Why some nitrogen-processing enzymes are more efficient than others
New findings could help researchers design synthetic catalysts that convert nitrogen gas to ammonia, a key step in fertilizer production.
Diffuse puffs of “missing” matter surround most galaxies
An MIT-led team used bright radio bursts to illuminate a vast source of matter that was previously unaccounted for.
3D-printed bridge points the way to greener construction
MIT researchers developed a framework that folds a printer’s real-world limits into the optimization, while revealing that better hardware could sharply reduce material use.
AI agents create virtual playgrounds to help robots get crucial training data
“SceneSmith” system uses collaborative AI agents to create realistic 3D environments of places like kitchens, hotels, and living rooms, where robots can simulate everyday chores.
MIT engineers whip up a more breathable hydrogel
The new aerated material could enable longer-lasting bandages, implants, and wearable sensors.
Many black holes had past lives, new research shows
Physicists have found signs of colliding black holes that are themselves products of previous black hole smash-ups.
Jesse Thaler named director of the Laboratory for Nuclear Science
The professor of physics and inaugural director of the NSF AI Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Fundamental Interactions will lead LNS and continue his research in particle physics.
Discovery helps explain why solid-state batteries often fail
New research could help prevent the formation of tiny seeds of lithium metal within the electrolyte, enabling batteries that charge faster and last longer.
A portable ultrasound system could make reliable breast imaging more accessible
The new technology, which generates high-resolution, 3D images of breast tissue, requires no expertise to operate and could be used at home.
MIT researchers advance toward greater bandwidth, more energy-efficient communications
The FUTUR-IC research program integrates electronics and photonics in microchip systems.
Scientists find ozone depletion began decades before discovery of ozone hole
Using modern tools, they also determined that carbon tetrachloride, used as a dry-cleaning and degreasing agent as early as the 1930s, was at the root of early ozone loss.
What happens when environmental change outpaces life’s ability to adapt?
A new model links Earth’s mass extinctions to mismatches between rates of environmental change and biological adaptation.
New chip could help tiny robots traverse complex environments
Researchers combined an efficient algorithm with dedicated hardware to rapidly generate 3D maps for navigation using minimal memory and power.
Astronomers map a magnetic “skeleton” funneling gas into a stellar nursery
MIT Haystack Observatory researchers use SOFIA observations to reveal how magnetic fields guide the assembly of one of our galaxy's most active high-mass star-forming regions.
To study how chips really work, MIT researchers built their own operating system
A new kernel called Fractal gives researchers a cleaner view of what’s happening inside a processor, and has already surfaced previously unknown behavior in Apple’s M1.