How Omicron escapes from antibodies
A computational study shows that dozens of mutations help the virus’ spike protein evade antibodies that target SARS-CoV-2.
A nudge to resume economic activity
MIT experiment finds people will respond to cues from neighbors about activities and risk preferences.
Life Sciences Supermind Report outlines proposed solutions to re-imagine the global health ecosystem
Collective intelligence methodology identifies key findings to accelerate the pace of innovation and build health resilience.
Synthesis too slow? Let this robot do it.
Tiny Tides is an automated fast-flow instrument that can synthesize peptide-nucleic acids in a single shot.
Physics and the machine-learning “black box”
In 2.C01, George Barbastathis demonstrates how mechanical engineers can use their knowledge of physical systems to keep algorithms in check and develop more accurate predictions.
MIT in the media: 2021 in review
MIT community members made headlines around the world for their innovative approaches to addressing problems local and global.
MIT community in 2021: A year in review
Top Institute stories dealt with the return to campus and continued response to Covid-19, MIT’s commitments to climate action, its support of a diverse community, and more.
MIT’s top research stories of 2021
The year’s popular research stories include a promising new approach to cancer immunotherapy, the confirmation of a 50-year-old theorem, and a major fusion breakthrough.
Sensor based on quantum physics could detect SARS-CoV-2 virus
Mathematical simulations show the new approach may offer faster, cheaper, and more accurate detection, including identifying new variants.
Illuminating the history and global story of antibiotics
HASTS PhD student Rijul Kochhar tracks changing medical and microbial realities, and examines what they portend for society.
Research finds potential mechanism linking autism, intestinal inflammation
Infection during pregnancy with elevated levels of the cytokine IL-17a may yield microbiome alterations that prime offspring for aberrant immune responses, mouse study suggests.
In MIT visit, Dropbox CEO Drew Houston ’05 explores the accelerated shift to distributed work
Houston discusses leading the company through the pandemic in a fireside chat hosted by the MIT Schwarzman College of Computing.
New 10-minute test detects Covid-19 immunity
Paper-based blood test developed by SMART researchers can rapidly determine the presence of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies.
Studying learner engagement during the Covid-19 pandemic
Researchers analyze and compare pre- and post-pandemic data for introductory biology MOOC 7.00x.
Managing Covid-19 at MIT this fall: “So far, so good”
Ian Waitz, Cecilia Stuopis, and Suzanne Blake answer 3 questions on the fall semester and look ahead.