Educators, whether teaching in person or online, often encounter students who present challenges. While the term “difficult” may seem harsh, most students do not intend to disrupt. Problems frequently arise when students bring incompatible communication habits or expectations into the classroom. By changing our perception of these students and using effective strategies, educators can turn…
People with esophageal disorders have limited treatment options due to the challenge of delivering drugs directly to this body part. Patients typically receive systemic drugs, which can cause unwanted side effects. To address this issue, MIT engineers have created a gel-like oral drug formulation that coats the esophagus’s mucosal lining when swallowed, enabling drugs to…
College instructors are increasingly tasked with creating educational settings that foster not only academic success but also a sense of belonging, participation, and student well-being. Collaborative learning and experiential activities, when combined with strong pedagogical content knowledge (PCK), have the potential to enhance classroom culture and promote psychological safety (Hartmuth et al., 2025). Psychological safety…
This article explores the difficulties doctoral students encounter when writing dissertations. With over 30 years of experience in mentoring and teaching, the authors have observed that many doctoral students lack the essential skills for crafting dissertations, which they call writing critically. The article argues that critical writing stems from critical thinking, which, in turn, requires…
On a day in September, snowflakes began to fall inside MIT’s Pierce Laboratory. Researchers released liquid carbon dioxide from a pressurized tank, causing it to freeze into solid particles. These were mixed into cement paste and formed into small discs, sealed with vegetable oil to preserve moisture and exclude air. Lasers were used to track…
In 1927, psychologist L. L. Thurstone introduced a concept in his paper, “A law of comparative judgment,” suggesting that individuals choose the option with the highest value to them among several alternatives, despite not being able to assign a specific value to their choice. Thurstone’s work laid the foundation for psychometrics, which aims to measure…
Cloudy and turbulent waters often pose a challenge for remotely operated underwater vehicles. These vehicles stir up sediment when they settle on the seafloor or dig into sandbeds, obstructing the view of onboard cameras. Typically, operations have to pause until the sediment clears. However, a new mapping technique by MIT and the Woods Hole Oceanographic…
If a friend treats you to coffee, you might return the favor next time. Behavioral economic studies have long noted this pattern of reciprocal generosity. However, anthropologists and social scientists have observed that in relationships where power, status, or influence is unequal, such reciprocity is uncommon. Researchers at MIT have now shown experimentally that slight…
Christian Wiman, a poet and memoirist who has faced death multiple times, finds reading his work publicly challenging. Following a rare event, he expressed a desire to exercise, saying, “I don’t give a lot of readings, to tell you the truth.” His career spans roles as editor of Poetry magazine and professor at Yale, while…
Myriam Heiman, currently the John and Dorothy Wilson Professor of Neuroscience at MIT, will take over as director of the Picower Institute for Learning and Memory at MIT, starting July 1. She follows Picower Professor Li-Huei Tsai, who is resigning after 16 years in the role. Heiman, a molecular neurobiologist and geneticist, investigates neurodegenerative diseases…
