Curiosity, images, and scientific exploration
Professor of the practice Alan Lightman’s new book digs into the wonder of striking visual phenomena in nature.
Scientists pin down the origins of the moon’s tenuous atmosphere
The barely-there lunar atmosphere is likely the product of meteorite impacts over billions of years, a new study finds.
Scientists find a human “fingerprint” in the upper troposphere’s increasing ozone
Knowing where to look for this signal will help researchers identify specific sources of the potent greenhouse gas.
Researchers return to Arctic to test integrated sensor nodes
The nodes are intended to become part of a widespread sea-ice monitoring network.
Microscopic defects in ice influence how massive glaciers flow, study shows
The findings should help scientists refine predictions of future sea-level rise.
Study: Heavy snowfall and rain may contribute to some earthquakes
The results suggest that climate may influence seismic activity.
Geologists discover rocks with the oldest evidence yet of Earth’s magnetic field
The 3.7 billion-year-old rocks may extend the magnetic field’s age by 200 million years.
Researching extreme environments
PhD candidate Emma Bullock studies the local and global impacts of changing mineral levels in Arctic groundwater.
MIT Haystack scientists prepare a constellation of instruments to observe the solar eclipse’s effects
In a first, four different technologies will monitor changes in the upper atmosphere, locally and across the continent, as the sun’s radiation dips.
Q&A: Tips for viewing the 2024 solar eclipse
Brian Mernoff of the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics offers best practices to get the most out of your eclipse experience.
MIT-derived algorithm helps forecast the frequency of extreme weather
The new approach “nudges” existing climate simulations closer to future reality.
Gosha Geogdzhayev and Sadhana Lolla named 2024 Gates Cambridge Scholars
The MIT seniors will pursue graduate studies at Cambridge University.
Unlocking history with geology and genetics
PhD student Fatima Husain investigates the co-evolution of life and Earth and works to communicate science to the public.
Q&A: What sets the recent Japan earthquake apart from others?
Geophysicist William Frank discusses how a recent earthquake in Japan relates to an earthquake swarm in the region.
New tool predicts flood risk from hurricanes in a warming climate
Using New York as a test case, the model predicts flooding at the level experienced during Hurricane Sandy will occur roughly every 30 years by the end of this century.