MIT News - SciTechDaily

MIT’s SPARROW Redefines Drug Discovery With Smart Synthesis

Adam Zewe, Massachusetts Institute of Technology — Mon, 12 Aug 2024 17:06:26 +0000

Researchers at MIT have developed SPARROW, a groundbreaking algorithm designed to streamline the drug discovery process by optimizing molecular selection for synthesis based on cost and property prediction. The framework, demonstrated through three real-world case studies, effectively integrates a wide range of input molecules and calculates the most cost-efficient synthesis plans, potentially revolutionizing drug discovery [...]

MIT Unveils Genetic Keys to Alzheimer’s Resilience and Vulnerability

David Orenstein, The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 10:03:32 +0000

Researchers from MIT conducted an extensive study on Alzheimer’s disease, analyzing gene expression in various brain regions to understand why specific cells and circuits are vulnerable. The study identified neurons in the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex as particularly susceptible due to reduced expression of the protein Reelin, linked to cognitive decline. Additionally, the researchers found [...]

Seeing the Invisible: Innovative Tech Lets Cars Peek Around Corners

Adam Zewe, Massachusetts Institute of Technology — Sat, 06 Jul 2024 15:41:39 +0000

Researchers leverage shadows to model 3D scenes, including objects blocked from view. This technique could lead to safer autonomous vehicles, more efficient AR/VR headsets, or faster warehouse robots. Imagine driving through a tunnel in an autonomous vehicle, but unbeknownst to you, a crash has stopped traffic up ahead. Normally, you’d need to rely on the [...]

Revolutionizing Antibiotics: How MIT’s Water-Soluble Enzymes Could Change the Game

Anne Trafton, Massachusetts Institute of Technology — Thu, 04 Jul 2024 07:29:05 +0000

Scientists created a water-soluble version of an important bacterial enzyme, which can now be used in drug screens to identify new antibiotics. MIT researchers have engineered a water-soluble histidine kinase, a bacterial enzyme that could lead to a new class of antibiotics aimed at addressing the growing issue of antibiotic resistance. This development also paves [...]

Programmatic Breakthrough: AI’s Leap From Language to Logic To Solve Complex Problems

Adam Zewe, Massachusetts Institute of Technology — Thu, 04 Jul 2024 00:49:01 +0000

Researchers have developed a technique called natural language embedded programs (NLEPs) that improves the performance of large language models by generating Python programs to solve complex tasks. This method not only enhances accuracy and efficiency but also increases transparency, as users can directly see and modify the generated code. NLEPs allow large models like GPT-4 [...]

No More Needles: Leuko’s Revolutionary Device Could Save Lives of Cancer Patients

Zach Winn, Massachusetts Institute of Technology — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 15:54:45 +0000

Leuko, founded by a research team at MIT, is giving doctors a noninvasive way to monitor cancer patients’ health during chemotherapy — no blood tests needed. Chemotherapy and other treatments that take down cancer cells can also destroy patients’ immune cells. Every year, that leads tens of thousands of cancer patients with weakened immune systems [...]

Electronics That Defy Venus’ Heat: How Gallium Nitride Could Revolutionize Space Exploration

Adam Zewe, Massachusetts Institute of Technology — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 19:44:32 +0000

Researchers are turning to gallium nitride for high-temperature applications such as Venus exploration, due to its ability to withstand temperatures above 500 degrees Celsius. A recent study by MIT and other institutions has shown that this material, along with its ohmic contacts, remains structurally stable even at these high temperatures. The study involved building gallium [...]

Revolutionizing Accessibility: Tongue-Controlled MouthPad Enables Computer Interaction for Paralyzed Users

Zach Winn, Massachusetts Institute of Technology — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 06:28:34 +0000

The startup Augmental allows users to operate phones and other devices using their tongue, mouth, and head gestures. Tomás Vega developed the MouthPad through his startup, Augmental, to help people with disabilities interact with technology using just their tongues and head movements. His journey from a technology-enthused child to an innovative CEO underscores his commitment [...]

MIT’s Ultrasound Breakthrough: A New Era in Non-Invasive Brain Healing

Anne Trafton, Massachusetts Institute of Technology — Sun, 30 Jun 2024 14:49:06 +0000

MIT’s implantable ImPULS device could become an alternative to the electrodes now used to treat Parkinson’s and other diseases. MIT engineers developed a hair-thin ultrasound device that offers a potential breakthrough in treating neurological disorders by providing precise, minimally invasive deep brain stimulation. This technology, known as ImPULS, could replace traditional electrode-based methods, promising reduced [...]

Tiny Cracks, Global Impact: MIT Uncovers How Microscopic Ice Defects Shape Glaciers

Jennifer Chu, Massachusetts Institute of Technology — Sun, 30 Jun 2024 13:15:02 +0000

MIT researchers have developed a new model to predict glacier flow by studying microscopic defects in ice, revealing significant variations in how ice responds to environmental stresses. This model helps better predict the rate of sea-level rise by capturing the nuanced behaviors of ice sheets, particularly in Antarctica, enhancing predictions about climate-driven sea-level changes. Glacier [...]

Unlocking the Brain’s GPS: Just Thinking About a Location Activates Mental Maps

Anne Trafton, Massachusetts Institute of Technology — Sat, 29 Jun 2024 05:48:52 +0000

MIT neuroscientists have discovered that the brain uses the same cognitive representations whether navigating through space physically or mentally. This discovery highlights the role of the entorhinal cortex in processing both physical and imagined experiences. As you travel your usual route to work or the grocery store, your brain engages cognitive maps stored in your [...]

MIT’s Diamond Qubits Redefine the Future of Quantum Computing

Adam Zewe, Massachusetts Institute of Technology — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 16:06:34 +0000

A new quantum-system-on-chip enables the efficient control of a large array of qubits, advancing toward practical quantum computing. Researchers at MIT and MITRE have developed a scalable, modular quantum hardware platform, incorporating thousands of qubits on a single chip, promising enhanced control and scalability. Utilizing diamond color centers, this new architecture supports extensive quantum communication [...]

MIT Physicists Forge a Five-Lane Quantum Superhighway for Electrons

Elizabeth A. Thomson, MIT Materials Research Laboratory — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 12:56:12 +0000

MIT physicists have developed a new form of graphene, creating a five-lane electron superhighway that allows for ultra-efficient electron movement without energy loss. This breakthrough in rhombohedral pentalayer graphene could transform low-power electronic devices and operates via the quantum anomalous Hall effect at zero magnetic field. MIT physicists and their collaborators have created a five-lane [...]

Astronomers Use Destroyed Stars to Measure the Spin of a Supermassive Black Hole for the First Time

Jennifer Chu, Massachusetts Institute of Technology — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 03:12:11 +0000

Researchers have developed a new way to probe supermassive black holes and their evolution across the universe. Scientists at MIT, NASA, and elsewhere have developed a method to measure black hole spins using the wobbling of accretion disks resulting from tidal disruption events. The technique, involving tracking X-ray flashes from these events, has revealed the [...]

Tiny Titan: MIT’s Revolutionary Coin-Sized 3D Printer Fits in Your Pocket

Adam Zewe, Massachusetts Institute of Technology — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 05:48:59 +0000

Smaller than a coin, this tiny optical device could enable rapid prototyping on the go. Researchers from MIT and the University of Texas have developed a prototype for a handheld, chip-based 3D printer using a photonic chip that emits beams of light to cure resin into solid objects. This innovative technology could revolutionize the production [...]

MIT Uncovers Surprising Wave Activity on Titan, Saturn’s Largest Moon

Jennifer Chu, Massachusetts Institute of Technology — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 16:05:08 +0000

Researchers discover that wave activity on Saturn’s largest moon may be strong enough to erode the coastlines of lakes and seas. MIT researchers have used simulations to suggest that the shorelines of Titan, Saturn’s largest moon, are shaped by waves. This finding builds on images from NASA’s Cassini spacecraft, which first confirmed the existence of [...]

MIT Reveals Hidden Codes in DNA: A Breakthrough That Could Revolutionize Medicine

Anne Trafton, Massachusetts Institute of Technology — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 08:31:10 +0000

By capturing short-lived RNA molecules, scientists can map relationships between genes and the regulatory elements that control them. MIT researchers have innovated a method to observe the interaction between genes and enhancers by monitoring their activation times, helping to pinpoint drug targets for genetic disorders. This technique also enhances understanding of eRNA’s function in gene [...]

Jurassic Park in Real Life: MIT Creates Synthetic Amber for DNA Storage

Anne Trafton, Massachusetts Institute of Technology — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 19:47:18 +0000

With their “T-REX” method, DNA embedded in the polymer could be used for long-term storage of genomes or digital data such as photos and music. A new polymer developed by MIT researchers offers a significant advancement in DNA storage, providing room-temperature preservation without the energy costs associated with traditional freezing methods. This technology not only [...]

DIANA Debunked by MIT: The MRI That Couldn’t Read Minds

Jennifer Michalowski, McGovern Institute for Brain Research — Sun, 23 Jun 2024 18:10:19 +0000

A recent study at MIT has debunked the effectiveness of a new MRI method called DIANA, which was initially thought to directly detect neural activity. Instead, the signals detected were found to be artifacts produced by the imaging process itself, highlighting the complexities and challenges in developing accurate neuroimaging techniques. According to scientists at MIT’s [...]

MIT Uncovers Weather’s Role in Triggering “Earthquake Swarms”

Jennifer Chu, Massachusetts Institute of Technology — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 18:33:10 +0000

MIT researchers have linked heavy snowfall and rain to earthquake swarms in northern Japan, suggesting that extreme weather events can trigger seismic activity by altering underground pressures. This groundbreaking study highlights the potential for climate to impact geological events, with implications for understanding earthquake triggers worldwide as climate change progresses. Uncovering Earthquake Triggers: Beyond the [...]

MIT Neuroscientists Unlock the Hidden Rhythms of the Mind

David Orenstein, The Picower Institute for Learning and Memor — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 06:04:18 +0000

MIT neuroscientists propose a new framework that describes how thought arises from the coordination of neural activity driven by oscillating electric fields — a.k.a. brain “waves” or “rhythms.” It could be very informative to observe the pixels on your phone under a microscope, but not if your goal is to understand what a whole video [...]

Ancient “Monster” Black Holes Revealed: MIT Astronomers Capture Elusive Starlight From Early Quasars

Jennifer Chu, Massachusetts Institute of Technology — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 08:21:04 +0000

Ancient starlight from the earliest quasars has been captured by MIT astronomers, revealing that some of earliest “monster” black holes likely grew from massive cosmic seeds. MIT astronomers have observed the faint starlight surrounding some of the earliest quasars in the universe. These distant signals, originating more than 13 billion years ago during the infancy [...]

AI Decodes Sperm Whale Language, Revealing a Complex System of Communication

Rachel Gordon, MIT CSAIL — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 16:11:49 +0000

Researchers from MIT’s CSAIL and Project CETI use machine learning to decode the “sperm whale phonetic alphabet,” revealing complex communication patterns, deepening our understanding of animal language systems. This research, which analyzed thousands of codas from Caribbean sperm whales, reveals a sophisticated, structured communication system, challenging the notion that complex communication is unique to humans. [...]

How the Brain Masters Complexity Without Descending Into Chaos

Picower Institute at MIT — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 22:56:56 +0000

Researchers reveal that neurons exhibiting “mixed selectivity” enable our brains to handle multiple computations simultaneously, providing the flexibility needed for complex cognitive tasks. Many neurons exhibit “mixed selectivity,” meaning they can integrate multiple inputs and participate in multiple computations. Mechanisms such as oscillations and neuromodulators recruit their participation and tune them to focus on the [...]