New technique may help detect Martian life
A novel interpretation of Raman spectra will help the 2020 Mars rover select rocks to study for signs of life.
Avoiding stumbles, from spacewalks to sidewalks
Vibrating footwear could help astronauts and visually impaired earthlings skirt obstacles.
First atmospheric study of Earth-sized exoplanets reveals rocky worlds
Two potentially habitable planets in nearby system are confirmed to be rocky.
![“We don’t necessarily want [air traffic controllers] to spend the bandwidth on processing 40 pieces of information. Instead, we can tell them the three top choices,” says Hamsa Balakrishnan, associate professor of aeronautics and astronautics at MIT and a member of MIT’s Institute for Data, Systems, and Society.](/sites/default/files/styles/term_page__news_article/public/images/201607/MIT-Hamsa-Balakrishnan-1.jpg?itok=b_24OVE6)
3 Questions: Richard Binzel on what we've learned so far from New Horizons
Professor Richard Binzel, NASA New Horizons scientist, describes a year of discovery since the spacecraft's historic 2015 Pluto encounter.
Dead X-ray satellite reveals “quiet” center of massive galaxy cluster
Scientists find gas at center of Perseus cluster travels much more slowly than expected.
Researchers trace Mercury’s origins to rare meteorite
Experiments show planet cooled dramatically in half a billion years.
Southern Ocean cooling in a warming world
Research suggests Antarctica and the Southern Ocean may be experiencing a period of cooling before warming takes over, thanks to the ozone hole.
Researchers find a way to extend life and improve performance of fuel cell electrodes
Surface treatment greatly reduces degradation of catalyst material.
Scientists observe supermassive black hole feeding on cold gas
Findings suggest two dining styles for black holes.
Study pinpoints timing of oxygen’s first appearance in Earth’s atmosphere
Beginning 2.33 billion years ago, atmospheric oxygen built up in just 10 million years.
Tracking Greenland’s ice melt with seismic waves
Technique uses vibrations generated by ocean waves to monitor ice sheet’s seasonal changes.
Scientists discover potentially habitable planets
Just 40 light years from Earth, planets are best targets so far for search for extraterrestrial life.
Apollo 13 commander James Lovell: “Crises don’t bother me anymore”
Astronaut’s visit to MIT draws capacity crowd as he recounts lunar mission’s “successful failure.”
New institute will accelerate innovations in fibers and fabrics
National public-private consortium led by MIT will involve manufacturers, universities, agencies, companies.