MIT’s fleet of autonomous boats can now shapeshift
New capabilities allow “roboats” to change configurations to form pop-up bridges, stages, and other structures.
Robotic thread is designed to slip through the brain’s blood vessels
Magnetically controlled device could deliver clot-reducing therapies in response to stroke or other brain blockages.
MIT engineers build advanced microprocessor out of carbon nanotubes
New approach harnesses the same fabrication processes used for silicon chips, offers key advance toward next-generation computers.
Ultrathin 3-D-printed films convert energy of one form into another
Low-cost “piezoelectric” films produce voltage, could be used for flexible electronic components and more.
Two studies reveal benefits of mindfulness for middle school students
Focusing awareness on the present moment can enhance academic performance and lower stress levels.
What’s the best way to cut vehicle greenhouse-gas emissions?
Study finds that in some locations, lightweight gas-powered cars could have a bigger emissions-reducing impact than electric ones.
A much less invasive way to monitor pressure in the brain
New technique could help doctors determine whether patients are at risk from elevated pressure.
Using CRISPR to program gels with new functions
Smart materials change properties in response to specific DNA sequences; could be used in a variety of devices.
New method classifies brain cells based on electrical signals
Making electrophysiology more informative, team shows how to distinguish four classes of cells by spike waveform.
Study: Climate change could pose danger for Muslim pilgrimage
When the Hajj comes in summertime, in some years it may not be safe for participants to remain outdoors.
Study links certain metabolites to stem cell function in the intestine
Molecules called ketone bodies may improve stem cells’ ability to regenerate new intestinal tissue.
High-precision technique stores cellular “memory” in DNA
Engineers program human and bacterial cells to keep a record of complex molecular events.
Artificial intelligence could help data centers run far more efficiently
MIT system “learns” how to optimally allocate workloads across thousands of servers to cut costs, save energy.
A battery-free sensor for underwater exploration
Submerged system uses the vibration of “piezoelectric” materials to generate power and send and receive data.
Physicists design an experiment to pin down the origin of the elements
With help from next-generation particle accelerators, the approach may nail down the rate of oxygen production in the universe.