Fake seeds can cost farmers more than two-thirds of expected crop yields and threaten food security. Trackable silk labels could help. […]
Project will develop new materials characterization tools and technologies to assign unique identifiers to individual pearls. […]
A process that seeks feedback from human specialists proves more effective at optimization than automated systems working alone. […]
Analyses show stakeholders of all levels must get involved in decarbonizing pavements to reach climate goals. […]
An unexpected ancient manufacturing strategy may hold the key to designing concrete that lasts for millennia. The ancient Romans were masters of engineering, constructing vast networks of roads, aqueducts, ports, and massive buildings, whose remains have […]
Prochlorococcus, the world’s most abundant photosynthetic organism, reveals a gene-transfer mechanism that may be key to its abundance and diversity. From the tropics to the poles, from the sea surface to hundreds of feet below, the […]
A new study links very dry and very humid indoor environments with worse Covid-19 outcomes. We know proper indoor ventilation is key to reducing the spread of Covid-19. Now, a study by MIT researchers finds that […]
New analysis takes account of natural fluctuations and predictability to assess which parts of an ecosystem are most threatened by climate change and other disruptions. Wildfires, floods, pollution, and overfishing are among the many disruptions that […]
The maintenance of biodiversity is a central theme in ecology and conservation biology. Since the birth of Island biogeography in the 1960’s, a major puzzle for scientists has been how multiple species that are competing for […]
By modeling the conditions of an entire wind farm rather than individual turbines, engineers can squeeze more power out of existing installations. Virtually all wind turbines, which produce more than 5 percent of the world’s electricity, […]
MIT researchers examine role of marsh vegetation to maximize wetland restoration Coastal wetlands play a significant role in our environment by reducing flooding associated with storm surge and waves, providing wildlife habitat and storing large amounts […]
Researchers have developed a biodegradable system based on silk to replace microplastics added to agricultural products, paints, and cosmetics. Microplastics, tiny particles of plastic that are now found worldwide in the air, water, and soil, are […]
Researchers reveal how an algae-eating bacterium solves an environmental engineering challenge. Cooperation is a core part of life for many organisms, ranging from microbes to complex multicellular life. It emerges when individuals share resources or partition […]
Pinpointing risks can also help businesses save money as they become more resilient. In February 2020, MIT professor David Simchi-Levi predicted the future. In an article in Harvard Business Review, he and his colleague warned that […]
MIT research highlights the opportunity to rethink global air quality guidelines. Alongside climate change, air pollution is one of the biggest environmental threats to human health. Tiny particles known as particulate matter or PM2.5 (named for […]