Study finds lands used for grazing can worsen or help climate change
Too much livestock on a given amount of land can lead to carbon losses, but appropriate numbers can actually help sequester the carbon.
Researchers help robots navigate efficiently in uncertain environments
A new algorithm reduces travel time by identifying shortcuts a robot could take on the way to its destination.
Study finds workers misjudge wage markets
Employees underestimate salary levels in their own industry, leading them to spend less time exploring the job market.
A sprayable gel could make minimally invasive surgeries simpler and safer
Applied during endoscopic procedures, GastroShield could help prevent complications such as bleeding and leakage from weakened gastrointestinal tissues.
Scientists develop a rapid gene-editing screen to find effects of cancer mutations
With the new technique, MIT researchers hope to identify mutations that could be targeted with new cancer therapies.
Reducing pesticide use while increasing effectiveness
In field tests, MIT spinoff AgZen demonstrated that its feedback-optimized spraying system could halve the pesticide needs of farms and improve crop yields.
Exploring the cellular neighborhood
Software allows scientists to model shapeshifting proteins in native cellular environments.
Cutting carbon emissions on the US power grid
An online model enables users to calculate the least-cost strategy for a specific regional grid under various assumptions; outcomes vary widely from region to region.
A new sensor detects harmful “forever chemicals” in drinking water
The technology could offer a cheap, fast way to test for PFAS, which have been linked to cancer and other health problems.
For people who speak many languages, there’s something special about their native tongue
An MIT study finds the brains of polyglots expend comparatively little effort when processing their native language.
Researchers enhance peripheral vision in AI models
By enabling models to see the world more like humans do, the work could help improve driver safety and shed light on human behavior.
How sensory gamma rhythm stimulation clears amyloid in Alzheimer’s mice
Study finds stimulating a key brain rhythm with light and sound increases peptide release from interneurons, driving clearance of an Alzheimer’s protein.
How the brain coordinates speaking and breathing
MIT neuroscientists have discovered a circuit that controls vocalization and makes sure that breathing is prioritized over speaking.
Method rapidly verifies that a robot will avoid collisions
Faster and more accurate than some alternatives, this approach could be useful for robots that interact with humans or work in tight spaces.
Deciphering the cellular mechanisms behind ALS
Professor Ernest Fraenkel has decoded fundamental aspects of Huntington’s disease and glioblastoma, and is now using computation to better understand amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.