Research Stories

Startup’s autonomous drones precisely track warehouse inventories

Corvus Robotics, founded by Mohammed Kabir ’21, is using drones that can navigate in GPS-denied environments to expedite inventory management.

A new method to detect dehydration in plants

Sensors developed by SMART researchers are capable of detecting pH changes in plant xylem enable farmers to detect drought stress up to 48 hours before visible physical symptoms manifest.

Noninvasive imaging method can penetrate deeper into living tissue

Using high-powered lasers, this new method could help biologists study the body’s immune responses and develop new medicines.

MIT astronomers find the smallest asteroids ever detected in the main belt

The team’s detection method, which identified 138 space rocks ranging from bus- to stadium-sized, could aid in tracking potential asteroid impactors.

Startup gives surgeons a real-time view of breast cancer during surgery

The drug-device combination developed by MIT spinout Lumicell is poised to reduce repeat surgeries and ensure more complete tumor removal.

“Wearable” devices for cells

By snugly wrapping around neurons, these devices could help scientists probe subcellular regions of the brain, and might even help restore some brain function.

Oceanographers record the largest predation event ever observed in the ocean

The scientists’ wide-scale acoustic mapping technique could help track vulnerable keystone species.

AXIS mission selected as NASA Astrophysics Probe competition finalist

MIT Kavli Institute scientists and collaborators will produce a concept study to launch a $1B experiment to investigate the X-ray universe.

A new method makes high-resolution imaging more accessible

Labs that can’t afford expensive super-resolution microscopes could use a new expansion technique to image nanoscale structures inside cells.

An interstellar instrument takes a final bow

The Plasma Science Experiment aboard NASA’s Voyager 2 spacecraft turns off after 47 years and 15 billion miles.