Research Stories

	New molecular label could lead to simpler, faster tuberculosis tests	MIT chemists found a way to identify a complex sugar molecule in the cell walls of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the world’s deadliest pathogen.
	MIT physicists snap the first images of “free-range” atoms	The results will help scientists visualize never-before-seen quantum phenomena in real space.
	Will the vegetables of the future be fortified using tiny needles?	Researchers showed they can inexpensively produce silk microneedles to deliver vitamins or agrochemicals to plants.
	Novel method detects microbial contamination in cell cultures	Ultraviolet light “fingerprints” on cell cultures and machine learning can provide a definitive yes/no contamination assessment within 30 minutes.
	Robotic system zeroes in on objects most relevant for helping humans	A new approach could enable intuitive robotic helpers for household, workplace, and warehouse settings.
	Wearable device tracks individual cells in the bloodstream in real time	The technology, which achieves single-cell resolution, could help in continuous, noninvasive patient assessment to guide medical treatments.
	A brief history of expansion microscopy	Since an MIT team introduced expansion microscopy in 2015, the technique has powered the science behind kidney disease, plant seeds, the microbiome, Alzheimer’s, viruses, and more.
	New electronic “skin” could enable lightweight night-vision glasses	MIT engineers developed ultrathin electronic films that sense heat and other signals, and could reduce the bulk of conventional goggles and scopes.
	Engineered bacteria emit signals that can be spotted from a distance	These bacteria, which could be designed to detect pollution or nutrients, could act as sensors to help farmers monitor their crops.
	Lincoln Laboratory honored for technology transfer of hurricane-tracking satellites	Federal Laboratory Consortium award recognizes excellence in commercializing small microwave sounders expected to improve weather forecasts.