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…

John Overholt, a curator at Houghton Library, described a Paul Revere illustration of the Boston Massacre as “one of the most powerful propaganda images of the whole Revolution.” This image is part of an exhibit showcasing various media pieces related to the American Revolution, providing insight into how ordinary people at the time learned about…

Psychiatrists have traditionally used transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to treat depression by delivering magnetic pulses to stimulate neurons. Recent research suggests they can now refine this approach to target specific symptoms, opening doors for more precise treatments. In a series of studies, including one published in Nature Molecular Psychiatry, researchers stimulated two brain circuits in…

Jill Lepore, in her Pulitzer-winning book “We the People: A History of the U.S. Constitution,” argues for the urgent need to update the U.S. Constitution, highlighting the barriers that have emerged over time. Lepore, a professor at Harvard, examines the Constitution’s origins and its intended flexibility for amendments. The U.S. Constitution, made from living materials…

Researchers at MIT have developed a new kernel named Fractal, which provides a clearer understanding of processor activities. This kernel has already revealed previously unknown behaviors in Apple’s M1 chip. Traditionally, security researchers seeking to investigate processor functions modify existing operating systems like macOS or Linux, a method that is unstable and difficult to replicate,…