Drug that targets an inflammatory enzyme could help prevent lung cancer
A new study by MIT researchers shows that inhibiting caspase-1 can reduce the risk of tumor growth.
MIT News
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Cells pulse together as they grow — and malignant cells pulse the longest
MIT researchers discovered a cellular dance that may offer clues to the development of cancer, asthma, and other diseases.
High-speed microscopy reveals electrical activity across the brain
The new technique could help scientists learn how the entire brain works to generate decisions and emotions.
Researchers uncover hidden pore network within nuclear fuel
New understanding of how nuclear fuel breaks down and changes in an operating nuclear reactor could help keep some reactors running longer, will inform the next generation of nuclear reactor fuel systems.
MIT selected to lead new NSF materials research center
The Materials Research Science and Engineering Center unites researchers across disciplines to develop technologies for medical imaging, sustainable metals production, and next-generation electronics.
Astronomers discover a brand-new type of astrophysical object: A black hole star
The mashup of a black hole and an enormous star has never been seen before and could explain the mysterious little red dots often found in deep-space images.
How to design a space habitat that supports its residents’ mental health
A new online platform helps engineers look beyond survival mode when designing habitats for extreme living conditions.
The mystery of the Chinese tea chest label
MIT historian Tristan Brown uncovers the true origins of an artifact once thought to be a relic of the Boston Tea Party.
On the hunt for dark matter
From Broadway to MIT’s Laboratory for Nuclear Science, PhD student Jessica Fry doesn’t do anything halfway. Now she’s hunting for the universe’s most elusive particle.
With a feel for physics, AI models simulate a wider range of real-world scenarios
“GeoPT” helps AI models understand the basics of physics so they can simulate how objects respond to things like wind and water more efficiently and accurately.
High-orbit satellites could light the way for travel to the moon
Acting as cooperative optical beacons, the satellites could provide GPS-like navigation and communications support for spacecraft operating across cislunar space.
MIT researchers tackle the economic realities of fusion power
Their new study aims to give budding industry a framework for understanding how fusion can be profitable.
Physicists watch a material’s electrons assemble, and reassemble, into coexisting phases
The study could help scientists understand how superconductivity and other more complex phenomena emerge in quantum materials.
A new way to watch heat move through electronics
MIT researchers can now precisely measure how heat moves through multilayered materials like computer chips.
Researchers make air-stable, ultrathin superconductors, for more scalable quantum devices
A new technique produces wafer-scale samples, overcoming a major roadblock to using these materials in quantum technologies.
Scientists unveil more than 600 new tissue models of human cancer
Derived from patient tumor samples and available to researchers around the world, the cells will aid the development of new cancer treatments.
These 3D-printed objects can tell you if they’re being used properly
The “ShiftLens” design and fabrication system creates objects that change their surface appearance based on user interactions, without any electronics.
Solving the solvent problem
By focusing on electrolytes, MIT scientists are making sodium-metal batteries a more practical energy storage option.
The benefits of medical AI assistance vary based on user expertise
Study finds non-experts deferred to LLM-based diagnostic assistance, even when it was wrong, while clinicians caught AI errors.
Turning molecules into reliable electronic devices
A new fabrication platform integrates molecules into electronic devices, opening the door to emerging computing technologies.
Why some nitrogen-processing enzymes are more efficient than others
New findings could help researchers design synthetic catalysts that convert nitrogen gas to ammonia, a key step in fertilizer production.
MIT and Broad Institute researchers break diffraction barrier in super-resolution microscopy
New U-STORM imaging technology lets scientists view molecular structures in subatomic detail — about 1,000 times clearer than traditional dyes — while making the microscope process much simpler.
MIT engineers design recyclable elastic yarn
Melt it, spin it, use it again. This new recyclable yarn is as strong and stretchy as spandex-based yarns.
Professor Emeritus Dimitri Bertsekas, influential computer scientist and prolific author, dies at 83
Known for his clear and elegant writing style, Bertsekas shaped fields from control and optimization to large-scale computation and artificial intelligence.
Diffuse puffs of “missing” matter surround most galaxies
An MIT-led team used bright radio bursts to illuminate a vast source of matter that was previously unaccounted for.
How an influx of salt may affect microbial ecosystems
As sea levels rise and saltwater seeps into freshwater, stressed aquatic populations may retain overall growth even as diversity declines, MIT scientists find.
For energy systems that power a reliable grid, the future is all about location
MIT researchers find that where new energy projects are built could be key to avoiding blackouts in a future with hotter weather and other challenges.
A better way to turn 2D designs into 3D models for rapid prototyping
Researchers developed an automated framework that helps AI models generate CAD programs more accurately and efficiently.
3 Questions: Neural transparency and the future of AI design
Assistant Professor Pat Pataranutaporn describes a new interface that lets everyday users glimpse inside an AI's neural network before their chatbot ever says a word.
3D-printed bridge points the way to greener construction
MIT researchers developed a framework that folds a printer’s real-world limits into the optimization, while revealing that better hardware could sharply reduce material use.
Electric fields help guide neural activity, even from moment to moment
A new study adds evidence that electric fields in the brain help to organize and shape underlying neural activity via “ephaptic coupling.”
Ketogenic diets may increase cancer risk in the small intestine
MIT researchers have found that a ketogenic high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet fuels the growth of intestinal tumors.
Three MIT Press journals lead their fields with Clarivate No. 1 rankings
Computational Linguistics, International Security, and The Review of Economics and Statistics lead their disciplines with 2026 Clarivate impact factors.
How visual learning happens in the brain
Scientists find that learning to identify a new object subtly reshapes visual processing in the brain.
MIT engineers find a precise way to grow artificial blood vessels
Gently stretching and pulling a “blood vessel on a chip” encourages controlled sprouting of new vessels, for possible use in artificial tissues or organs.
New method aims to keep kids safe from illegal AI-generated content
Researchers developed an auditing technique to test generative AI models for malicious capabilities, without prompting them for illegal outputs.
Tiny infrared chip could improve detection of gases and heat
The tunable device controls mid-infrared light for more precise thermal imaging, chemical sensing, or pollution monitoring.
Discovery could lead to brighter, more energy-efficient digital displays
Researchers found a simple solution for extending the lifespans of LEDs made from glowing microscopic particles called quantum dots.
New flapping robot swims and flies like a diving bird
MIT engineers’ design could lead to a new class of aerial-aquatic vehicles for ocean exploration.
A baseball-sized sensor can detect chemical threats
The “TOSSIT” device, developed at MIT Lincoln Laboratory, can warn service members and first responders of dangerous vapors and aerosols.
MIT engineers whip up a more breathable hydrogel
The new aerated material could enable longer-lasting bandages, implants, and wearable sensors.
MIT researcher proposes a way to detect nuclear weapons in space
The 1967 Outer Space Treaty bans nuclear weapons in space, but there’s currently no way to verify that satellites aren’t carrying them.
Many black holes had past lives, new research shows
Physicists have found signs of colliding black holes that are themselves products of previous black hole smash-ups.
Discovery helps explain why solid-state batteries often fail
New research could help prevent the formation of tiny seeds of lithium metal within the electrolyte, enabling batteries that charge faster and last longer.
MIT in the media: Innovating and educating for the next 250 years of America
During a "Washington Post Live" panel discussion with ASU President Michael Crow, President Sally Kornbluth explored how universities are preparing the next generation of scientists to lead in America’s rapidly changing technological landscape.
A portable ultrasound system could make reliable breast imaging more accessible
The new technology, which generates high-resolution, 3D images of breast tissue, requires no expertise to operate and could be used at home.
How urban design leads to better wellness
An extensive study of U.S. cities identifies walkable neighborhoods, urban greenery, and access to amenities as key contributors to residents’ health.
The brain’s language network is more extensive than previously thought
A new study reveals that parts of the brain located far from the canonical language-processing centers are also involved in language comprehension.
Scientists find ozone depletion began decades before discovery of ozone hole
Using modern tools, they also determined that carbon tetrachloride, used as a dry-cleaning and degreasing agent as early as the 1930s, was at the root of early ozone loss.
Graphene can hold multiple states of superconductivity, a new study finds
What’s more, the superconducting states get stronger under conditions expected to kill them.