Research

Geologists discover the first evidence of 4.5-billion-year-old “proto Earth”

Geologists discover the first evidence of 4.5-billion-year-old “proto Earth” Scientists at MIT and elsewhere have discovered extremely rare remnants of “proto Earth,” which formed about 4.5 billion years ago, before a colossal collision irreversibly altered the primitive planet’s composition and produced the Earth as we know today. Their findings, ...

A new system can dial expression of synthetic genes up or down

A new system can dial expression of synthetic genes up or down For decades, synthetic biologists have been developing gene circuits that can be transferred into cells for applications such as reprogramming a stem cell into a neuron or generating a protein that could help treat a disease such as fragile X ...

Immune-informed brain aging research offers new treatment possibilities, speakers say

Immune-informed brain aging research offers new treatment possibilities, speakers say Understanding how interactions between the central nervous system and the immune system contribute to problems of aging, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, arthritis, and more, can generate new leads for therapeutic development, speakers said at MIT’s symposium “The Neuro-Immune Axis ...

MIT Schwarzman College of Computing and MBZUAI launch international collaboration to shape the future of...

MIT Schwarzman College of Computing and MBZUAI launch international collaboration to shape the future of... The MIT Schwarzman College of Computing and the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) recently celebrated the launch of the MIT–MBZUAI Collaborative Research Program, a new effort to strengthen the building blocks of artificial intelligence and accelerate its ...

How to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ammonia production

How to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ammonia production Ammonia is one of the most widely produced chemicals in the world, used mostly as fertilizer, but also for the production of some plastics, textiles, and other applications. Its production, through processes that require high heat and pressure, accounts for ...

Using generative AI to diversify virtual training grounds for robots

Using generative AI to diversify virtual training grounds for robots Chatbots like ChatGPT and Claude have experienced a meteoric rise in usage over the past three years because they can help you with a wide range of tasks. Whether you’re writing Shakespearean sonnets, debugging code, or need an answer to ...

MIT physicists improve the precision of atomic clocks

MIT physicists improve the precision of atomic clocks Every time you check the time on your phone, make an online transaction, or use a navigation app, you are depending on the precision of atomic clocks.An atomic clock keeps time by relying on the “ticks” of atoms as they ...

Engineered “natural killer” cells could help fight cancer

Engineered “natural killer” cells could help fight cancer One of the newest weapons that scientists have developed against cancer is a type of engineered immune cell known as CAR-NK (natural killer) cells. Similar to CAR-T cells, these cells can be programmed to attack cancer cells.MIT and Harvard Medical ...

Uncovering new physics in metals manufacturing

Uncovering new physics in metals manufacturing For decades, it’s been known that subtle chemical patterns exist in metal alloys, but researchers thought they were too minor to matter — or that they got erased during manufacturing. However, recent studies have shown that in laboratory settings, these ...

Printable aluminum alloy sets strength records, may enable lighter aircraft parts

Printable aluminum alloy sets strength records, may enable lighter aircraft parts MIT engineers have developed a printable aluminum alloy that can withstand high temperatures and is five times stronger than traditionally manufactured aluminum.The new printable metal is made from a mix of aluminum and other elements that the team identified using ...

New prediction model could improve the reliability of fusion power plants

New prediction model could improve the reliability of fusion power plants Tokamaks are machines that are meant to hold and harness the power of the sun. These fusion machines use powerful magnets to contain a plasma hotter than the sun’s core and push the plasma’s atoms to fuse and release energy. ...

Study sheds light on musicians’ enhanced attention

Study sheds light on musicians’ enhanced attention In a world full of competing sounds, we often have to filter out a lot of noise to hear what’s most important. This critical skill may come more easily for people with musical training, according to scientists at MIT’s McGovern ...

Chemists create red fluorescent dyes that may enable clearer biomedical imaging

Chemists create red fluorescent dyes that may enable clearer biomedical imaging MIT chemists have designed a new type of fluorescent molecule that they hope could be used for applications such as generating clearer images of tumors.The new dye is based on a borenium ion — a positively charged form of boron ...

AI maps how a new antibiotic targets gut bacteria

AI maps how a new antibiotic targets gut bacteria For patients with inflammatory bowel disease, antibiotics can be a double-edged sword. The broad-spectrum drugs often prescribed for gut flare-ups can kill helpful microbes alongside harmful ones, sometimes worsening symptoms over time. When fighting gut inflammation, you don’t always want ...

A simple formula could guide the design of faster-charging, longer-lasting batteries

A simple formula could guide the design of faster-charging, longer-lasting batteries At the heart of all lithium-ion batteries is a simple reaction: Lithium ions dissolved in an electrolyte solution “intercalate” or insert themselves into a solid electrode during battery discharge. When they de-intercalate and return to the electrolyte, the battery charges.This ...

Accounting for uncertainty to help engineers design complex systems

Accounting for uncertainty to help engineers design complex systems Designing a complex electronic device like a delivery drone involves juggling many choices, such as selecting motors and batteries that minimize cost while maximizing the payload the drone can carry or the distance it can travel.Unraveling that conundrum is no ...

Concrete “battery” developed at MIT now packs 10 times the power

Concrete “battery” developed at MIT now packs 10 times the power Concrete already builds our world, and now it’s one step closer to powering it, too. Made by combining cement, water, ultra-fine carbon black (with nanoscale particles), and electrolytes, electron-conducting carbon concrete (ec3, pronounced “e-c-cubed”) creates a conductive “nanonetwork” inside concrete ...

Palladium filters could enable cheaper, more efficient generation of hydrogen fuel

Palladium filters could enable cheaper, more efficient generation of hydrogen fuel Palladium is one of the keys to jump-starting a hydrogen-based energy economy. The silvery metal is a natural gatekeeper against every gas except hydrogen, which it readily lets through. For its exceptional selectivity, palladium is considered one of the most ...

A cysteine-rich diet may promote regeneration of the intestinal lining, study suggests

A cysteine-rich diet may promote regeneration of the intestinal lining, study suggests A diet rich in the amino acid cysteine may have rejuvenating effects in the small intestine, according to a new study from MIT. This amino acid, the researchers discovered, can turn on an immune signaling pathway that helps stem cells ...

System lets people personalize online social spaces while staying connected with others

System lets people personalize online social spaces while staying connected with others Say a local concert venue wants to engage its community by giving social media followers an easy way to share and comment on new music from emerging artists. Rather than working within the constraints of existing social platforms, the venue ...

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