Reevaluating an approach to functional brain imaging

An MRI method purported to detect neurons’ rapid impulses produces its own misleading signals instead, an MIT study finds.

Jennifer Michalowski | McGovern Institute for Brain Research • mit
April 4, 2024 ~6 min

Astronomers snap magnetic fields swirling around black hole

"...there are strong, twisted, and organized magnetic fields near the black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy."

U. Arizona • futurity
April 2, 2024 ~9 min


Tests show high-temperature superconducting magnets are ready for fusion

Detailed study of magnets built by MIT and Commonwealth Fusion Systems confirms they meet requirements for an economic, compact fusion power plant.

David L. Chandler | MIT News • mit
March 4, 2024 ~13 min

Swarming cicadas, stock traders, and the wisdom of the crowd

The springtime emergence of vast swarms of cicadas can be explained by a mathematical model of collective decision-making with similarities to models

Cambridge University News • cambridge
Feb. 1, 2024 ~5 min

Helium is an essential material for research and medical equipment, but it's nonrenewable and difficult to recycle

With the fourth significant shortage of helium in a decade continuing, companies and researchers are looking for alternative sources.

Nicholas Fitzkee, Professor of Chemistry, Mississippi State University • conversation
Jan. 17, 2024 ~8 min

Privatised Moon landings: the two US missions set to open a new era of commercial lunar exploration

The Peregrine and Nova-C landers are due to carry out valuable science at two diverse lunar locations.

Ian Whittaker, Senior Lecturer in Physics, Nottingham Trent University • conversation
Jan. 2, 2024 ~8 min

Diamonds and rust help unveil ‘impossible’ quasi-particles

Researchers have discovered magnetic monopoles – isolated magnetic charges – in a material closely related to rust, a result that could be used to power

Cambridge University News • cambridge
Dec. 5, 2023 ~6 min

Earth's magnetic field protects life on Earth from radiation, but it can move, and the magnetic poles can even flip

Ever seen the northern lights? You have a magnetic layer in Earth’s atmosphere to thank for those beautiful displays. But the magnetosphere does a lot more than create auroras.

Ofer Cohen, Associate Professor of Physics and Applied Physics, UMass Lowell • conversation
Nov. 27, 2023 ~8 min


Atomic ‘hula’ turns rare-earth crystal into magnet

When the atomic lattice in a rare-earth crystal gets animated with a corkscrew-shaped vibration called a chiral phonon, the crystal becomes a magnet.

Silvia Cernea Clark-Rice • futurity
Nov. 16, 2023 ~7 min

MIT physicists turn pencil lead into “gold”

Thin flakes of graphite can be tuned to exhibit three important properties.

Elizabeth A. Thomson | Materials Research Laboratory • mit
Nov. 14, 2023 ~5 min

/

14