Off-menu materials science
Rob Macfarlane synthesizes new composite materials by manipulating their structure at the nanometer scale.
Researchers 3D print a miniature vacuum pump
The device would be a key component of a portable mass spectrometer that could help monitor pollutants, perform medical diagnoses in remote areas, or test Martian soil.
AI system can generate novel proteins that meet structural design targets
These tunable proteins could be used to create new materials with specific mechanical properties, like toughness or flexibility.
Nanoparticles provoke immune response against tumors but avoid side effects
In a new study, immunostimulatory drugs slowed tumor growth without producing systemic inflammation.
Even as temperatures rise, this hydrogel material keeps absorbing moisture
MIT engineers identified an unusually absorbent material that could be used for passive cooling or water harvesting in warm climates.
Scientists uncover the amazing way sandgrouse hold water in their feathers
The structure of the desert birds’ belly feathers enables males to carry water over long distances to their chicks.
Scientists use computational modeling to design “ultrastable” materials
These highly stable metal-organic frameworks could be useful for applications such as capturing greenhouse gases.
Jacob Andreas and Mingda Li honored with Junior Bose Award for Excellence in Teaching
Award is given each year by the School of Engineering to an outstanding educator up for promotion to associate professor without tenure.
New additives could turn concrete into an effective carbon sink
MIT engineers discover new carbonation pathways for creating more environmentally friendly concrete.
MIT-led teams win National Science Foundation grants to research sustainable materials
The teams will work toward sustainable microchips and topological materials as well as socioresilient materials design.
Fiber “barcodes” can make clothing labels that last
Drawing inspiration from butterfly wings, reflective fibers woven into clothing could reshape textile sorting and recycling.
Exploring the nanoworld of biogenic gems
Project will develop new materials characterization tools and technologies to assign unique identifiers to individual pearls.
MIT physicists predict exotic new phenomena and give “recipe” for realizing them
Work with skyrmions could have applications in future computers and more.
Making nanoparticle building blocks for new materials
Associate Professor Robert Macfarlane is uncovering design principles that allow researchers to fine-tune materials at many size scales.
Engineers discover a new way to control atomic nuclei as “qubits”
Using lasers, researchers can directly control a property of nuclei called spin, that can encode quantum information.