Author Archives: jason
Aristide Gumyusenge will receive the 2026 PMSE Early Investigator Award
Assistant Professor Aristide Gumyusenge has been selected to receive a 2026 PMSE Early Investigator Award from the American Chemical Society’s Division of Polymeric Materials: Science and Engineering. The…
The hidden structure behind a widely used class of materials
Materials called relaxor ferroelectrics have been used for decades in technologies like ultrasounds, microphones, and sonar systems. Their unique properties come from their atomic structure, but that structure…
An engineer’s guide to birds
Feathers give birds their dazzling colors. They repel water and trap heat, keeping them warm and dry. They can even stifle sound, allowing species such as owls to…
Tech Reflection: 1980 tests in 3.091
Tom Davis ’84, SM ’85: “These are images of quizzes I took in (3.091 Introduction to Solid-State Chemistry) as a freshman in the fall of 1980.“One is my very…
MIT faculty, alumni receive 2025-26 American Physical Society honors
The American Physical Society (APS) recently honored two MIT faculty members — professors Yoel Fink PhD ’00 and Mehran Kardar PhD ’83 — as well as six alumni…
MIT graduate engineering and business programs ranked highly by U.S. News for 2026-27
U.S. News and World Report has again placed MIT’s graduate program in engineering at the top of its annual rankings, released today. The Institute has held the No. 1…
MIT researchers use AI to uncover atomic defects in materials
In biology, defects are generally bad. But in materials science, defects can be intentionally tuned to give materials useful new properties. Today, atomic-scale defects are carefully introduced during…
Light-activated gel could transform wearables, soft robotics, and more
Consider the chief difference between living systems and electronics: the first is generally soft and squishy, while the latter is hard and rigid. Now, in work that could…
Why solid-state batteries keep short-circuiting
Batteries that use solid metal as their charge-carrying electrolyte could potentially be a safer and far more energy-dense alternative to lithium-ion batteries. However, these solid-state batteries have been…
QS World University Rankings rates MIT No. 1 in 12 subjects for 2026
QS World University Rankings has placed MIT in the No. 1 spot in 12 subject areas for 2026, the organization announced today.The Institute received a No. 1 ranking…