News

Professor Emeritus Peter Temin, influential and prolific economic historian, dies at 87

August 6, 2025

Peter Temin PhD ’64, the MIT Elisha Gray II Professor of Economics, emeritus, passed away on Aug. 4. He was 87. Temin was a preeminent economic historian whose work spanned a remarkable range of topics, from the British Industrial Revolution and Roman economic history to the causes of the Great Depression and, later in his career, […]

MIT tool visualizes and edits “physically impossible” objects

August 4, 2025

M.C. Escher’s artwork is a gateway into a world of depth-defying optical illusions, featuring “impossible objects” that break the laws of physics with convoluted geometries. What you perceive his illustrations to be depends on your point of view — for example, a person seemingly walking upstairs may be heading down the steps if you tilt […]

Youssef Marzouk appointed associate dean of MIT Schwarzman College of Computing

August 1, 2025

Youssef Marzouk ’97, SM ’99, PhD ’04, the Breene M. Kerr (1951) Professor in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AeroAstro) at MIT, has been appointed associate dean of the MIT Schwarzman College of Computing, effective July 1. Marzouk, who has served as co-director of the Center for Computational Science and Engineering (CCSE) since 2018, […]

3 Questions: Applying lessons in data, economics, and policy design to the real world

July 24, 2025

Gevorg Minasyan MAP ’23 first discovered the MITx MicroMasters Program in Data, Economics, and Design of Policy (DEDP) — jointly led by the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) and MIT Open Learning — when he was looking to better understand the process of building effective, evidence-based policies while working at the Central Bank of […]

MIT Learn offers “a whole new front door to the Institute”

July 21, 2025

In 2001, MIT became the first higher education institution to provide educational resources for free to anyone in the world. Fast forward 24 years: The Institute has now launched a dynamic AI-enabled website for its non-degree learning opportunities, making it easier for learners around the world to discover the courses and resources available on MIT’s […]

Helping cities evolve

July 17, 2025

Growing up in Paris, Vincent Rollet was exposed to the world beyond France from an early age. His dad was an engineer who traveled around the globe to set up electrical infrastructure, and he moved the family to the United States for two years when Rollet was a small child. His father’s work sparked Rollet’s […]

Professor Emeritus Daniel Kleppner, highly influential atomic physicist, dies at 92

July 15, 2025

Daniel Kleppner, the Lester Wolfe Professor Emeritus of Physics at MIT whose work in experimental atomic physics made an immense mark on the field, died on June 16 at the age of 92, in Palo Alto, California. Kleppner’s varied research examined the interactions of atoms with static electric and magnetic fields and radiation. His work included creating […]

Five MIT faculty elected to the National Academy of Sciences for 2025

July 14, 2025

The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) has elected 120 members and 30 international members, including five MIT faculty members and 13 MIT alumni. Professors Rodney Brooks, Parag Pathak, Scott Sheffield, Benjamin Weiss, and Yukiko Yamashita were elected in recognition of their “distinguished and continuing achievements in original research.” Membership to the National Academy of Sciences […]

Supporting mission-driven space innovation, for Earth and beyond

July 10, 2025

As spaceflight becomes more affordable and accessible, the story of human life in space is just beginning. Aurelia Institute wants to make sure that future benefits all of humanity — whether in space or here on Earth. Founded by Ariel Ekblaw SM ’17, PhD ’20; Danielle DeLatte ’11; and former MIT research scientist Sana Sharma, […]

AI shapes autonomous underwater “gliders”

July 9, 2025

Marine scientists have long marveled at how animals like fish and seals swim so efficiently despite having different shapes. Their bodies are optimized for efficient, hydrodynamic aquatic navigation so they can exert minimal energy when traveling long distances. Autonomous vehicles can drift through the ocean in a similar way, collecting data about vast underwater environments. […]