A dive into the “almost magical” potential of photonic crystals
In MIT’s 2025 Killian Lecture, physicist John Joannopoulos recounts highlights from a career at the vanguard of photonics research and innovation.
Collaborating to advance research and innovation on essential chips for AI
Agreement between MIT Microsystems Technology Laboratories and GlobalFoundries aims to deliver power efficiencies for data centers and ultra-low power consumption for intelligent devices at the edge.
Tiny, wireless antennas use light to monitor cellular communication
As part of a high-resolution biosensing device without wires, the antennas could help researchers decode intricate electrical signals sent by cells.
Physicists magnetize a material with light
The technique provides researchers with a powerful tool for controlling magnetism, and could help in designing faster, smaller, more energy-efficient memory chips.
Noninvasive imaging method can penetrate deeper into living tissue
Using high-powered lasers, this new method could help biologists study the body’s immune responses and develop new medicines.
Photonic processor could enable ultrafast AI computations with extreme energy efficiency
This new device uses light to perform the key operations of a deep neural network on a chip, opening the door to high-speed processors that can learn in real-time.
Bringing lab testing to the home
The startup SiPhox, founded by two former MIT researchers, has developed an integrated photonic chip for high-quality, home-based blood testing.
New security protocol shields data from attackers during cloud-based computation
The technique leverages quantum properties of light to guarantee security while preserving the accuracy of a deep-learning model.
Researchers demonstrate the first chip-based 3D printer
Smaller than a coin, this optical device could enable rapid prototyping on the go.
Modular, scalable hardware architecture for a quantum computer
A new quantum-system-on-chip enables the efficient control of a large array of qubits, moving toward practical quantum computing.
John Joannopoulos receives 2024-2025 Killian Award
The MIT physicist is honored for pioneering work in photonics that helped to advance tools for telecommunications and biomedicine.
Scientists develop an affordable sensor for lead contamination
The chip-scale device could provide sensitive detection of lead levels in drinking water, whose toxicity affects 240 million people worldwide.
Unlocking new science with devices that control electric power
Seron Electronics, founded by Mo Mirvakili PhD ’17, makes research equipment with applications including microelectronics, clean energy, optics, biomedicine, and beyond.
Three Lincoln Laboratory inventions named IEEE Milestones
Achievements in air traffic control, microelectronics, and lasers are recognized for their lasting benefit to humanity.
Startup accelerates progress toward light-speed computing
Lightmatter, founded by three MIT alumni, is using photonic computing to reinvent how chips communicate and calculate.