Climate change may produce “fast-food” phytoplankton
With warmer ocean temperatures, the composition of marine plankton could shift from protein-rich to carb-heavy, a new study suggests.
MIT researchers use AI to uncover atomic defects in materials
A new model measures defects that can be leveraged to improve materials’ mechanical strength, heat transfer, and energy-conversion efficiency.
A complicated future for a methane-cleansing molecule
A new model shows how levels of the “atmosphere’s detergent” may rise and fall in response to climate change.
Engineering confidence to navigate uncertainty
In 16.85 (Design and Testing of Autonomous Vehicles), AeroAstro students build software that allows autonomous flight vehicles to navigate unknown environments.
Mixing generative AI with physics to create personal items that work in the real world
To help generative AI models create durable, real-world accessories and decor, the PhysiOpt system runs physics simulations and makes subtle tweaks to its 3D blueprints.
Study reveals climatic fingerprints of wildfires and volcanic eruptions
In research that could help elucidate humans’ role in global warming, scientists showed how three major natural events impacted global atmospheric temperatures.
Parking-aware navigation system could prevent frustration and emissions
By minimizing the need to drive around looking for a parking spot, this technique can save drivers up to 35 minutes — and give them a realistic estimate of total travel time.
3D-printed metamaterials that stretch and fail by design
New framework supports design and fabrication of compliant materials such as printable textiles and functional foams, letting users predict deformation and material failure.
Biology-based brain model matches animals in learning, enables new discovery
New “biomimetic” model of brain circuits and function at multiple scales produced naturalistic dynamics and learning, and even identified curious behavior by some neurons.
One pull of a string is all it takes to deploy these complex structures
A new method could enable users to design portable medical devices, like a splint, that can be rapidly converted from flat panels to a 3D object without any tools.
Working to eliminate barriers to adopting nuclear energy
Nuclear waste continues to be a bottleneck in the widespread use of nuclear energy, so doctoral student Dauren Sarsenbayev is developing models to address the problem.
Making clean energy investments more successful
Tools for forecasting and modeling technological improvements and the impacts of policy decisions can result in more effective and impactful decision-making.
When companies “go green,” air quality impacts can vary dramatically
Cutting air travel and purchasing renewable energy can lead to different effects on overall air quality, even while achieving the same CO2 reduction, new research shows.
Helping power-system planners prepare for an unknown future
Macro, a modeling tool developed by the MIT Energy Initiative, enables energy-system planners to explore options for developing infrastructure to support decarbonized, reliable, and low-cost power grids.
New AI agent learns to use CAD to create 3D objects from sketches
The virtual VideoCAD tool could boost designers’ productivity and help train engineers learning computer-aided design.