The Latest Breaking News from MIT

Quote of the day by Paul Krugman: 'I think so long as fossil fuels are cheap, people will use them and it will...' - powerful quote by Nobel Prize-winning economist teaches inspiring life lessons on change, innovation and how cheap energy can slow the shift to new technology

Quote of the day by Paul Krugman: Economist Paul Krugman highlights cost as a key factor in energy transitions. He argues cheap fossil fuels delay the adoption of new technologies. This economic reality influences investment and innovation in cleaner alternatives. Renewable technologies are now becoming more competitive with fossil fuels.

The Economic Times · Aug 24

Two Stroke Patients Who Lost Language Solved Logic Puzzles as Well as People Who Could Speak

MIT researchers report that language and logical reasoning operate on separate brain systems, with two aphasic patients matching controls in logic tasks.

Medical Daily · Aug 24

MIT Researchers Link 'Delusional Spiralling' to Chatbots That Please Users Rather Than Challenge Their Beliefs

MIT researchers found that AI chatbots designed to validate users can cause 'delusional spiralling', leading even rational individuals to form false beliefs. Remedies tested were only partially effective.

International Business Times UK · Aug 23

How U.S. military funding propelled China's robot dogs

The rise of Unitree, a Chinese company known for its impressive robot dogs, can be attributed to research breakthroughs funded by the US military. These innovations, which originated in American universities, have propelled Unitree's expansion into the market. Unlike smaller US manufacturers, Unitree's economical designs benefit from China's robust industrial…

The Economic Times · Aug 18

Hyderabad-born MIT astronomer Rohan Naidu, who dropped out of engineering at 18 & loves Test cricket, is behind the 'Black Hole Star' discovery

Black Hole Star: A Hyderabad-born astronomer and fellow scientists have identified a possible ‘black hole star’ using the James Webb Space Telescope. The object, MoM-BH-1*, may represent a new type of astrophysical source. It appears like a star but is powered by a central black hole. The discovery could help…

The Economic Times · Aug 17

17-year-old Pennsylvania student Connor Hill wins $250,000 after computer algorithm solves decades-old geometry puzzle, identifying exactly 146 rare 3D shapes

Connor Hill, a 17-year-old from Pennsylvania, has won the top $250,000 prize at the 2026 Regeneron Science Talent Search after using a custom computer algorithm to classify complex geometric shapes. His breakthrough identified two infinite families and exactly 146 isolated noble polyhedra. Hill plans to continue studying computational mathematics at…

The Economic Times · Aug 16

Meet Connor Hill, the 17-year-old Pennsylvania student who wrote a computer program to classify noble polyhedra; he proved there are 146 isolated examples and won $250,000

Connor Hill triumphed in the competition with his exceptional algorithm for classifying noble polyhedra, discovering two infinite families alongside 146 distinct shapes. Edward Kang's AI tool for autism screening claimed the second position, and Iris Shen's innovative blood cancer research involving clams took third place. Additionally, Regeneron expressed their commitment…

The Times of India · Aug 16

Nobel laureate Daron Acemoglu says AI and liberal democracy share the same crisis: 'there is a tendency to escalate everything'

"It's become sort of radical to hold two apparently conflicting ideas in your head at the same time," the MIT economist told Fortune.

Fortune · Aug 15

A US satellite detected a mysterious flash in 1979; the CIA said it was probably a nuclear test, but nearly 50 years later, the mystery remains unsolved

A US satellite observed dual flashes in the South Atlantic back in 1979, leading intelligence officials to speculate a nuclear test with notable certainty. Contrary to this theory, a White House committee suggested a meteoroid strike as a more plausible explanation. Yet, revived inquiries over the years indicated potential nuclear…

The Economic Times · Aug 15

Scientists map how spacecraft design could affect astronauts’ mental health

Could the design of a spacecraft affect astronauts’ mental health? Scientists have mapped how everything from lighting and privacy to shared spaces could shape wellbeing on long missions to the Moon and Mars.

Euronews · Aug 14