Collaborate Disseminate
Engineers at MIT have added a new ability to existing flying robots – they can now glow when they flap their wings. Inspired by fireflies, this fluorescence could help with communication or tracking of the tiny, lightweight robots.Continue ReadingCateg… Continue reading Robotic fireflies light up with every flap of their wings
Engineers at MIT have developed a modular computer chip with components that can communicate using flashes of light. This could allow for electronics that can easily be upgraded with new sensors or processors, rather than replacing the whole chip.Conti… Continue reading Modular optical computer chip allows stackable swappable functions
At the heart of much research into Parkinson’s, both its causes and new forms of treatment, is a type of brain protein called alpha-synuclein. This is known to play an important role in the movement of vesicle structures that transport materials in and around cells, but new research has found it is in fact leading a “double life,” impacting on gene expression in a way that opens up new possibilities for treatment.
Tags: Parkinson’s Disease, Brain, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, MIT, Harvard
Continue reading “Double life” of Parkinson’s protein points way to new treatments
Researchers at MIT and in China have improved the old-fashioned solar still with a new inexpensive device that harnesses the sun to remove salt from water. Traditionally, these kinds of …read more Continue reading This $4 Desalination Device Provides Drinking Water for the Whole Family
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a vital line of defense to keep your brain safe from toxins, but frustratingly it can sometimes be too restrictive, keeping important drugs out. Researchers at MIT have now demonstrated an accurate new model of how this… Continue reading Experimental brain-on-a-chip better screens brain cancer treatments
Oral medication has become an indispensable method of drug delivery, today accounting for around 90 percent of pharmaceuticals produced for human use. Despite their value in treating everything from headaches to COVID-19, children and adults can have d… Continue reading Oily gels deliver essential medicine for kids who can’t swallow pills
Chopping down trees and processing the wood isn’t the most efficient or environmentally friendly way to make furniture or building materials. Scientists at MIT have now made breakthroughs in a process that could one day let us 3D print and grow wood di… Continue reading Lab-grown plant matter marks a step towards 3D-printable wood
Powering medical implants can be tricky, but tapping into the body’s own fuel source could keep them going long-term. A new design for a tiny fuel cell converts glucose into electricity to power implants more efficiently than any other so far.Continue … Continue reading Tiny, efficient fuel cell runs on blood sugar to power medical implants
The techniques our cells use to dispose of waste products offers some exciting avenues for us to potentially intervene in their behavior, whether it’s clogging up these garbage disposal systems to bring cancer undone or repairing their defects to tackle Alzheimer’s. Research from MIT has shown how this activity is ramped up during cell division, with the newly discovered mechanism potentially offering scientists a “toggle” for treating these kinds of diseases.
Tags: Cells, Cancer, Alzheimer’s Disease, MIT, New Atlas Audio
Continue reading Cells’ trash disposal system shapes as a “toggle” for cancer treatment
Although there are already portable systems that create drinking water by desalinating and purifying seawater, they typically utilize filters that have to be replaced. A new MIT setup, however, just requires a small amount of electricity to get the job… Continue reading Filterless portable device uses electricity to make seawater drinkable