Two studies find “self-supervised” models, which learn about their environment from unlabeled data, can show activity patterns similar to those of the mammalian brain.
In a Surprising Finding, Light Can Make Water Evaporate Without Heat
A newly identified process could explain a variety of natural phenomena and enable new approaches to desalination.
A newly identified process could explain a variety of natural phenomena and enable new approaches to desalination.
Teen Uses Calculus Learned Through MITx to Better Understand His Cancer Treatment
High schooler Dustin Liang estimated his blood cell counts by applying knowledge from an MITx course and talking to doctors.
High schooler Dustin Liang estimated his blood cell counts by applying knowledge from an MITx course and talking to doctors.
How Adults Understand What Kids Are Saying
It’s not easy to parse young children’s words, but adults’ beliefs about what children want to communicate helps make it possible, a new study finds.
It’s not easy to parse young children’s words, but adults’ beliefs about what children want to communicate helps make it possible, a new study finds.
Practicing Mindfulness With an App May Improve Children’s Mental Health
New research suggests daily mindfulness training at home helped reduce kids’ stress levels and negative emotions.
New research suggests daily mindfulness training at home helped reduce kids’ stress levels and negative emotions.
Is AI in the Eye of the Beholder?
Study shows users can be primed to believe certain things about an AI chatbot’s motives, which influences their interactions with the chatbot.
Study shows users can be primed to believe certain things about an AI chatbot’s motives, which influences their interactions with the chatbot.
Improving US Air Quality, Equitably
Study finds climate policy alone cannot meaningfully reduce racial/economic disparities in air pollution exposure.
Study finds climate policy alone cannot meaningfully reduce racial/economic disparities in air pollution exposure.
Have You Heard About the “Whom of Which” Trend?
An MIT student and linguistics professor spot an emerging English phrase and examine what it tells us about syntax — but questions remain.
An MIT student and linguistics professor spot an emerging English phrase and examine what it tells us about syntax — but questions remain.
Re-Imagining Our Theories of Language
Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences faculty members Ev Fedorenko, Ted Gibson, and Roger Levy believe they can answer a fundamental question: What is the purpose of language?
Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences faculty members Ev Fedorenko, Ted Gibson, and Roger Levy believe they can answer a fundamental question: What is the purpose of language?
The Secret to Good Schools: Try, Try Again
Justin Reich’s new book, “Iterate,” explains how education gets better through incremental improvements.
Justin Reich’s new book, “Iterate,” explains how education gets better through incremental improvements.
How to Keep People Out of the Emergency Room
Help for immigrants in arranging primary care visits leads to substantial drop in ER visits and costs, a new study shows.
Help for immigrants in arranging primary care visits leads to substantial drop in ER visits and costs, a new study shows.
3 Questions: How Are Cities Managing Record-Setting Temperatures?
Professor of urban and environmental planning David Hsu explains what municipal governments are doing as climate change accelerates.
Professor of urban and environmental planning David Hsu explains what municipal governments are doing as climate change accelerates.
Making Life Friendlier With Personal Robots
Sharifa Alghowinem, a research scientist at the Media Lab, explores personal robot technology that explains emotions in English and Arabic.
Sharifa Alghowinem, a research scientist at the Media Lab, explores personal robot technology that explains emotions in English and Arabic.
Explained: The 1.5 C Climate Benchmark
After a summer of weather extremes, where does the world stand in its goal to stem rising temps?
After a summer of weather extremes, where does the world stand in its goal to stem rising temps?
How To Help High Schoolers Prepare for the Rise of Artificial Intelligence
A one-week summer program aims to foster a deeper understanding of machine-learning approaches in health among curious young minds.
A one-week summer program aims to foster a deeper understanding of machine-learning approaches in health among curious young minds.
How Machine-Learning Models Can Amplify Inequities in Medical Diagnosis and Treatment
MIT researchers investigate the causes of health care disparities among underrepresented groups.
MIT researchers investigate the causes of health care disparities among underrepresented groups.