MIT researchers advance automated interpretability in AI models

MAIA is a multimodal agent that can iteratively design experiments to better understand various components of AI systems. | Continue reading


@news.mit.edu | 5 months ago

MIT affiliates named 2024 HHMI Investigators

Four faculty members and four others with MIT ties are recognized for pushing the boundaries of science and for creating highly inclusive and collaborative research environments. | Continue reading


@news.mit.edu | 5 months ago

Knight Science Journalism Program at MIT announces 2024-25 fellows

Journalists covering key science issues around the globe will join the MIT community in August. | Continue reading


@news.mit.edu | 5 months ago

Collaborating to advance LEADing-edge digital financial infrastructure

Project led by MIT economist Rob Townsend aims to help low- and middle-income countries assess and utilize new technologies to improve central banks’ functions. | Continue reading


@news.mit.edu | 5 months ago

Proton-conducting materials could enable new green energy technologies

Analysis and materials identified by MIT engineers could lead to more energy-efficient fuel cells, electrolyzers, batteries, or computing devices. | Continue reading


@news.mit.edu | 5 months ago

Large language models don’t behave like people, even though we may expect them to

A new study shows someone’s beliefs about an LLM play a significant role in the model’s performance and are important for how it is deployed. | Continue reading


@news.mit.edu | 5 months ago

AI model identifies certain breast tumor stages likely to progress to invasive cancer

The model could help clinicians assess breast cancer stage and ultimately help in reducing overtreatment. | Continue reading


@news.mit.edu | 5 months ago

License plates of MIT

Custom plates display expressions of scholarship, creativity, and MIT pride among Institute affiliates. | Continue reading


@news.mit.edu | 5 months ago

Startup aims to flush away the problem of icky toilet seats

Cleana, founded by a team including Richard Li SM ’24, has developed a self-lifting toilet seat to improve bathroom sanitation. | Continue reading


@news.mit.edu | 5 months ago

China-based emissions of three potent climate-warming greenhouse gases spiked in past decade

Two studies pinpoint their likely industrial sources and mitigation opportunities. | Continue reading


@news.mit.edu | 5 months ago

“The dance between autonomy and affinity creates morality”

Philosophy doctoral student Abe Mathew is both studying philosophy and questioning some of its deeply-held ideas. | Continue reading


@news.mit.edu | 5 months ago

Machine learning unlocks secrets to advanced alloys

An MIT team uses computer models to measure atomic patterns in metals, essential for designing custom materials for use in aerospace, biomedicine, electronics, and more. | Continue reading


@news.mit.edu | 5 months ago

Collaborative effort supports an MIT resilient to the impacts of extreme heat

Increasing severity and duration of heat drives data collection and resiliency planning for the forthcoming Climate Resiliency and Adaptation Roadmap. | Continue reading


@news.mit.edu | 5 months ago

Math program promotes global community for at-risk Ukrainian high schoolers

“Our hope is that our students grow and mature as scholars and help rebuild the intellectual potential of Ukraine after the devastating war.” | Continue reading


@news.mit.edu | 5 months ago

Astronomers spot a highly “eccentric” planet on its way to becoming a hot Jupiter

The planet’s wild orbit offers clues to how such large, hot planets take shape. | Continue reading


@news.mit.edu | 5 months ago

Creating and verifying stable AI-controlled systems in a rigorous and flexible way

Neural network controllers provide complex robots with stability guarantees, paving the way for the safer deployment of autonomous vehicles and industrial machines. | Continue reading


@news.mit.edu | 5 months ago

AI method radically speeds predictions of materials’ thermal properties

The approach could help engineers design more efficient energy-conversion systems and faster microelectronic devices, reducing waste heat. | Continue reading


@news.mit.edu | 5 months ago

How to assess a general-purpose AI model’s reliability before it’s deployed

A new technique enables users to compare several large models and choose the one that works best for their task. | Continue reading


@news.mit.edu | 5 months ago

Professor Emeritus John Vander Sande, microscopist, entrepreneur, and admired mentor, dies at 80

A trailblazer in electron microscopy, Vander Sande is remembered for his dedication to teaching, service, and global collaboration. | Continue reading


@news.mit.edu | 5 months ago

Polina Anikeeva named head of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering

Anikeeva, who conducts research at the intersection of materials science, electronics, and neurobiology, succeeds Caroline Ross. | Continue reading


@news.mit.edu | 5 months ago

MIT OpenCourseWare “changed how I think about teaching and what a university is”

Bernardo Picão, a graduate student in physics, has turned to MIT Open Learning’s resources throughout his educational journey. | Continue reading


@news.mit.edu | 5 months ago

Study reveals how an anesthesia drug induces unconsciousness

Propofol, a drug commonly used for general anesthesia, derails the brain’s normal balance between stability and excitability. | Continue reading


@news.mit.edu | 5 months ago

Q&A: Helping young readers explore curiosity about rocks through discovery and play

“All the Rocks We Love” is a new picture book by MIT Professor Taylor Perron and Lisa Verchol Perron. | Continue reading


@news.mit.edu | 5 months ago

Q&A: What past environmental success can teach us about solving the climate crisis

In a new book, Professor Susan Solomon uses previous environmental successes as a source of hope and guidance for mitigating climate change. | Continue reading


@news.mit.edu | 5 months ago

Marking a milestone: Dedication ceremony celebrates the new MIT Schwarzman College of Computing building

Members of the MIT community, supporters, and guests commemorate the opening of the new college headquarters. | Continue reading


@news.mit.edu | 5 months ago

Machine learning and the microscope

PhD student Xinyi Zhang is developing computational tools for analyzing cells in the age of multimodal data. | Continue reading


@news.mit.edu | 5 months ago

Reasoning skills of large language models are often overestimated

New CSAIL research highlights how LLMs excel in familiar scenarios but struggle in novel ones, questioning their true reasoning abilities versus reliance on memorization. | Continue reading


@news.mit.edu | 5 months ago

MIT SHASS announces appointment of new heads for 2024-25

School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences appoints new heads across multiple academic units. | Continue reading


@news.mit.edu | 5 months ago

When to trust an AI model

More accurate uncertainty estimates could help users decide about how and when to use machine-learning models in the real world. | Continue reading


@news.mit.edu | 5 months ago

MIT ARCLab announces winners of inaugural Prize for AI Innovation in Space

The challenge asked teams to develop AI algorithms to track and predict satellites’ patterns of life in orbit using passively collected data | Continue reading


@news.mit.edu | 5 months ago

Community members receive 2024 MIT Excellence Awards, Collier Medal, and Staff Award for Distinction in Service

Staff members receive recognition for their exceptional support of the MIT community. | Continue reading


@news.mit.edu | 5 months ago

Study finds health risks in switching ships from diesel to ammonia fuel

Ammonia could be a nearly carbon-free maritime fuel, but without new emissions regulations, its impact on air quality could significantly impact human health. | Continue reading


@news.mit.edu | 6 months ago

Empowering future innovators through a social impact lens

The IDEAS Social Innovation Challenge helps students hone their entrepreneurship skills to create viable ventures for public good. | Continue reading


@news.mit.edu | 6 months ago

Researchers study differences in attitudes toward Covid-19 vaccines between women and men in Africa

While women and men self-reported similar vaccination rates, unvaccinated women had less intention to get vaccinated than men. | Continue reading


@news.mit.edu | 6 months ago

A new way to miniaturize cell production for cancer treatment

A chip the size of a pack of cards uses fewer resources and a smaller footprint than existing automated manufacturing platforms and could lead to more affordable cell therapy manufacturing. | Continue reading


@news.mit.edu | 6 months ago

Investigating the past to see technology’s future

During a recent history of technology symposium at MIT, participants shared exciting ideas about the future of their field. | Continue reading


@news.mit.edu | 6 months ago

“They can see themselves shaping the world they live in”

Developed by MIT RAISE, the Day of AI curriculum empowers K-12 students to collaborate on local and global challenges using AI. | Continue reading


@news.mit.edu | 6 months ago

A new strategy to cope with emotional stress

A study by MIT scientists supports “social good” as a cognitive approach to dealing with highly stressful events. | Continue reading


@news.mit.edu | 6 months ago

Study: Weaker ocean circulation could enhance CO2 buildup in the atmosphere

New findings challenge current thinking on the ocean’s role in storing carbon. | Continue reading


@news.mit.edu | 6 months ago

MIT researchers introduce generative AI for databases

This new tool offers an easier way for people to analyze complex tabular data. | Continue reading


@news.mit.edu | 6 months ago

MIT engineers find a way to protect microbes from extreme conditions

By helping microbes withstand industrial processing, the method could make it easier to harness the benefits of microorganisms used as medicines and in agriculture. | Continue reading


@news.mit.edu | 6 months ago

Studying astrophysically relevant plasma physics

Thomas Varnish has always loved a hands-on approach to science. Research in lab-based astrophysics has enabled the PhD student to experiment in a heavily theoretical subject. | Continue reading


@news.mit.edu | 6 months ago

What is language for?

Drawing on evidence from neurobiology, cognitive science, and corpus linguistics, MIT researchers make the case that language is a tool for communication, not for thought. | Continue reading


@news.mit.edu | 6 months ago

Signal processing: How did we get to where we’re going?

In a retrospective talk spanning multiple decades, Professor Al Oppenheim looked back over the birth of digital signal processing and shared his thoughts on the future of the field. | Continue reading


@news.mit.edu | 6 months ago

Summer 2024 recommended reading from MIT

MIT News rounds up recent titles from Institute faculty and staff. | Continue reading


@news.mit.edu | 6 months ago

How to increase the rate of plastics recycling

A national bottle deposit fee could make a dramatic difference in reducing plastic waste, MIT researchers report. | Continue reading


@news.mit.edu | 6 months ago

Pioneering the future of materials extraction

MIT spinout SiTration looks to disrupt industries with a revolutionary process for recovering and extracting critical materials. | Continue reading


@news.mit.edu | 6 months ago

The rules of the game

Rising superpowers like China are “cautious opportunists” in global institutions, and the U.S. should avoid overreaction, PhD student Raymond Wang argues. | Continue reading


@news.mit.edu | 6 months ago