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New method could help communities plan for climate riskMIT researchers develop tool to assess regional risks of climate change, potential impacts on local infrastructure and planning.

A burst of activity in the middle of the Milky WayResearchers detect the brightest flare ever observed in our galaxy’s black hole.

A step toward stronger polymersCounting loops that weaken materials could help researchers eliminate structural flaws.

Inside the unconscious brainNew study reveals brain-wave patterns that mark loss of consciousness during anesthesia.

Clearing the airAtmospheric chemist Susan Solomon finds hope in past environmental challenges.

How civil wars evolveMIT political scientist’s book shows how even the bloodiest conflicts feature pragmatic alliances — not just ancient sectarian divisions.

Sitting still or going hunting: Which works better?If you’re a microbe floating in the ocean, there’s no single best strategy for getting food, MIT research shows.

Predicting what topics will trend on TwitterA new algorithm predicts which Twitter topics will trend hours in advance and offers a new technique for analyzing data that fluctuate over time.

Mining physicians’ notes for medical insightsA new approach to algorithmically distinguishing words with multiple possible meanings could help find useful data in electronic medical records.

Explained: Margin of errorWhen you hear poll results reported with a certain margin of error, that’s only part of the story.

Taking the sting out of medical tapeNew adhesive comes off quickly, sparing infants’ delicate skin from damage.

How the brain controls our habitsMIT neuroscientists identify a brain region that can switch between new and old habits.

How Jonathan Gruber became ‘Mr. Mandate’An MIT economist’s path to the center of health-care policymaking in Washington.

How to communicate science visuallyIn a new book, MIT’s Felice Frankel aims to help scientists and engineers improve the way they portray their research through photos, diagrams and graphs.

Paintballs may deflect an incoming asteroidWith 20 years’ notice, paint pellets could cause an asteroid to veer off course.

Department snapshot: Civil and Environmental EngineeringFrom bacteria to bridges, CEE researchers tackle natural and built environments.

The mysteries in materialsMIT senior Shannon Taylor researches 500-year-old artifacts and art to understand and restore materials.

Scholars ponder better ways to elect a presidentNational popular vote, alternate voting methods debated at MIT conference.

Tiny pores in graphene could give rise to membranesNew membranes may filter water or separate biological samples.

A better way to shed waterMIT researchers find that lubricated, nanotextured surfaces improved performance of condensers in power and desalination plants.