Why social media has changed the world — and how to fix it
MIT Professor Sinan Aral’s new book, “The Hype Machine,” explores the perils and promise of social media in a time of discord.
Did our early ancestors boil their food in hot springs?
Scientists have found evidence of hot springs near sites where ancient hominids settled, long before the control of fire.
Study suggests animals think probabilistically to distinguish contexts
New statistical model may help scientists understand how animals infer whether surroundings are novel or haven’t changed enough to be a new context.
What can your microwave tell you about your health?
An MIT system uses wireless signals to measure in-home appliance usage to better understand health tendencies.
Informing Covid-19 preparedness in Sierra Leone
MIT Governance Lab and the Institute for Governance Reform, working with the government of Sierra Leone, conduct rapid-response surveys to address Covid-19.
“She” goes missing from presidential language
Even when people believed Hillary Clinton would win the 2016 election, they did not use “she” to refer to the next president.
Controlling attention with brain waves
Study shows that people can boost attention by manipulating their own alpha brain waves.
Predicting people's driving personalities
System from MIT CSAIL sizes up drivers as selfish or selfless. Could this help self-driving cars navigate in traffic?
Investigating the power of group think
Political science doctoral student Clara Vandeweerdt studies how identity shapes beliefs on complex political topics such as climate change.
Robots help patients manage chronic illness at home
Move over, Alexa and Siri. Talking Mabu robot provides one-to-one support while relaying information to doctors.
Josh Tenenbaum receives 2019 MacArthur Fellowship
Brain and cognitive sciences professor studies how the human mind is able to learn so rapidly.
Study finds hub linking movement and motivation in the brain
Detailed observations in the lateral septum indicate region processes movement and reward information to help direct behavior.
Perception of musical pitch varies across cultures
How people interpret musical notes depends on the types of music they have listened to, researchers find.
Detecting patients’ pain levels via their brain signals
System could help with diagnosing and treating noncommunicative patients.
Two studies reveal benefits of mindfulness for middle school students
Focusing awareness on the present moment can enhance academic performance and lower stress levels.