Physics

And then there was lightAstronomers probe ancient radio waves for clues about the universe’s first light.

Frost-free planes: back to the drawing boardResearch from MIT and GE demonstrates that a proposed passive solution for preventing ice on wings won’t work — but suggests an alternative.

Learning from hot JupitersBy studying how massive planets may have formed, MIT astrophysicist sets the stage for studying smaller, more Earthlike planets.

Building a list of Earth candidatesMIT researchers increase their odds of detecting an Earthlike planet by working on a combination of satellite missions.

Five from MIT elected fellows of the American Physical Society

Undergrads bring energy education to GhanaGhanaian high school students share alternative energy ideas with rural village.

Honoring MillieFriends and colleagues celebrate Institute Professor Mildred Dresselhaus' 80th birthday and her impact on science, society and MIT.

3 Questions: Sara Seager on the discovery of a ‘new’ form of lifeThe MIT planetary scientist discusses what the finding means for life on Earth and elsewhere in the universe.

A step toward fusion powerMIT advance could help remove contaminants that slow fusion reactions, and may bring practical fusion power plants a bit closer to reality.

Predicting ocean motions and underwater soundsMIT research could help ocean science, naval operations and the control and location of underwater vehicles.

The surprising physics of cats’ drinkingA new study reveals that even the way cats lap up liquid displays the perfect balance for which they’re known.

7 win presidential early career honorsMIT has greatest number of recipients from a single institution.

First heavy ion collisions in the Large Hadron ColliderMIT physicists are leading one of the experiments analyzing new data.

Four from MIT are Stewardship Science Graduate fellowsGraduate students take practicum at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

A decade of OCW benefits: Drawing talent to MITOpenCourseWare gives student confidence that he can work at the MIT level.

Physicist Martin Zwierlein wins Packard Fellowship

MIT undergraduate showcases work at White House science fairEvent also features 2 high-school teams that won grants from the Lemelson-MIT Program.

Physics postdoc Lindley Winslow wins L’Oreal USA fellowshipAccompanying research grant will allow the particle physicist to design and build a novel particle detector based on quantum dots.

A step closer to Big Bang conditions?More study is needed to confirm the latest findings from the Large Hadron Collider, reported by CERN physicists last week.

Nergis Mavalvala wins MacArthur ‘genius’ grantPhysics professor and 2 alumni are awarded $500,000 in no-strings-attached funding.

Robert J. Butler, former design research engineer at MIT, dies at 89An MIT engineer for 25 years, he helped design instruments for NASA’s Voyager spacecraft.

Galileo revisited: How ribbons rollIn a twist on a classic experiment, MIT researchers discover how flexible cylinders behave when rolling down a slope.

Gates named MLK Visiting Professor in PhysicsSupersymmetry pioneer will conduct research this year at MIT’s Center for Theoretical Physics.

Walter Lewin on 20th century artMIT physicist gives art history lecture

Zwierlein a winner of DARPA’s Young Faculty Award competitionWill receive two-year research grant of approximately $300,000

New evidence that matter and antimatter may behave differentlySurprising neutrino finding could force physicists to rethink the foundations of particle physics.

Why saliva forms beads on a stringResearchers’ solution to longstanding mystery could enable better inkjet printing and drug-dispensing systems.

15 MIT students awarded DOE-funded Science Graduate FellowshipsAmong 150 students nationwide awarded fellowships in program's first year

Shining a light — literally — on diabetesDevice from MIT lab could help diabetic patients monitor their blood glucose levels without finger pricks.