Turning microbiome research into a force for health
A diverse group of researchers is working to turn new discoveries about the trillions of microbes in the body into treatments for a range of diseases.
Jan. 5, 2021 • ~10 min
health medicine bacteria startups broad-institute microbes disease research drug-development school-of-engineering innovation-and-entrepreneurship-ie alumniae biological-engineering
Aerosols from pollution, desert storms, and forest fires may intensify thunderstorms
Researchers identify a mechanism by which small particles in the atmosphere can generate more frequent thunderstorms.
Dec. 31, 2020 • ~7 min
physics environment climate pollution emissions research weather school-of-science national-science-foundation-nsf eaps earth-and-atmospheric-sciences
Top MIT research stories of 2020
The year’s popular research stories include astronomical firsts, scientific breakthroughs, and engineering milestones addressing Covid-19 and other global problems.
Dec. 22, 2020 • ~5 min
covid-19 pandemic research school-of-architecture-and-planning school-of-engineering school-of-science mit-sloan-school-of-management school-of-arts-humanities-and-social-sciences
Making smart thermostats more efficient
A smart thermostat quickly learns to optimize building microclimates for both energy consumption and user preference.
Dec. 18, 2020 • ~6 min
machine-learning internet-of-things climate-change data research school-of-engineering electrical-engineering-computer-science-eecs algorithms idss laboratory-for-information-and-decision-systems-lids analytics mit-schwarzman-college-of-computing skoltech
With campus as a test bed, climate action starts and continues at MIT
MIT serves as a laboratory for a multifaceted approach to address the Institute’s own contributions to climate change.
Dec. 18, 2020 • ~10 min
sustainability climate-change energy energy-efficiency emissions research renewable-energy community mechanical-engineering urban-studies-and-planning campus-buildings-and-architecture facilities campus-services
To boost emissions reductions from electric vehicles, know when to charge
MIT researchers develop novel EV emissions model to quantify importance of vehicle charging patterns and impact of ambient temperature on EV emissions levels.
Dec. 17, 2020 • ~8 min
energy carbon-emissions pollution economics policy electricity global-warming energy-efficiency electric-vehicles research mit-energy-initiative energy-storage
Want cheaper nuclear energy? Turn the design process into a game
Researchers show that deep reinforcement learning can be used to design more efficient nuclear reactors.
Dec. 17, 2020 • ~5 min
computing artificial-intelligence energy data research gaming school-of-engineering algorithms quest-for-intelligence nuclear-science-and-engineering undergraduate-research-opportunities-program-urop nuclear-power-and-reactors mit-schwarzman-college-of-computing
Can mammogram screening be more effective?
Study: Healthier women are more likely to follow age-based guidelines, leaving room for better-targeted testing.
Dec. 17, 2020 • ~9 min
medicine economics policy women health-care social-sciences research school-of-humanities-arts-and-social-sciences national-science-foundation-nsf national-institutes-of-health-nih
Ultracold atoms reveal a new type of quantum magnetic behavior
The findings may help researchers design “spintronic” devices and novel magnetic materials.
Dec. 16, 2020 • ~8 min
physics photonics quantum-computing light research school-of-science research-laboratory-of-electronics national-science-foundation-nsf materials-research-laboratory
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