Researchers develop a detector for continuously monitoring toxic gases

The material could be made as a thin coating to analyze air quality in industrial or home settings over time.

David L. Chandler | MIT News • mit
May 17, 2024 • ~6 min

MIT researchers discover the universe’s oldest stars in our own galactic backyard

Three stars circling the Milky Way’s halo formed 12 to 13 billion years ago.

Jennifer Chu | MIT News • mit
May 14, 2024 • ~8 min

Unravelling life’s origin: five key breakthroughs from the past five years

The origin of life on Earth is one of the biggest mysteries in science.

Louise Gillet de Chalonge, PhD Student in Astrobiology, Dublin City University • conversation
May 2, 2024 • ~9 min

Many old books contain toxic chemicals – here’s how to spot them

Two poisonous books were recently removed from the French national library.

Mark Lorch, Professor of Science Communication and Chemistry, University of Hull • conversation
April 29, 2024 • ~6 min

Researchers detect a new molecule in space

Such discoveries help researchers better understand the development of molecular complexity in space during star formation.

Danielle Randall Doughty | Department of Chemistry • mit
April 22, 2024 • ~5 min

Saturn’s ocean moon Enceladus is able to support life − my research team is working out how to detect extraterrestrial cells there

Saturn’s moon Enceladus has geysers shooting tiny grains of ice into space. These grains could hold traces of life − but researchers need the right tools to tell.

Fabian Klenner, Postdoctoral Scholar in Earth and Space Sciences, University of Washington • conversation
April 17, 2024 • ~8 min

A young Black scientist discovered a pivotal leprosy treatment in the 1920s − but an older colleague took the credit

Historians are working to shine a light on Alice Ball’s legacy and contributions to an early treatment of a dangerous and stigmatizing disease.

Mark M. Lambert, Assistant Professor of Behavioral Medicine, Medical Humanities, and Bioethics, Des Moines University • conversation
April 12, 2024 • ~8 min

With inspiration from “Tetris,” MIT researchers develop a better radiation detector

The device, based on simple tetromino shapes, could determine the direction and distance of a radiation source, with fewer detector pixels.

David L. Chandler | MIT News • mit
April 10, 2024 • ~7 min

Engineers find a new way to convert carbon dioxide into useful products

A catalyst tethered by DNA boosts the efficiency of the electrochemical conversion of CO2 to CO, a building block for many chemical compounds.

Anne Trafton | MIT News • mit
March 27, 2024 • ~6 min

What’s in tattoo ink? My team’s chemical analysis found ingredients that aren’t on the label and could cause allergies

Some tattoo inks contain unlabeled materials that can cause allergic reactions.

John Swierk, Assistant Professor, Chemistry, Binghamton University, State University of New York • conversation
March 22, 2024 • ~7 min

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