The effects of an “algorithmic monoculture” depend on the details
In a study focusing on hiring decisions, MIT researchers found the use of a single algorithm by many firms could benefit job seekers in certain situations.
Who we become when we talk to machines
Professor Sherry Turkle’s new book, “Artificial Intimacy,” offers a withering critique of chatbots and the antisocial dynamics she believes they encourage.
Pressurized experiments could help wind farms generate more power
A new way of simulating wind turbines in the field shows how tweaking turbine operation could unlock tens of thousands of dollars per turbine every year.
New formulation helps RNA vaccines withstand high temperatures
MIT engineers have found a way to stabilize the lipid nanoparticles used to deliver RNA vaccines, which could allow the vaccines to be more widely distributed.
A new technique could accelerate the development of RNA therapies
MIT chemical engineers found a way to rapidly produce lipid nanoparticles of varying sizes, which could make it easier to develop new vaccines and therapeutics.
Estimating suicide risk from text
A new language-processing tool could help identify the highest-risk individuals from natural language, enabling swifter interventions.
Biologists identify a cellular pathway that allows colorectal cancer to metastasize
They also found that obesity may put patients at higher risk for activation of the pathway. Drugs that block the pathway may help prevent metastasis.
New cell-collection device could improve early cancer detection
MIT researchers developed a handheld system that gently collects living cells from patient samples to aid cancer testing and development of personalized medicines.
The promise and peril of using visual AI to study cities
In their new book, “How AI Sees the City,” the leaders of MIT’s Senseable City Lab examine the technology’s implications for researching urban life.
How the brain keeps its options straight at decision time
Making a decision requires juggling a set of options without getting them confused or losing track of them. A new MIT study shows how neurons encode information to maximize clarity throughout the process.
Poitras Center to fuel early careers of 50 young scientists dedicated to psychiatric disorders research
Patricia and James Poitras ’63 provide fellowships for graduate students and postdocs who will shape the future of mental health research.
Finding purpose through research
This summer, BSG-MSRP-Bio student Marina Milea investigated how lung cancers become resistant to targeted therapies, gaining hands-on research experience in the Jacks Lab at the Koch Institute.
Batteries that safely break down in the GI tract could improve ingestible devices
Made from “bioresorbable” materials, the new batteries could power capsules for drug delivery, sensing, and other applications.
Unmasking “zombie cells” in aging tissue with an AI-powered barcode
Tracking down senescent cells, which accumulate as we age, could help diagnose age-related disorders and guide researchers working on new treatments.
MIT researchers are mapping extreme weather risks — and building tools to act on them
The Climate Grand Challenges “New World of Weather” project shows how modeling, planning tools, and infrastructure analysis are translating research into real-world resilience.