MIT News

• Reducing caloric intake delays nerve cell loss May 21, 2013
  Activating an enzyme known to play a role in the anti-aging benefits of calorie restriction delays the loss of brain cells and preserves cognitive function in mice, according to a study published in the May 22 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience. The findings could one day guide researchers to discover drug alternatives that slow the progress of age-associa […]
• Evaluating a new way to open clogged arteries May 21, 2013
  Over the past few decades, scientists have developed many devices that can reopen clogged arteries, including angioplasty balloons and metallic stents. While generally effective, each of these treatments has drawbacks, including the risk of side effects.A new study from MIT analyzes the potential usefulness of a new treatment that combines the benefits of an […]
• Making quantum encryption practical May 20, 2013
  One of the many promising applications of quantum mechanics in the information sciences is quantum key distribution (QKD), in which the counterintuitive behavior of quantum particles guarantees that no one can eavesdrop on a private exchange of data without detection.As its name implies, QKD is intended for the distribution of cryptographic keys that can be […]
• Planes, trains and automobiles: faster, stronger, lighter May 20, 2013
  These days, aerospace engineering is all about the light stuff: building airplanes with lighter wings, fuselage and landing gear in an effort to reduce fuel costs. Advanced carbon-fiber composites have been used in recent years to lighten planes’ loads. These materials can match aluminum and titanium in strength but at a fraction of the weight, and can be fo […]
• Complex brain function depends on flexibility May 19, 2013
  Over the past few decades, neuroscientists have made much progress in mapping the brain by deciphering the functions of individual neurons that perform very specific tasks, such as recognizing the location or color of an object. However, there are many neurons, especially in brain regions that perform sophisticated functions such as thinking and planning, th […]