MIT

A patent filed in 1985 is being dusted off as a source of inspiration for a new 3D-printed triangular-shaped zipper that seamlessly fastens chairs, tents, robots and purses, making them simpler to pack and set up just with a press of a button.

MIT researchers have developed an ultrasound wristband that uses AI to translate wrist movements into precise, real-time robotic actions. So far, this is one of the most effective methods for teaching robots to move like humans.

A new method converts user-selected 3D structures into string-pulled pop-up structures of connected tiles. Ideal for rapid creation and deployment in disaster zones, these pop-ups can also “pop-down” for re-use and easy transport.

Although they're constantly improving, robots aren't necessarily known for their gentle touch. A new robotic system from MIT and Stanford takes a unique stab at changing that, with a robot that uses vine-like tendrils to do its lifting.

A startup founded by MIT alumni wants robots to do some heavy lifting, literally. Pickle Robot Company's systems feature AI smarts and single-armed machines to quickly unload shipping containers filled with cases weighing up to 50 lb each.

MIT researchers have found a way to use the mechanical vibrations of sound waves to shake water molecules free from a storage medium. The breakthrough significantly speeds up the process of harvesting drinking water from thin air.

At MIT, a new kind of AI model has come online. A supercomputer capable of two AI-exaflops, fuses more than six hundred GPUs into a single pulse of intelligence. It promises to accelerate breakthroughs in medicine, climate modeling, and beyond.

Scientists have been working on enhancing concrete to store energy. That includes researchers at MIT, who found a way to combine cement, water, and carbon black to create a 'supercapacitor' for this purpose back in 2023. It's now 10x better at this.

A more sustainable electrolyte made from a class of molecules as strong as stable as the Kevlar that goes into bulletproof vests could soon make it easier than ever to recycle EV batteries – and a whole lot more eco-friendly too.

Researchers have developed a way to use high-frequency electromagnetic waves to visualize objects that are hidden from view – such as a tool in a pile of junk or a vase in a cardboard box – with much greater accuracy than before.

Although AI-based restoration methods can indeed bring new life to damaged paintings, the end result is a digital copy of the original painting. By contrast, a new MIT technique applies repairs to the physical painting itself, in the form of a mask.

There are plenty of ways to suck water out of the air, whether you need a little or a lot. MIT researchers may have just hit upon one of the best ways to do it, with a new device that doesn't need power, or even a filter, to deliver drinking water.