MIT community

How a building creates and defines a region
As an undergraduate majoring in architecture, Dong Nyung Lee ’21 wasn’t sure how to respond when friends asked him what the study of architecture was about. “I was always confused…
A new take on carbon capture
If there was one thing Cameron Halliday SM ’19, MBA ’22, PhD ’22 was exceptional at during the early days of his PhD at MIT, it was producing the same…
New AI agent learns to use CAD to create 3D objects from sketches
Computer-Aided Design (CAD) is the go-to method for designing most of today’s physical products. Engineers use CAD to turn 2D sketches into 3D models that they can then test and…
MIT Energy Initiative conference spotlights research priorities amidst a changing energy landscape
“We’re here to talk about really substantive changes, and we want you to be a participant in that,” said Desirée Plata, the School of Engineering Distinguished Professor of Climate and…
Returning farming to city centers
A new class is giving MIT students the opportunity to examine the historical and practical considerations of urban farming while developing a real-world understanding of its value by working alongside…
Phil Sharp-Alnylam Fund for Emerging Scientists to support MIT biology graduate students and faculty
It’s no question that graduate school in fundamental research was never for the faint of heart, but academia’s nationwide funding disruptions threaten not just research happening now, but the critical…
Green bananas can’t throw 3.091 Fun Run off course
The night before the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (DMSE)’s 3.091 Fun Run, organizer Bianca Sinausky opened a case of bananas she’d ordered and was met with a surprise:…
From nanoscale to global scale: Advancing MIT’s special initiatives in manufacturing, health, and climate
“MIT.nano is essential to making progress in high-priority areas where I believe that MIT has a responsibility to lead,” opened MIT president Sally Kornbluth at the 2025 Nano Summit. “If…
Transforming complex research into compelling stories
For students, postdocs, and early-career researchers, communicating complex ideas in a clear and compelling manner has become an essential skill. Whether applying for academic positions, pitching research to funders, or…
Giving buildings an “MRI” to make them more energy-efficient and resilient
Older buildings let thousands of dollars-worth of energy go to waste each year through leaky roofs, old windows, and insufficient insulation. But even as building owners face mounting pressure to…
Charting the future of AI, from safer answers to faster thinking
Adoption of new tools and technologies occurs when users largely perceive them as reliable, accessible, and an improvement over the available methods and workflows for the cost. Five PhD students…
Lightning-prediction tool could help protect the planes of the future
More than 70 aircraft are struck by lightning every day. If you happen to be flying when a strike occurs, chances are you won’t feel a thing, thanks to lightning…
3 Questions: How AI is helping us monitor and support vulnerable ecosystems
A recent study from Oregon State University estimated that more than 3,500 animal species are at risk of extinction because of factors including habitat alterations, natural resources being overexploited, and climate…
Using classic physical phenomena to solve new problems
Quenching, a powerful heat transfer mechanism, is remarkably effective at transporting heat away. But in extreme environments, like nuclear power plants and aboard spaceships, a lot rides on the efficiency…
Studying war in the new nuclear age
Nuclear security can be a daunting topic: The consequences seem unimaginable, but the threat is real. Some scholars, though, thrive on the close study of the world’s most dangerous weapons.…
Support with purpose, driven by empathy
MIT professors Michael McDonald and Kristala Prather embody a form of mentorship defined not only by technical expertise, but by care. They remind us that the most lasting academic guidance…
At MIT, a day of hands-on, kid-friendly learning
Back and better than ever, the Cambridge Science Carnival, an annual free family-friendly science extravaganza, was held on Sunday, Sept. 21, at the Kendall/MIT Open Space. Founded by the MIT Museum in…
Five with MIT ties elected to National Academy of Medicine for 2025
On Oct. 20 during its annual meeting, the National Academy of Medicine announced the election of 100 new members, including MIT faculty members Dina Katabi and Facundo Batista, along with…
Over 1,000 MIT students inspired to work toward climate solutions
Recently, more than 1,000 MIT students stepped into the shoes of global decision-makers by trying out En-ROADS, a simulation tool developed to test climate policies, explore solutions, and envision a…
Solar energy startup Active Surfaces wins inaugural PITCH.nano competition
The inaugural PITCH.nano competition, hosted by MIT.nano’s hard technology accelerator START.nano, provided a platform for early-stage startups to present their innovations to MIT and Boston’s hard-tech startup ecosystem. The grand…
The student becomes the teacher
Coming from a small high school in rural South Dakota that didn’t offer advanced placement (AP) classes, Titus Roesler ’25 didn’t have the easiest start at MIT. But when his…
New software designs eco-friendly clothing that can reassemble into new items
It’s hard to keep up with the ever-changing trends of the fashion world. What’s “in” one minute is often out of style the next season, potentially causing you to re-evaluate…
GradThriving
GradThriving is designed to foster the holistic well-being and academic success of MIT graduate students. Our mission is to create an environment where students not only survive, but thrive in…
The brain power behind sustainable AI
How can you use science to build a better gingerbread house? That was something Miranda Schwacke spent a lot of time thinking about. The MIT graduate student in the Department…
Optimizing food subsidies: Applying digital platforms to maximize nutrition
Oct. 16 is World Food Day, a global campaign to celebrate the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization 80 years ago, and to work toward a healthy, sustainable, food-secure…
Remembering Professor Emerita Jeanne Shapiro  Bamberger, a pioneer in music education
MIT Music and Theater Arts fondly remembers the legacy of Professor Emerita Jeanne Shapiro Bamberger, who passed away peacefully at home in Berkeley, California, of natural causes on Dec. 12, 2024…
Blending neuroscience, AI, and music to create mental health innovations
Computational neuroscientist and singer/songwriter Kimaya (Kimy) Lecamwasam, who also plays electric bass and guitar, says music has been a core part of her life for as long as she can…
Darcy McRose and Mehtaab Sawhney ’20, PhD ’24 named 2025 Packard Fellows for Science and Engineering
The David and Lucile Packard Foundation has announced that two MIT affiliates have been named 2025 Packard Fellows for Science and Engineering. Darcy McRose, the Thomas D. and Virginia W. Cabot…
MIT releases financials and endowment figures for 2025
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Investment Management Company (MITIMCo) announced today that MIT’s unitized pool of endowment and other MIT funds generated an investment return of 14.8 percent during the…
Ray Kurzweil ’70 reinforces his optimism in tech progress
Innovator, futurist, and author Ray Kurzweil ’70 emphasized his optimism about artificial intelligence, and technological progress generally, in a lecture on Wednesday while accepting MIT’s Robert A. Muh Alumni Award from…
Gene-Wei Li named associate head of the Department of Biology
Associate Professor Gene-Wei Li has accepted the position of associate head of the MIT Department of Biology, starting in the 2025-26 academic year.  Li, who has been a member of…
Riccardo Comin, two MIT alumni named 2025 Moore Experimental Physics Investigators
MIT associate professor of physics Riccardo Comin has been selected as 2025 Experimental Physics Investigator by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. Two MIT physics alumni — Gyu-Boong Jo PhD ’10 of Rice…
MIT-affiliated physicists win McMillan Award for discovery of exotic electronic state
Last year, MIT physicists reported in the journal Nature that electrons can become fractions of themselves in graphene, an atomically thin form of carbon. This exotic electronic state, called the…
3 Questions: How a new mission to Uranus could be just around the corner
The successful test of SpaceX’s Starship launch vehicle, following a series of engineering challenges and failed launches, has reignited excitement over the possibilities this massive rocket may unlock for humanity’s…
A beacon of light
Placing a lit candle in a window to welcome friends and strangers is an old Irish tradition that took on greater significance when Mary Robinson was elected president of Ireland…
Teamwork in motion
Graduate school can feel like a race to the finish line, but it becomes much easier with a team to cheer you on — especially if that team is literally…