Three MIT-led projects awarded MURI funding for 2023
Through the Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative, the US Department of Defense supports research projects in areas of critical importance to national defense.
J-WAFS announces 2023 seed grant recipients
Fifteen principal investigators from across MIT will conduct early work to solve issues ranging from water contamination to aquaculture monitoring and management.
A better way to study ocean currents
A new machine-learning model makes more accurate predictions about ocean currents, which could help with tracking plastic pollution and oil spills, and aid in search and rescue.
Engineers design sutures that can deliver drugs or sense inflammation
The bioderived “smart sutures” could help patients heal after bowel resection or other types of surgery.
That moment when you’re nodding off is a sweet spot for creativity
A new study finds people are more creative after waking from the earliest stage of sleep, especially when they are guided to dream about a particular topic.
Finding “hot spots” where compounding environmental and economic risks converge
A new computational tool empowers decision-makers to target interventions.
Gene-editing technique could speed up study of cancer mutations
With the new method, scientists can explore many cancer mutations whose roles are unknown, helping them develop new drugs that target those mutations.
Like ancient mariners, ancestors of Prochlorococcus microbes rode out to sea on exoskeleton particles
A new study shows the carbon-capturing phytoplankton colonized the ocean by rafting on particles of chitin.
Government’s invisible hand in developing countries
Political scientist Noah Nathan’s new book, “The Scarce State,” explores the deep impact government can have even when it is seemingly absent.
Study: AI models fail to reproduce human judgements about rule violations
Models trained using common data-collection techniques judge rule violations more harshly than humans would, researchers report.
Success at the intersection of technology and finance
Citadel founder and CEO Ken Griffin visits MIT, discusses how technology will continue to transform trading and investing.
Inaugural J-WAFS Grand Challenge aims to develop enhanced crop variants and move them from lab to land
Matt Shoulders will lead an interdisciplinary team to improve RuBisCO — the photosynthesis enzyme thought to be the holy grail for improving agricultural yield.
Chemists’ technique reveals whether antibodies neutralize SARS-CoV-2
The method could enable a rapid test to determine whether individuals are producing antibodies that help protect against Covid-19.
Using reflections to see the world from new points of view
A new computer vision system turns any shiny object into a camera of sorts, enabling an observer to see around corners or beyond obstructions.
Advocating for science budget and policy
MIT’s Science Policy Initiative sends students and postdocs to Capitol Hill to advocate for continued and increased federal support for scientific research.