X-ray flashes from a nearby supermassive black hole accelerate mysteriously
Their source could be the core of a dead star that’s teetering at the black hole’s edge, MIT astronomers report.
A new way to determine whether a species will successfully invade an ecosystem
MIT physicists develop a predictive formula, based on bacterial communities, that may also apply to other types of ecosystems, including the human GI tract.
MIT scientists pin down the origins of a fast radio burst
The fleeting cosmic firework likely emerged from the turbulent magnetosphere around a far-off neutron star.
MIT affiliates receive 2025 IEEE honors
Five MIT faculty and staff, along with 19 additional alumni, are honored for electrical engineering and computer science advances.
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.
Professor Emeritus Hale Van Dorn Bradt, an X-ray astronomy pioneer, dies at 93
Longtime MIT faculty member used X-ray astronomy to study neutron stars and black holes and led the All-Sky Monitor instrument on NASA's Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer.
MIT physicists predict exotic form of matter with potential for quantum computing
New work suggests the ability to create fractionalized electrons known as non-Abelian anyons without a magnetic field, opening new possibilities for basic research and future applications.
How can electrons split into fractions of themselves?
Physicists surprised to discover electrons in pentalayer graphene can exhibit fractional charge. New study suggests how this could work.
Bridging Talents and Opportunities Forum connects high school and college students with STEAM leaders and resources
Event at MIT featured an array of national and international speakers including a Nobel laureate, leaders in industry, and in entertainment.
Smart handling of neutrons is crucial to fusion power success
Assistant Professor Ethan Peterson is addressing some of the practical, overlooked issues that need to be worked out for viable fusion power plants.
Quantum simulator could help uncover materials for high-performance electronics
By emulating a magnetic field on a superconducting quantum computer, researchers can probe complex properties of materials.
AXIS mission selected as NASA Astrophysics Probe competition finalist
MIT Kavli Institute scientists and collaborators will produce a concept study to launch a $1B experiment to investigate the X-ray universe.
MIT Schwarzman College of Computing launches postdoctoral program to advance AI across disciplines
The new Tayebati Postdoctoral Fellowship Program will support leading postdocs to bring cutting-edge AI to bear on research in scientific discovery or music.
MIT affiliates receive 2024-25 awards and honors from the American Physical Society
Two faculty, a graduate student, and 10 additional alumni receive top awards and prizes; four faculty, one senior researcher, and seven alumni named APS Fellows.
Physicists discover first “black hole triple”
System observed 8,000 light-years away may be the first direct evidence of “gentle” black hole formation.