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October 20
- Solar energy startup Active Surfaces wins inaugural PITCH.nano competition
➀ Active Surfaces won the inaugural PITCH.nano competition with its lightweight, flexible solar cells designed to integrate renewable energy into built environments;
➁ The competition, hosted by MIT.nano’s START.nano accelerator, supports hard-tech startups by providing discounted access to facilities and fostering connections within MIT’s innovation ecosystem;
➂ Advanced Silicon Group received the audience choice award for developing next-generation biosensors for healthcare and pharmaceutical applications.
October 3
- Secretary of Energy Chris Wright ’85 visits MIT
➀ U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright ’85 visited MIT, engaging in discussions on energy innovation, viewing MIT-GE Vernova Energy and Climate Alliance research, and touring labs, including his former workspace;
➁ Wright emphasized the importance of energy innovation in AI, fusion, and quantum computing, advocated for market-driven progress, and highlighted federal support for foundational research through national labs;
➂ The event featured a panel with MIT alumni energy leaders, lab demonstrations, and remarks on MIT’s role in advancing secure, clean energy and fostering industry partnerships.
October 1
- Concrete “battery” developed at MIT now packs 10 times the power
➀ MIT researchers developed electron-conducting carbon concrete (ec³) that integrates energy storage into infrastructure, functioning as a supercapacitor;
➁ Optimized electrolytes and manufacturing processes increased ec³'s energy storage capacity tenfold, reducing the required volume for household energy needs from 45 to 5 cubic meters;
➂ Potential applications include self-powered buildings, EV-charging roads, and off-grid homes, with additional functionalities like structural health monitoring and carbon sequestration.
- Palladium filters could enable cheaper, more efficient generation of hydrogen fuel
➀ MIT engineers developed a palladium membrane with a 'plug' design embedded in porous material, enhancing thermal stability up to 1,000 kelvins;
➁ The innovation enables hydrogen separation in high-temperature applications like steam methane reforming and ammonia cracking, improving efficiency for zero-carbon fuel production;
➂ While promising for compact hydrogen generation, further industrial-scale testing is needed to validate long-term performance under extreme conditions.
September 23
- MIT engineers develop a magnetic transistor for more energy-efficient electronics
➀ MIT researchers developed a magnetic transistor using chromium sulfur bromide, a 2D magnetic semiconductor, to replace silicon, enabling smaller, faster, and more energy-efficient circuits;
➁ The material's clean magnetic state switching and air stability overcome silicon's limitations, achieving a 10x current amplification with low-energy operation;
➂ The transistor's built-in memory potential simplifies circuit design and unlocks new applications in high-performance electronics.
September 9
- “Bottlebrush” particles deliver big chemotherapy payloads directly to cancer cells
➀ MIT researchers developed bottlebrush-shaped polymer particles (ABCs) to deliver hundreds of chemotherapy drugs directly to tumors via antibody targeting, significantly increasing payload capacity compared to traditional antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs);
➁ In mouse models of breast and ovarian cancer, ABCs eradicated most tumors at doses 100 times lower than conventional drugs and outperformed FDA-approved ADCs like T-DXd and TDM-1;
➂ The technology allows customizable drug combinations, including less potent agents and experimental therapies like PROTACs, with potential applications across cancer types by swapping targeting antibodies.
August 27
- New method could monitor corrosion and cracking in a nuclear reactor
➀ MIT researchers developed a real-time 3D monitoring technique using high-intensity X-rays to observe material failure (e.g., corrosion, cracking) in nuclear reactor environments;
➁ A silicon dioxide buffer layer and extended X-ray exposure stabilized samples, enabling precise imaging and insights into material degradation, potentially improving reactor safety and lifespan;
➂ The method also revealed X-ray-induced strain control in materials, offering dual applications for nuclear reactor materials and microelectronics manufacturing.
August 19
- Professor John Joannopoulos, photonics pioneer and Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies director, dies at 78
➀ John Joannopoulos pioneered photonic crystals and their applications, leading to transformative technologies like optical scalpels and wireless energy transfer;
➁ As director of MIT’s Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies for nearly 20 years, he fostered interdisciplinary collaborations and innovations in lightweight armor, smart fabrics, and energy systems;
➂ A legendary mentor, he shaped generations of scientists, co-founded six startups (including Omniguide and Witricity), and left a profound legacy in academia and industry.
August 13
- MIT gears up to transform manufacturing
➀ MIT launched the Initiative for New Manufacturing (INM) to drive technological innovation, talent development, and scalable production systems;
➁ INM collaborates with industry giants like Amgen, Siemens, and Flex on AI/automation integration and workforce training;
➂ The initiative emphasizes revitalizing U.S. manufacturing through technology adoption, cross-sector partnerships, and advocacy for manufacturing careers.
June 11
- Window-sized device taps the air for safe drinking water
➀ MIT engineers developed a window-sized hydrogel-based device that extracts water vapor from air, even in arid environments like Death Valley, producing up to 160ml of drinking water daily;
➁ The passive system uses a salt-stabilized hydrogel and cooling-coated glass to condense vapor without external power, addressing salt leakage issues seen in prior designs;
➂ Scalable vertical panels could provide household water access in resource-limited regions, with plans for further testing and optimization.
April 4
- Tabletop factory-in-a-box makes hands-on manufacturing education more accessible➀ MIT and Tecnológico de Monterrey collaborate on FrED Factory; ➁ FrED Factory serves as an educational platform for manufacturing scale-up; ➂ Students gain insights into scaling manufacturing operations through hands-on experience.
April 3
- Engineers develop a way to mass manufacture nanoparticles that deliver cancer drugs directly to tumors➀ MIT researchers develop a manufacturing technique for mass-producing polymer-coated nanoparticles for cancer drug delivery; ➁ The new method allows for larger quantities of nanoparticles to be produced in less time; ➂ The technology has potential applications in clinical trials and commercialization, initially focusing on abdominal cancers.
- Cem Tasan to lead the Materials Research Laboratory➀ C. Cem Tasan has been appointed as the director of MIT’s Materials Research Laboratory (MRL) effective March 15; ➁ Tasan succeeds Lionel “Kim” Kimerling, who has been the interim director since Carl Thompson stepped down in August 2023; ➂ As director, Tasan will lead MRL’s research mission, focusing on strengthening internal collaboration and building upon the lab’s industry engagement.
March 28
- Mapping the future of metamaterials➀ Metamaterials are engineered materials with unique properties; ➁ Challenges in design, fabrication, and characterization limit their potential; ➂ Advances in scalable fabrication and AI-driven design could revolutionize industries.
March 17
- Artificial muscle flexes in multiple directions, offering a path to soft, wiggly robots➀ MIT engineers develop a method to grow artificial muscle tissue that twitches and flexes in multiple coordinated directions; ➁ The artificial iris demonstrates the first skeletal muscle-powered robot that generates force in more than one direction; ➂ The stamping method can be used to grow complex patterns of muscle and potentially other types of biological tissues.
March 4
- Designing better ways to deliver drugs➀ Louis DeRidder's near-death experience at 12 sparked his interest in medicine; ➁ His high school program led to a deep fascination with drug delivery to the brain; ➂ DeRidder's research at Johns Hopkins University focused on nanoparticle-drug conjugates for neurodegenerative diseases; ➃ At Harvard-MIT, he developed CLAUDIA, a device for personalized drug dosing during chemotherapy; ➄ DeRidder's work involves MATLAB and Simulink for modeling drug pharmacokinetics; ➅ He aims to move CLAUDIA towards clinical use and potentially start a company for commercialization; ➆ In addition, DeRidder is developing new nanoparticles for therapeutic nucleic acid delivery; ➇ He balances research with community service, helping the homeless in Boston; ➈ His long-term goals include developing treatments for neurological diseases and cancer.
January 7
- New filter captures and recycles aluminum from manufacturing waste➀ MIT engineers develop a new nanofiltration process to reduce hazardous waste from aluminum production; ➁ The membrane selectively captures more than 99 percent of aluminum ions in lab-scale experiments; ➂ If implemented, the technology could reduce wasted aluminum and improve waste environmental quality.
January 4
- MIT affiliates awarded 2024 National Medals of Science, Technology➀ Four MIT faculty members received the National Medal of Science and Technology; ➁ Angela Belcher and Emery Brown were awarded the National Medal of Science; ➂ Paula Hammond and Feng Zhang received the National Medal of Technology and Innovation.
November 21
- Tunable ultrasound propagation in microscale metamaterials➀ Researchers from MIT and other institutions have developed a design framework for controlling ultrasound wave propagation in microscale acoustic metamaterials; ➁ The framework involves precisely positioning microscale spheres to tune how ultrasound waves travel through 3D microscale metamaterials; ➂ The work enables tunable elastic-wave velocities within microscale materials and demonstrates an acoustic demultiplexer, paving the way for microscale devices useful for ultrasound imaging or information transmission.
November 19
- MIT physicists predict exotic form of matter with potential for quantum computing➀ MIT physicists predict the creation of an exotic form of matter that could be used to form qubits for more powerful quantum computers; ➁ The discovery is based on materials that allow electrons to split into fractions without a magnetic field; ➂ Non-Abelian anyons, which have the ability to 'remember' their spacetime trajectories, could be created in moiré materials composed of molybdenum ditelluride.
November 4
- Nanoscale transistors could enable more efficient electronics➀ Silicon transistors face a physical limit known as 'Boltzmann tyranny' that affects energy efficiency; ➁ MIT researchers developed 3D transistors using ultrathin semiconductor materials to overcome this limit; ➂ The new transistors operate efficiently at lower voltages and have the potential to replace silicon in electronics for better energy efficiency.
October 31
- “Wearable” devices for cells➀ MIT researchers develop wearable devices for individual cells; ➁ These subcellular-sized devices are battery-free and made of a soft polymer; ➂ They can measure or modulate a neuron’s electrical and metabolic activity at a subcellular level.
October 15
- MIT team takes a major step toward fully 3D-printed active electronics➀ MIT researchers have demonstrated fully 3D-printed resettable fuses, key components of active electronics; ➁ The devices are made using standard 3D printing hardware and an inexpensive, biodegradable material; ➂ While not performing as well as silicon-based transistors, they could be used for basic control operations like regulating the speed of an electric motor.
October 11
- Tiny magnetic discs offer remote brain stimulation without transgenes➀ MIT researchers report on magnetic nanodiscs for non-invasive brain stimulation; ➁ The nanodiscs could be injected into the brain and activated by an external magnetic field; ➂ The technology could lead to therapies without implants or genetic modification.
October 6
- Modeling Relationships to Solve Complex Problems Efficiently➀ Associate Professor Julian Shun develops high-performance algorithms and frameworks for large-scale graph processing; ➁ His work focuses on finding the shortest path between objects in a network and detecting fraudulent transactions; ➂ Shun's algorithms leverage parallel computing to analyze massive graphs efficiently; ➃ He has developed user-friendly programming frameworks to facilitate efficient graph algorithm development; ➄ Shun's research includes clustering algorithms and dynamic graph algorithms for real-world applications.
July 30
- MIT spinout Arnasi begins applying LiquiGlide no-stick technology to help patients➀ Arnasi Group, formerly known as LiquiGlide, is developing biomedical products leveraging their no-stick technology; ➁ Their first product, Revel, is a lubricant for ostomy pouches, simplifying the cleaning process and preventing clogging; ➂ Revel has received positive feedback from nurses and patients, and the company plans to apply the technology to prevent infections in implants and catheters, and to assist those with cystic fibrosis.
June 16
- A new way to spot life-threatening infections in cancer patients1. Chemotherapy and other treatments can destroy immune cells, leading to potentially deadly infections in cancer patients with weakened immune systems. 2. Leuko is developing an at-home white blood cell monitor that uses light and artificial intelligence to detect dangerously low white blood cell levels without drawing blood. 3. The technology was conceived by MIT researchers in 2015, and Leuko's devices have accurately detected low white blood cell counts in hundreds of cancer patients. 4. The company has been working with the FDA to confirm the accuracy and ease of use of their device, expecting to begin a pivotal study for FDA approval later this year. 5. Leuko's team believes the device could optimize cancer treatment by personalizing chemotherapy doses based on individual patient reactions. 6. The device could also be used to monitor immune health in other patient populations, such as those with multiple sclerosis, autoimmune diseases, organ transplants, and emergency room patients. 7. The company envisions the device as a platform technology for measuring other blood parameters beyond white blood cells in the future.
March 28
- VIAVI Solutions joins MIT.nano Consortium1. VIAVI Solutions, a global provider of communication test and measurement and optical technologies, has joined the MIT.nano Consortium. 2. VIAVI's history dates back to 1923 and 1948, and it supports innovation in various fields such as communication networks and consumer electronics. 3. VIAVI will contribute global insights to the MIT.nano Consortium and collaborate on innovations in materials and processes for future photonics applications. 4. The MIT.nano Consortium facilitates academic-industry collaboration and includes other companies like Analog Devices, IBM Research, and Lockheed Martin.