Why countries trade with each other while fighting
In World War II, Britain was fighting for its survival against German aerial bombardment. Yet Britain was importing dyes from Germany at the same time. This sounds curious, to put…Professor Emeritus Rainer Weiss, influential physicist who forged new paths to understanding the universe, dies at 92
MIT Professor Emeritus Rainer Weiss ’55, PhD ’62, a renowned experimental physicist and Nobel laureate whose groundbreaking work confirmed a longstanding prediction about the nature of the universe, passed away…Engineering fantasy into reality
Growing up in the suburban town of Spring, Texas, just outside of Houston, Erik Ballesteros couldn’t help but be drawn in by the possibilities for humans in space. It was…Marcus Stergio named ombudsperson
Marcus Stergio will join the MIT Ombuds Office on Aug. 25, bringing over a decade of experience as a mediator and conflict-management specialist. Previously an ombuds at the U.S. Department…Study links rising temperatures and declining moods
Rising global temperatures affect human activity in many ways. Now, a new study illuminates an important dimension of the problem: Very hot days are associated with more negative moods, as…Graduate work with an impact — in big cities and on campus
While working to boost economic development in Detroit in the late 2010s, Nick Allen found he was running up against a problem. The city was trying to spur more investment…Professor John Joannopoulos, photonics pioneer and Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies director, dies at 78
John “JJ” Joannopoulos, the Francis Wright Davis Professor of Physics at MIT and director of the MIT Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies (ISN), passed away on Aug. 17. He was 78. …The art and science of being an MIT teaching assistant
“It’s probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done at MIT,” says Haley Nakamura, a second-year MEng student in the MIT Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS). She’s not…Harvey Kent Bowen, ceramics scholar and MIT Leaders for Global Operations co-founder, dies at 83
Harvey Kent Bowen PhD ’71, a longtime MIT professor celebrated for his pioneering work in manufacturing education, innovative ceramics research, and generous mentorship, died July 17 in Belmont, Massachusetts. He…Better public service with data
Davi Augusto Oliveira Pinto’s career in Brazil’s foreign service took him all over the world. His work as a diplomat for more than two decades exposed him to the realities…3 Questions: Measuring the financial impact of design in the built environment
The various aspects of design — such as creation, function, and aesthetic — can be applied to many different disciplines and provide them with a value. While this is universally…Professor Emeritus Peter Temin, influential and prolific economic historian, dies at 87
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…MIT tool visualizes and edits “physically impossible” objects
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…Youssef Marzouk appointed associate dean of MIT Schwarzman College of Computing
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…3 Questions: Applying lessons in data, economics, and policy design to the real world
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 Learn offers “a whole new front door to the Institute”
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…Helping cities evolve
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…Professor Emeritus Daniel Kleppner, highly influential atomic physicist, dies at 92
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…Five MIT faculty elected to the National Academy of Sciences for 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,…Supporting mission-driven space innovation, for Earth and beyond
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 —…AI shapes autonomous underwater “gliders”
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…At MIT, musicians make new tools for new tunes
The MIT Music Technology Program carves out a space to explore new sounds, tunes, and experiences. From the classroom to the community, students in music tech grapple with developing both…A new platform for developing advanced metals at scale
Companies building next-generation products and breakthrough technologies are often limited by the physical constraints of traditional materials. In aerospace, defense, energy, and industrial tooling, pushing those constraints introduces possible failure…3 Questions: How MIT’s venture studio is partnering with MIT labs to solve “holy grail” problems
MIT Proto Ventures is the Institute’s in-house venture studio — a program designed not to support existing startups, but to create entirely new ones from the ground up. Operating at…The high-tech wizardry of integrated photonics
Inspired by the “Harry Potter” stories and the Disney Channel show “Wizards of Waverly Place,” 7-year-old Sabrina Corsetti emphatically declared to her parents one afternoon that she was, in fact,…Inspiring student growth
Professors Xiao Wang and Rodrigo Verdi, both members of the 2023-25 Committed to Caring cohort, are aiding in the development of extraordinary researchers and contributing to a collaborative culture. “Professor…QS ranks MIT the world’s No. 1 university for 2025-26
MIT has again been named the world’s top university by the QS World University Rankings, which were announced today. This is the 14th year in a row MIT has received…Combining technology, education, and human connection to improve online learning
MIT Morningside Academy for Design (MAD) Fellow Caitlin Morris is an architect, artist, researcher, and educator who has studied psychology and used online learning tools to teach herself coding and other skills.…Students and staff work together for MIT’s first “No Mow May”
In recent years, some grass lawns around the country have grown a little taller in springtime thanks to No Mow May, a movement originally launched by U.K. nonprofit Plantlife in…Professor Emeritus Hank Smith honored for pioneering work in nanofabrication
Nanostructures are a stunning array of intricate patterns that are imperceptible to the human eye, yet they help power modern life. They are the building blocks of microchip transistors, etched…Anantha Chandrakasan named MIT provost
Anantha Chandrakasan, a professor of electrical engineering and computer science who has held multiple leadership roles at MIT, has been named the Institute’s new provost, effective July 1. Chandrakasan has…The shadow architects of power
In Washington, where conversations about Russia often center on a single name, political science doctoral candidate Suzanne Freeman is busy redrawing the map of power in autocratic states. Her research…Have a damaged painting? Restore it in just hours with an AI-generated “mask”
Art restoration takes steady hands and a discerning eye. For centuries, conservators have restored paintings by identifying areas needing repair, then mixing an exact shade to fill in one area…Recovering from the past and transitioning to a better energy future
As the frequency and severity of extreme weather events grow, it may become increasingly necessary to employ a bolder approach to climate change, warned Emily A. Carter, the Gerhard R.…“Each of us holds a piece of the solution”
MIT has an unparalleled history of bringing together interdisciplinary teams to solve pressing problems — think of the development of radar during World War II, or leading the international coalition…