To the brain, Esperanto and Klingon appear the same as English or Mandarin
A new study finds natural and invented languages elicit similar responses in the brain’s language-processing network.
A dive into the “almost magical” potential of photonic crystals
In MIT’s 2025 Killian Lecture, physicist John Joannopoulos recounts highlights from a career at the vanguard of photonics research and innovation.
Evidence that 40Hz gamma stimulation promotes brain health is expanding
A decade of studies provide a growing evidence base that increasing the power of the brain’s gamma rhythms could help fight Alzheimer’s, and perhaps other neurological diseases.
QS World University Rankings rates MIT No. 1 in 11 subjects for 2025
The Institute also ranks second in seven subject areas.
How nature organizes itself, from brain cells to ecosystems
McGovern Institute researchers develop a mathematical model to help define how modularity occurs in the brain — and across nature.
Study: The ozone hole is healing, thanks to global reduction of CFCs
New results show with high statistical confidence that ozone recovery is going strong.
Study suggests new molecular strategy for treating fragile X syndrome
Enhancing activity of a specific component of neurons’ “NMDA” receptors normalized protein synthesis, neural activity, and seizure susceptibility in the hippocampus of fragile X lab mice.
Breakfast of champions: MIT hosts top young scientists
At an MIT-led event at AJAS/AAAS, researchers connect with MIT faculty, Nobel laureates, and industry leaders to share their work, gain mentorship, and explore future careers in science.
Seeing more in expansion microscopy
New methods light up lipid membranes and let researchers see sets of proteins inside cells with high resolution.
Five years, five triumphs in Putnam Math Competition
Undergrads sweep Putnam Fellows for fifth year in a row and continue Elizabeth Lowell Putnam winning streak.
An ancient RNA-guided system could simplify delivery of gene editing therapies
The programmable proteins are compact, modular, and can be directed to modify DNA in human cells.
MIT physicists find unexpected crystals of electrons in an ultrathin material
Rhombohedral graphene reveals new exotic interacting electron states.
Helping the immune system attack tumors
Stefani Spranger is working to discover why some cancers don’t respond to immunotherapy, in hopes of making them more vulnerable to it.
Five from MIT named 2025 Gates Cambridge Scholars
Markey Freudenburg-Puricelli; Christina Kim ’24; Abigail Schipper ’24; Sera Tolgay MCP ’18, SM ’18; and Rachel Zhang ’21 will pursue graduate studies at Cambridge University in the U.K.
Study: Even after learning the right idea, humans and animals still seem to test other approaches
New research adds evidence that learning a successful strategy for approaching a task doesn’t prevent further exploration, even if doing so reduces performance.