MIT

Urine tests that pick up biomarkers of cancer are one way scientists hope to diagnose the disease early, and MIT researchers have demonstrated a particularly promising example that could give efforts to diagnose early-stage lung cancer a huge boost.

Brain-implanted electrodes have numerous uses, ranging from the controlling of prosthetic arms to the monitoring of neural activity. They could soon be more effective than ever, as scientists have now developed ones that are soft and squishy.

Scientists at MIT have developed a new type of implantable cell that could handle the heavy lifting for diabetics by overcoming rejection by the host’s immune system to go on producing insulin from within the body.

There’s plenty of ambient radiation just floating around in the air, and now MIT researchers have laid out the blueprints of a system that could tap into this wasted energy source and use it to charge electronic devices.

Simulators have been used for years to train human drivers, pilots and astronauts, and now they're being used to train self-driving cars too – and a new system developed by researchers at MIT could be the most promising yet.

Ordinarily, self-driving cars use cameras and other sensors to "see" where they are on the road. However, what happens if the road markings are covered in snow? Well, MIT has developed a system that lets vehicles look beneath the asphalt instead.

Bacteria are evolving resistance to antibiotics much faster than new drugs can be developed. Now, an artificial intelligence model has identified a powerful new antibiotic called halicin, which cleared infections of most superbugs in mouse tests.

The icky business of spoiled diapers has motivated many to pursue connected nappies that alert carers when they’re in need of changing, but scientists at MIT are now putting forward a more cost effective option.

Although some people may like a good frothy head on their beer, the foaming of liquids is considered problematic in many fields. A new MIT-designed material could help, as it keeps such foam from forming.

Astronomers have taken the clearest-ever shots of asteroid Pallas. The new images revealed the surface of this tiny world to be heavily dotted with craters, to the point where it’s been dubbed the “golf ball asteroid.”

Desalination is an important technology that may help unlock more drinking water, and now two independent teams have developed new types of solar-powered desalination systems using very different mechanisms.

Back in 2015, we heard about a skin patch that had been used to treat diabetes in mice. It's now come a step closer to use on humans, as it's been successfully trialed on diabetic pigs.