Mark Vogelsberger wins 2020 Buchalter Cosmology Prize for simulating a “fuzzy” universe
Associate professor of physics shares the honor with colleague Phillip Mocz for their novel dark matter research.
Concept for a hybrid-electric plane may reduce aviation’s air pollution problem
Proposed design could reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by 95 percent, a new study finds.
Storm in a cosmic teacup: A new paradigm for understanding plasma turbulence
PhD candidate Lucio Milanese uncovers new fundamental mechanism in turbulence.
Brain waves guide us in spotlighting surprises
The brain uses different frequency rhythms and cortical layers to suppress expected stimulation and increase activity for what’s novel.
MIT.nano’s Immersion Lab opens for researchers and students
Facility within MIT.nano offers equipment and capabilities for visualizing data, creating immersive environments.
Neuroscientists identify brain circuit that encodes timing of events
Findings suggest this hippocampal circuit helps us to maintain our timeline of memories.
Inspired by kombucha tea, engineers create “living materials”
A symbiotic culture of specialized yeast and bacteria can generate tough materials able to perform a variety of functions.
Scientists discover slimy microbes that may help keep coral reefs healthy
The bacteria scrub out nitrogen, potentially defending against certain nutrient overloads.
Rock magnetism uncrumples the Himalayas’ complex collision zone
MIT EAPS researchers find the impressive mountain range formed over a series of impacts, not a single event, as previously thought.
RNA molecules are masters of their own destiny
Research suggests the products of transcription — RNA molecules — regulate their own production through a feedback loop.
Turning microbiome research into a force for health
A diverse group of researchers is working to turn new discoveries about the trillions of microbes in the body into treatments for a range of diseases.
Portable device can quickly detect plant stress
Sensor developed by SMART researchers would allow rapid diagnosis of nutrition deficiency in plants, enabling farmers to maximize crop yield in a sustainable way.
Cortex over reflex: Study traces circuits where executive control overcomes instinct
Frontal brain region overrides reflexive inclination of a deeper, older region when rules require.
Aerosols from pollution, desert storms, and forest fires may intensify thunderstorms
Researchers identify a mechanism by which small particles in the atmosphere can generate more frequent thunderstorms.
MIT in the media: 2020 in review
In a particularly newsworthy year, news and views from the MIT community made headlines.