A robot that can help you untangle your hair
Robotic arm equipped with a hairbrush helps with brushing tasks and could be an asset in assistive-care settings.
Biologists discover a trigger for cell extrusion
Study suggests this process for eliminating unneeded cells may also protect against cancer.
Nano flashlight enables new applications of light
Design of miniature optical systems could lead to future cell phones that can detect viruses and more.
With a zap of light, system switches objects’ colors and patterns
“Programmable matter” technique could enable product designers to churn out prototypes with ease.
Can US states afford to meet net-zero emissions targets by 2050?
In the Northeast, Canadian hydropower could make it so.
On course to create a fusion power plant
How an MIT engineering course became an incubator for fusion design innovations.
China’s transition to electric vehicles
By 2030, 40 percent of vehicles sold in China will be electric; MIT research finds that despite benefits, the cost to consumers and to society will be substantial.
SMART investigates the science behind varying performance of different colored LEDs
The findings pave the way to develop more efficient next-gen LEDs that cover the entire visible spectrum.
Cave deposits show surprising shift in permafrost over the last 400,000 years
Study finds Earth’s frozen surfaces became less susceptible to thawing, potentially locking in more carbon than expected.
How to get salt out of water: Make it self-eject
Crystallizing salts can grow “legs,” then tip over and fall away, potentially helping to prevent fouling of metal surfaces, researchers find.
Investigating the embattled brain
Combat veteran and PhD candidate Omar Rutledge drives research on post-traumatic stress disorder.
“Colloidal gels,” ubiquitous in everyday products, divulge their secrets
Study explores the mechanical properties of these materials as they evolve from elastic gels to glassy solids.
Seeking enhanced materials for nuclear reactors
Fifth-year nuclear science and engineering graduate student Arunkumar Seshadri looks to develop materials and fuels that can better withstand the extreme conditions in nuclear reactors.
Synthetic gelatin-like material mimics lobster underbelly’s stretch and strength
The membrane’s structure could provide a blueprint for robust artificial tissues.
Study finds ride-sharing intensifies urban road congestion
SMART research finds US road congestion increased by almost 1 percent while the duration of congestion rose by 4.5 percent.