Turning heat into power
A new kind of high-temperature photonic crystal could someday power everything from smartphones to spacecraft.
How spider webs achieve their strength
It’s not just the strength of the silk itself, a new study finds; the silk’s way of stretching and the structure of the whole web help it resist damage.
Solving energy problems, one molecule at a time
Materials scientist explores new possibilities in topics from molecules to rooftop solar panels.
Making her move
MIT senior overcame disabilities to study materials science, hoping to pave the way for other aspiring engineers.
Need a new material? New tool can help
Exhaustive reference system and interactive toolkit could revolutionize materials research, potentially enabling new types of manufacturing.
Research update: Sharpening the lines
New advance could lead to even smaller features in the constant quest for more compact, faster microchips.
A glow of recognition
New detectors developed at MIT could provide easy visual identification of toxins or pathogens.
Researchers link patterns seen in spider silk, melodies
Analogy could help engineers develop materials that make use of repeating patterns.
Electronics takes on a new spin
Researchers at MIT find a way to observe and control the way electrons spin on the surface of exotic new materials.
A novel way to concentrate sun’s heat
MIT researchers find a way to generate power without the usual mirror arrays.
Chu: New materials could be transformative
Citing historical examples, U.S. secretary of energy argues that the nation can still regain its manufacturing leadership.
Important step toward computing with light
Research at MIT produces long-sought component to allow complete optical circuits on silicon chips.
Materials research in the Information Age
MIT, Lawrence Berkeley launch new tool to calculate properties of new materials