Research

A new method makes high-resolution imaging more accessible

A new method makes high-resolution imaging more accessible A classical way to image nanoscale structures in cells is with high-powered, expensive super-resolution microscopes. As an alternative, MIT researchers have developed a way to expand tissue before imaging it — a technique that allows them to achieve nanoscale resolution ...

The way sensory prediction changes under anesthesia tells us how conscious cognition works

The way sensory prediction changes under anesthesia tells us how conscious cognition works Our brains constantly work to make predictions about what’s going on around us to ensure that we can attend to and consider the unexpected, for instance. A new study examines how this works during consciousness and also breaks down under ...

New 3D printing technique creates unique objects quickly and with less waste

New 3D printing technique creates unique objects quickly and with less waste Multimaterial 3D printing enables makers to fabricate customized devices with multiple colors and varied textures. But the process can be time-consuming and wasteful because existing 3D printers must switch between multiple nozzles, often discarding one material before they can start ...

The changing geography of “energy poverty”

The changing geography of “energy poverty” A growing portion of Americans who are struggling to pay for their household energy live in the South and Southwest, reflecting a climate-driven shift away from heating needs and toward air conditioning use, an MIT study finds.The newly published research ...

Artificial intelligence meets “blisk” in new DARPA-funded collaboration

Artificial intelligence meets “blisk” in new DARPA-funded collaboration A recent award from the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) brings together researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), and Lehigh University (Lehigh) under the Multiobjective Engineering and Testing of Alloy Structures (METALS) program. ...

Study finds mercury pollution from human activities is declining

Study finds mercury pollution from human activities is declining MIT researchers have some good environmental news: Mercury emissions from human activity have been declining over the past two decades, despite global emissions inventories that indicate otherwise.In a new study, the researchers analyzed measurements from all available monitoring stations in ...

Bubble findings could unlock better electrode and electrolyzer designs

Bubble findings could unlock better electrode and electrolyzer designs Industrial electrochemical processes that use electrodes to produce fuels and chemical products are hampered by the formation of bubbles that block parts of the electrode surface, reducing the area available for the active reaction. Such blockage reduces the performance of ...

Solar-powered desalination system requires no extra batteries

Solar-powered desalination system requires no extra batteries MIT engineers have built a new desalination system that runs with the rhythms of the sun.The solar-powered system removes salt from water at a pace that closely follows changes in solar energy. As sunlight increases through the day, the system ...

Cancer biologists discover a new mechanism for an old drug

Cancer biologists discover a new mechanism for an old drug Since the 1950s, a chemotherapy drug known as 5-fluorouracil has been used to treat many types of cancer, including blood cancers and cancers of the digestive tract.Doctors have long believed that this drug works by damaging the building blocks of ...

How AI is improving simulations with smarter sampling techniques

How AI is improving simulations with smarter sampling techniques Imagine you’re tasked with sending a team of football players onto a field to assess the condition of the grass (a likely task for them, of course). If you pick their positions randomly, they might cluster together in some areas ...

AI simulation gives people a glimpse of their potential future self

AI simulation gives people a glimpse of their potential future self Have you ever wanted to travel through time to see what your future self might be like? Now, thanks to the power of generative AI, you can.Researchers from MIT and elsewhere created a system that enables users to have an ...

State of Supply Chain Sustainability report reveals growing investor pressure, challenges with emissions tracking

State of Supply Chain Sustainability report reveals growing investor pressure, challenges with emissions tracking The MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics (MIT CTL) and the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) have released the 2024 State of Supply Chain Sustainability report, marking the fifth edition of this influential research. The report highlights how ...

AI pareidolia: Can machines spot faces in inanimate objects?

AI pareidolia: Can machines spot faces in inanimate objects? In 1994, Florida jewelry designer Diana Duyser discovered what she believed to be the Virgin Mary’s image in a grilled cheese sandwich, which she preserved and later auctioned for $28,000. But how much do we really understand about pareidolia, the phenomenon ...

Helping robots zero in on the objects that matter

Helping robots zero in on the objects that matter Imagine having to straighten up a messy kitchen, starting with a counter littered with sauce packets. If your goal is to wipe the counter clean, you might sweep up the packets as a group. If, however, you wanted to first ...

New security protocol shields data from attackers during cloud-based computation

New security protocol shields data from attackers during cloud-based computation Deep-learning models are being used in many fields, from health care diagnostics to financial forecasting. However, these models are so computationally intensive that they require the use of powerful cloud-based servers.This reliance on cloud computing poses significant security risks, particularly ...

Mars’ missing atmosphere could be hiding in plain sight

Mars’ missing atmosphere could be hiding in plain sight Mars wasn’t always the cold desert we see today. There’s increasing evidence that water once flowed on the Red Planet’s surface, billions of years ago. And if there was water, there must also have been a thick atmosphere to keep ...

Study evaluates impacts of summer heat in U.S. prison environments

Study evaluates impacts of summer heat in U.S. prison environments When summer temperatures spike, so does our vulnerability to heat-related illness or even death. For the most part, people can take measures to reduce their heat exposure by opening a window, turning up the air conditioning, or simply getting a ...

Research quantifying “nociception” could help improve management of surgical pain

Research quantifying “nociception” could help improve management of surgical pain The degree to which a surgical patient’s subconscious processing of pain, or “nociception,” is properly managed by their anesthesiologist will directly affect the degree of post-operative drug side effects they’ll experience and the need for further pain management they’ll require. ...

Accelerating particle size distribution estimation

Accelerating particle size distribution estimation The pharmaceutical manufacturing industry has long struggled with the issue of monitoring the characteristics of a drying mixture, a critical step in producing medication and chemical compounds. At present, there are two noninvasive characterization approaches that are typically used: A ...

A two-dose schedule could make HIV vaccines more effective

A two-dose schedule could make HIV vaccines more effective One major reason why it has been difficult to develop an effective HIV vaccine is that the virus mutates very rapidly, allowing it to evade the antibody response generated by vaccines.Several years ago, MIT researchers showed that administering a series ...

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