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Professor Emeritus Barry Vercoe, a pioneering force in computer music, dies at 87

Widely known for his Synthetic Performer, Csound language, and work on the MPEG-4 audio standard, Vercoe positioned MIT as a hub for music technology through leadership roles with the Media Lab and Music and Theater Arts Section.

July 7, 2025

Study shows how a common fertilizer ingredient benefits plants

The findings could enable new ways to increase plants’ resilience to UV stress and enhance seedling growth.

July 7, 2025

Robotic probe quickly measures key properties of new materials

Developed to analyze new semiconductors, the system could streamline the development of more powerful solar panels.

July 4, 2025

The high-tech wizardry of integrated photonics

PhD candidate Sabrina Corsetti builds photonic devices that manipulate light to enable previously unimaginable applications, like pocket-sized 3D printers.

July 2, 2025

A diagram showing a breakdown of the Nth Cycle Oyster System

Nth Cycle is bringing critical metals refining to the U.S.

Co-founded by Professor Desirée Plata, the company is already producing nickel and cobalt from battery scrap in Ohio.

June 27, 2025

Image of The Alchemist sculpture on MIT campus with trees and sun shining through.

The tenured engineers of 2025

Eleven faculty members have been granted tenure in six units across MIT’s School of Engineering.

June 24, 2025

QS ranks MIT the world’s No. 1 university for 2025-26

Ranking at the top for the 14th year in a row, the Institute also places first in 11 subject areas.

June 18, 2025

Closeup of unique chip with tiny shiny box on top.

New 3D chips could make electronics faster and more energy-efficient

The low-cost, scalable technology can seamlessly integrate high-speed gallium nitride transistors onto a standard silicon chip.

June 18, 2025

A smart-home panel including a smart thermostat

This compact, low-power receiver could give a boost to 5G smart devices

Researchers designed a tiny receiver chip that is more resilient to interference, which could enable smaller 5G “internet of things” devices with longer battery lives.

June 17, 2025

Close-up of a quantum processor suspended inside a cryogenic dilution refrigerator, showing intricate gold-colored wiring and circular components.

Closing in on superconducting semiconductors

Plasma Science and Fusion Center researchers created a superconducting circuit that could one day replace semiconductor components in quantum and high-performance computing systems.

June 17, 2025

Professor Emeritus Hank Smith honored for pioneering work in nanofabrication

Longtime MIT electrical engineer receives SPIE Frits Zernike Award for Microlithography in recognition of outstanding accomplishments in microlithographic technology.

June 16, 2025

Startup’s biosensor makes drug development and manufacturing cheaper

Protein sensor developed by alumna-founded Advanced Silicon Group can be used for research and quality control in biomanufacturing.

June 15, 2025

A colorful image with a computer chip, human silhouette, and abstract blobs of energy.

Photonic processor could streamline 6G wireless signal processing

By performing deep learning at the speed of light, this chip could give edge devices new capabilities for real-time data analysis.

June 11, 2025

A large drone delivering supplies to a farm

Guardian Ag’s crop-spraying drone is replacing dangerous pilot missions

Founded by two former regulars at the MITERS makerspace, the company has built huge, rugged drones to more safely and sustainably apply fertilizers and pesticides on farms.

June 5, 2025

Illustration of a lattice with balls representing electrons. The balls have arrows showing magnetism, with electricity formed in between.

Physicists observe a new form of magnetism for the first time

The magnetic state offers a new route to “spintronic” memory devices that would be faster and more efficient than their electronic counterparts.