Study finds mercury pollution from human activities is declining
Models show that an unexpected reduction in human-driven emissions led to a 10 percent decline in atmospheric mercury concentrations.
Solar-powered desalination system requires no extra batteries
Because it doesn’t need expensive energy storage for times without sunshine, the technology could provide communities with drinking water at low costs.
Translating MIT research into real-world results
MIT’s innovation and entrepreneurship system helps launch water, food, and ag startups with social and economic benefits.
Enhancing LLM collaboration for smarter, more efficient solutions
“Co-LLM” algorithm helps a general-purpose AI model collaborate with an expert large language model by combining the best parts of both answers, leading to more factual responses.
Atoms on the edge
Physicists capture images of ultracold atoms flowing freely, without friction, in an exotic “edge state.”
New filtration material could remove long-lasting chemicals from water
Membranes based on natural silk and cellulose can remove many contaminants, including “forever chemicals” and heavy metals.
Toward a code-breaking quantum computer
Building on a landmark algorithm, researchers propose a way to make a smaller and more noise-tolerant quantum factoring circuit for cryptography.
MIT engineers design tiny batteries for powering cell-sized robots
These zinc-air batteries, smaller than a grain of sand, could help miniscule robots sense and respond to their environment.
Helping robots practice skills independently to adapt to unfamiliar environments
A new algorithm helps robots practice skills like sweeping and placing objects, potentially helping them improve at important tasks in houses, hospitals, and factories.
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.
New method enables fast, accurate estimates of cardiovascular state to inform blood pressure management
A mathematical method, validated with experimental data, provides a fast, reliable, and minimally invasive way of determining how to treat critical blood pressure changes during surgery or intensive care.
MIT researchers advance automated interpretability in AI models
MAIA is a multimodal agent that can iteratively design experiments to better understand various components of AI systems.
Study reveals how an anesthesia drug induces unconsciousness
Propofol, a drug commonly used for general anesthesia, derails the brain’s normal balance between stability and excitability.
Reasoning skills of large language models are often overestimated
New CSAIL research highlights how LLMs excel in familiar scenarios but struggle in novel ones, questioning their true reasoning abilities versus reliance on memorization.
Implantable microphone could lead to fully internal cochlear implants
This tiny, biocompatible sensor may overcome one of the biggest hurdles that prevent the devices from being completely implanted.