Research
Space Exploration Initiative

Space Exploration Initiative
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Space Enabled

Advancing justice in Earth's complex systems using designs enabled by space
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Fluid Interfaces

Designing Systems for Cognitive Support
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Cyber Biome

CyberBiome is a programmable bio-digital organ, a wearable biosynthesis platform for personalized, on-demand production of therapeutics and…
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Responsive Environments

Augmenting and mediating human experience, interaction, and perception with sensor networks
Article Research

Breaking through the mucus barrier

A capsule that tunnels through mucus in the GI tract could be used to orally administer large protein drugs such as insulin.
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Biomechatronics

Enhancing human physical capability
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Peristaltic Suit

It is known that prolonged exposure to micro and hyper-gravity induces various acute health risks, such as osteoporosis, skeletal muscle at…
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Nano-Cybernetic Biotrek

Inventing disruptive technologies for nanoelectronic devices and creating new paradigms for life-machine symbiosis
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Life-Nanomachine Synergism

For more details and recent updates visit:  https://web.mit.edu/deblina-sarkar/Nanoelectronics has the potential to enable radica…
Article Research

Cell Rover: Exploring and augmenting the inner world of the cell

MIT researchers describe an intracellular antenna that's compatible with 3D biological systems + can operate wirelessly inside a living cell
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Conformable Decoders

Converting the patterns of nature and the human body into beneficial signals and energy
Article Research

The future of treating aging

Francesca Riccio-Ackerman and co-authors consider advances in the treatment of conditions associated with aging.
Project Research

Nanoscale mapping of bio-molecular building blocks of brain

For more details and recent updates visit:  https://web.mit.edu/deblina-sarkar/For understanding the brain structure, it is neces…
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Affective Computing

Advancing human wellbeing by developing new ways to communicate, understand, and respond to emotion
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Opera of the Future

Extending expression, learning, and health through innovations in musical composition, performance, and participation
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Article Research

Microscopy technique reveals hidden nanostructures in cells and tissues

Separating densely packed molecules before imaging allows them to become visible for the first time.
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Tangible Media

Seamlessly coupling the worlds of bits and atoms by giving dynamic physical form to digital information and computation
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Sculpting Evolution

Cultivating wisdom through evolutionary and ecological engineering
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Molecular Machines

Engineering at the limits of complexity with molecular-scale parts
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Camera Culture

Making the invisible visible–inside our bodies, around us, and beyond–for health, work, and connection
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Scalable Cooperation

Reimagining human cooperation in the age of social media and artificial intelligence
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Open Ocean

Open Ocean
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Open Agriculture (OpenAg)

Open Agriculture Initiative (OpenAg)
Center for Civic Media
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Archived
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Mediated Matter

Designing for, with, and by nature
Article Research

Artist Xin Liu lets science-backed absurdity take the wheel

The artist and MIT Media Lab Space Exploration Initiative Arts curator makes work that explores why the seemingly impossible is possible.
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Project Research

Big Ocean, Big Data

More ocean data has been collected in the last two years than in all previous years combined, and we are on a path to continue to break tha…
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Project Research

Microgravity Hybrid Extrusion

Traditional additive manufacturing processes, especially those that make use of liquid resin as the feedstock, are constrained by the gravi…
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Project Research

Gender Shades

The Gender Shades project pilots an intersectional approach to inclusive product testing for AI.Algorithmic Bias PersistsGender Shades is a…
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Project Research

The Gravity Loading Countermeasure Skinsuit

By Rachel Bellisle
Article Research

Experts debate research at the heart of lab leak theory. Who won?

Kevin Esvelt and Gigi Gronvall join Ryan Grim and Emily Jashinky to discuss Gain of Function research, and Covid Origin Theory.
Project Research

Fluid Expressions - Art and Craft in Microgravity

When imagining human life in space, how will we express our humanity and creativity in an alien environment? Can the art we make both refle…
Publication Research

Electronic Textile Sensors for Decoding Vital Body Signals: State-of-the-Art Review on Characterizations and Recommendations

Shuvo, I. I., Shah, A., Dagdeviren, C.†, “Electronic Textile Sensors for Decoding Vital Body Signals: State-of-the-art Review on Characterizations and Recommendations”, https://doi.org/10.1002/aisy.202100223, Advanced Intelligent Systems, 4, 2100223, 2022.
Project Research

Zenolith - An Interplanetary Time Device

On Earth, morning, noon, and night have their own specific meanings. The feeling of a second or a minute passing by, the shortening of the …
Project Research

SpaceHuman 2.0

SpaceHuman is a soft robotics device designed to facilitate the exploration of environments with reduced gravity in a view of democratizati…
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Health 0.0

Health 0.0
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Aguahoja II

Aguahoja II builds upon the platform technology of its predecessor, enabling large-scale multi-material 3D printing with abundant, organic …
Project Research

Aguahoja III

Aguahoja III expands the capabilities of a broad library of sustainable, organic 3D materials with generative patterns that countervail str…
Article Research

The Three Questions: In Conversation with Neri Oxman

Neri Oxman talks about the Nature x Humanity exhibit at SFMOMA, which features current and past research from the Mediated Matter group
Article Research

Volta Labs grabs $20 million to address a growing genomics bottleneck

Volta Labs, co-founded by alumni Udayan Umapathi and Will Langford, has announced a $20 million Series A funding round.
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Project Research

Glass II

Optically transparent and structurally sound, glass has played a significant role in the evolution of product and architectural design acro…
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Project Research

Glass I

Ancient yet modern, enclosing yet invisible, glass was first created in Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt 4,500 years ago. Precise recipes for…
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Archived
Project Research

Wanderers

The Wanderers were unveiled as part of the exhibition: ‘The Sixth Element: Exploring the Natural Beauty of 3D Printing' on display a…
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Archived
Project Research

Vespers III

Vespers is a collection of masks exploring what it means to design (with) life. From the relic of the death mask to a contemporary living d…
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Archived
Project Research

Totems

Biodiversity on planet Earth is under momentous threat, with extinction rates estimated between 100 and 1,000 times their pre-human level. …
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Project Research

Reconfigurable space structures

Rapid prototyping platforms such as 3D printers used for digital fabrication are today able to manufacture custom objects for specific task…
Post Research

Emma Chory wins 2022 SLAS Innovation Award

The SLAS Innovation Award is a $10,000 cash prize recognizing the work behind one exceptional podium presentation.
Project Research

Understanding Molecular Evolution

Humanity has harnessed evolution to sculpt domesticated animals, crops, and molecules, but the process remains a black box. Which combinati…
Post Research

MAS.S64. Real-world Evaluation of Artificial Intelligence and Genome Editing Technologies

MAS.S64 Real-world Evaluation of Artificial Intelligence and Genome Editing Technologies - Fall 2020 Online CourseWhen: Tuesdays, 3-4 …
Project Research

AI Methods for Rapid Automated Staining and Destaining of Tissue Biopsies in Hospitals

General OverviewStaining of tissues sections using chemical and biological dyes has been used for over a century for visualizing various ti…
Course Research

Decoders 1.8: Project Realization in Cleanroom

Style: Teamwork; Collective This class is graded P/D/F. To pass, you must: (i) attend all the cleanroom sessions, (ii) work in a team setti…
Article Research

Speeding up directed evolution of molecules in the lab

Using a new robotic platform, researchers can simultaneously track hundreds of microbial populations as they evolve new proteins.
Article Research

MIT's Spectrum highlights Dr. Canan Dagdeviren in an article titled "Better Conforming Medical Devices"

By John Pavlus Imagine you're a patient being treated for Parkinson's Disease, which causes tremors. The disorder kills brain cells th…
Article Research

Culture Biosciences raises $80M Series B to tackle demand for large-scale biomanufacturing

Spinoff Culture Biosciences, co-founded by Mediated Matter alum Will Patrick, recently raised $80 million in Series B funding.
Publication Research

On-Body Energy Harvesters through Innovative Designs and Conformable Structures

Fernandez, S. V., Cai, F., Chen, S., Suh, E., Tiepelt, J., McIntosh, R., Marcus, C., Acosta, D., Mejorado, D., Dagdeviren, C.†, “On-Body Energy Harvesters Through Innovative Designs and Conformable Structures”, ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering, https://doi.org/10.1021/acsbiomaterials.1c00800, 2021. [Invited Review Paper for Special Issue].
Article Research

Power Shift: MIT scientists use machine learning to boost basil flavour

Caleb Harper discusses how machine learning-enabled "food computers" were used to find the optimal conditions to grow basil.
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Project Research

Optimizing plants for flavor, nutrition, and pharmaceutical content

Note: On Oct. 25, 2021, the PLOS journal reporting the research associated with this project retracted the publication.Flavor, in addi…
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Project Research

Envirome Monitoring with CRISPR Biosensors

In recent years, there has been an increase in low-cost and open-source electronic and chemical sensors that hobbyists, concerned citizens,…
Project Research

Agonist-antagonist Myoneural Interface (AMI)

Humans can accurately sense the position, speed, and torque of their limbs, even with their eyes shut. This sense, known as proprioception,…
Article Research

Opinion: Manipulating viruses and risking pandemics is too dangerous. It’s time to stop.

Kevin Esvelt calls on the research community to build defenses against future pandemics, not attempt to discover viruses that cause them.
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Project Research

Gravity Proof: Speculating Cosmic Futures

Gravity Proof is a performance and mission to prepare and cook bread in space. Inspired by ancient recipes and archaeological bread re…
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Publication Research

Combinatorial hydrogel library enables identification of materials that mitigate the foreign body response in primates.

Vegas, A., et al. Combinatorial hydrogel library enables identification of materials that mitigate the foreign body response in primates., Nature Biotechnology, 34: 345-352, 2016. PMCID: PMC4904301
Course Research

Decoders 1.7: Introduction to Microfabrication

Style: Individual; PersonalThis class is graded P/D/F. To pass, you must: (i) attend all the cleanroom sessions, (ii) complete the sections…
Publication Research

Experimentally Verified Finite Element Modeling and Analysis of a Conformable Piezoelectric Sensor

Amiri, N., Tasnim, F., Tavakkoli Anbarani, M., Dagdeviren, C.†, Karami, A.†, “Experimentally Verified Finite Element Modeling and Analysis of a Conformable Piezoelectric Sensor”, Smart Materials and Structures, 30 085017, 2021.
Project Research

Bio-Digital Wearables or Space Health Enhancement

Living in space could have significant physical and mental impacts on astronauts. Wearables have the potential to play a critical role in m…
Project Research

Candlewax Rockets: A Green Alternative for In-Space Propulsion

Wax-based hybrid rocket propellants, including paraffin (common candlewax) and beeswax show promise as high-performing hybrid rocket propel…
Article Research

Life in space: Preparing for an increasingly tangible reality

The Space Exploration Initiative supports research across and beyond MIT in two microgravity flights this spring.
Project Research

Self Assembling Space Frames

Ever wish you could toss your folded up tent and have it self-assemble mid-air?  Well...you can. In a zero gravity environment.Self As…
Project Research

H0TP0T

By Larissa Zhou and Adam ZacharFood is crucial to maintaining the physical and psychological health of humans in space. Eating food pr…
Project Research

Panspermia

By Nancy Valladares and Rae Yuping HsuThis project is an art performance that seeks to rethink imaginaries of multispecies surviv…
Project Research

Miniature Optical Steered Antenna for Intersatellite Communication (MOSAIC)

The Miniature Optical Steered Antenna for Intersatellite Communications (MOSAIC)By Shreeyam KackerThe Miniature Optical Steered Antenn…