, 2019

Squire Booker PhD ’94 to speak at 2019 Investiture of Doctoral Hoods and Degree Conferral Ceremony

MIT alumnus, now a professor of chemistry, biochemistry, and molecular biology at Penn State University, is an expert on enzyme reactions.

April 3, 2019

Keeping genetic engineering localized

Researchers are developing a so-called "daisy-chain" gene-drive system that provides controls for genetic engineering of certain populations.

April 2, 2019

School of Science announces 2019 Infinite Mile Awards

Ten staff members in the School of Science are recognized for going above and beyond their job descriptions to support a better Institute.

April 2, 2019

MIT biologists found that intestinal stem cell populations declined in aged mice (right), compared to younger mice (left). Messenger RNA encoding a protein associated with intestinal stem cells is labeled in black.

Biologists find a way to boost intestinal stem cell populations

Study suggests that stimulating stem cells may protect the gastrointestinal tract from age-related disease.

March 28, 2019

Whitehead Institute’s David Page to conclude term as director

Search committee chaired by MIT President Emerita Susan Hockfield will identify new director for eminent biomedical institute.

March 27, 2019

Clara Sousa-Silva and Benjamin Rackham will be 51 Pegasi b Fellows at MIT within the Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences.

Lighting up exoplanets

The Heising-Simons Foundation selects Clara Sousa-Silva and Benjamin Rackham for 51 Pegasi b Fellowships at MIT.

March 27, 2019

Microfilaments made using a new 3D printing method, shown in gray in this illustration, form a structure that cells, shown in color, can adhere to. The shapes formed by the filaments determine the very uniform shapes of cells.

New 3-D printing approach makes cell-scale lattice structures

System could provide fine-scale meshes for growing highly uniform cultures of cells with desired properties.

March 25, 2019

A new model developed by MIT researchers creates richer, more easily computable representations of how individual amino acids determine a protein’s function, which could be used for designing and testing new proteins.

Model learns how individual amino acids determine protein function

Technique could improve machine-learning tasks in protein design, drug testing, and other applications.

March 22, 2019

A group of academic institutions has granted a license for SHERLOCK, the highly-sensitive, low-cost CRISPR-based diagnostic, for commercial uses in the developed world, while reserving rights to enable its broad use by organizations to serve developing nations as well as unmet public health needs in the developed world.

Academic institutions grant commercial license for CRISPR-based SHERLOCK diagnostic technology in developed world

Rights are protected for broad use in developing world and for public health needs.

March 21, 2019

Researchers have developed computationally simple robots, called particles, that cluster and form a single “particle robot” that moves around, transports objects, and completes other tasks. The work hails from MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL), Columbia University, and elsewhere.

“Particle robot” works as a cluster of simple units

Loosely connected disc-shaped “particles” can push and pull one another, moving en masse to transport objects.

March 20, 2019

Picower Professor Li-Huei Tsai (standing), co-director of the Alana Down Syndrome Center, reviews data in the lab with Senior Alana Fellow Hiruy Meharena.

Alana gift to MIT launches Down syndrome research center, technology program for disabilities

Foundation’s $28.6 million gift will fund science, innovation, and education to advance understanding, ability, and inclusion.