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Article Research

“Life, uh, finds a way”—Applying lessons from evolution to go to Mars

Biomimicry looks to living organisms to create the future of sustainable engineering.
Post Research

Castrol collaboration supports research on Lunar Landings

Castrol supports the AstroAnt Payload Program, a robotic swarm designed for tasks on spacecraft, rovers, and landers.
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AstroAnt

"Autonomous operations are critical for the success, safety, and crew survival of NASA deep space missions beyond low Earth orbit, includin…
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A parabolic roller coaster into the future of space and lunar exploration

Media Lab SEI’s 2024 microgravity flight features 37 parabolas and projects focused on health in space, walking in zero gravity, and more!
Post Research

Castrol joins the Media Lab to support research on lunar landings

Castrol membership supports the AstroAnt Payload Program.
Publication Research

Development and user study of the Operational Geology in a Virtual Environment (OGIVE) platform

C. Paige, D.D. Haddad, Trent Piercy, J. Todd, F. Ward, A. Ekblaw, D. Newman. "Development and user study of the Operational Geology in a Virtual Environment (OGIVE) platform." Acta Astronautica, Volume 224, 2024, Pages 17-36, ISSN 0094-5765. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2024.07.043.
Project Research

Capturing the Moon: Assessing virtual reality for remote Lunar geological fieldwork

Cody Paige, MIT AeroAstro Contributors: Ferrous Ward, MIT AeroAstro; Don Derek Haddad, ResEnv; Jess Todd, MIT…
Article Research

The IM-2 Moon mission will carry a blend of science and art

The IM-2 Moon Mission will carry three projects from the Media Lab’s Space Exploration Initiative and collaborators.
Project Research

HexSense

HexSense is a kind of sensor node that can be ballistically deployed to the desired area and collect data of interest. Each sensor node is …
Post Research

To Lunar Gravity and Back: What reduced gravity flights can teach us about our future in space

The Space Exploration Initiative’s 2022 microgravity flight features lunar-specific payloads in advance of an upcoming moon mission
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.
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Designing humanity’s future in space

The Space Exploration Initiative’s latest research flight explores work and play in zero gravity
Article Research

Two nations, a horrible accident, and the urgent need to understand the laws of space

Professor Danielle Wood and other experts consider what it means that the Outer Space Treaty defines space as the “province of all mankind."
Project Research

MoonBRICCS

To sustain long term human presence on the moon, the problem of exposure to ionizing radiation must be addressed to protect astronauts’ lon…
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lunarNOMAD

The lunar Navigation and Observation Mobile Architecture Design (lunarNOMAD) is a modular inflatable mobile science laboratory. lunarNOMAD …
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Lunar Sandbags

With the growing presence of commercial spaceflight and NASA’s Lunar Artemis program, plans to establish a permanent lunar presence are in …
Article Research

Designing for outer space

With NASA planning permanent bases in space and on the moon, MIT students develop prototypes for habitats far from planet Earth.
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Project Research

Stochastic Self-Assembly via Magnetically Programmed Materials

By Martin NisserThe ability to deploy large space structures is key to enabling long-duration and long-distance space missions, supporting …
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Post Research

Convergence: Artistic Explorations from Nature to Society Exhibition at NARLabs

Convergence: Artistic Exploration from Nature to SocietyNARLabs, Taipei, Taiwan May 10 - August 10, 2024 Guided by the Taiwa…
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Aerospace Gondola at Venice Biennale Arte 2024

The gondola, a timeless and iconic symbol of Venice and love, embarks on a new journey at the Venice Biennale Arte 2024 (https://www.labien…
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Momo

The Design
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Astronaut Ethnography

Our journeys off-world have taught us just as much about humanity as the harsh environment of space. For the past 20 years, we have had a c…
Post Research

Prathima Muniyappa and Alexandra Rieger among 2023 cohort of MIT MAD Design Fellows

The MAD Fellowship is an opportunity for MIT grad students to propose a research-oriented or personal design project.
Article Research

The Gist: Signs of life

Director Dava Newman spoke at Notre Dame about space exploration and the need for interdisciplinary research to solve problems on Earth.
Project Research

Bio-Digital Wearables for 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

Environment-Vulnerability-Decision-Technology Framework

One of the six research methods used by the Space Enabled research group is creating models of complex systems by drawing on techniques fro…
Article Research

Danielle Wood on Bloomberg Markets: The Close

On Bloomberg TV, Professor Danielle Wood talks to Romaine Bostick about the use of satellite data for environmental management.
Project Research

Space Sustainability Rating

The Space Sustainability RatingThe Space Sustainability Rating design team—comprised of the World Economic Forum, the European Space Agency…
Article Research

Friday Five: Alexis Hope talks about sexual health, bacteria in design + more

For Design Milk’s Friday Five, Media Lab alum Alexis Hope shares the work of five of her favorite designers.
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Research
Mediated Matter

Designing for, with, and by nature
Project Research

Candlewax Rockets: A Green Alternative for In-Space Propulsion

The Space Enabled Research Group is exploring the potential of using beeswax and candle wax as potential fuels for satellites in space. Bee…
Article Research

Pat Pataranutaporn on exploring the intersection of humans and artificial intelligence

Pat Pataranutaporn discusses the inspiration behind his research at the intersection of biological systems and digital technology.
Post Research

Yiyun Zhang Presents at Space4Women Expert Meeting by UNOOSA and CSA

Presenting work at the UN/Canada Space4Women "Building capacity to promote and advance gender equality in the space sector."
Post Research

TIME's 200 Best Inventions of 2023: SeedLabs MicroPET

The SeedLabs MicroPET, which began as a Media Lab collaboration, was selected to TIME's 200 Best Inventions of 2023.
Project Research

Influencing human–AI interaction by priming beliefs about AI can increase perceived trustworthiness, empathy, and effectiveness

AbstractAs conversational agents powered by large language models become more human-like, users are starting to view them as companions rat…
Article Research

Gridlocked: Inflection Point

On the Gridlocked podcast, Media Lab Director Dava Newman and other experts consider what it will take to secure a clean energy future.
Project Research

Peristaltic Suit

​Prolonged exposure to microgravity is known to cause various acute health risks, including muscle atrophy, bone loss, cardiovascular decon…
Article Research

Transatlantic connections make the difference for MIT Portugal

Media Lab Director Dava Newman, who previously led the MIT Portugal program, still serves as a principal investigator for flagship projects.
Article Research

Summer 2023 recommended reading from MIT

The 2023 MIT recommended summer reading list includes a chapter in "Reclaiming Space" authored by Professor Danielle Wood.
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Build your skills with MIT’s women engineers

Explore MIT Open Learning resources, including interviews with Media Lab Director Dava Newman, Professor Cynthia Breazeal, and more.
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Project Research

The EBIFA robot (Everything Beautiful Is Far Away)

EBIFA (Everything Beautiful Is Far Away) is a crystalline robotic device that carried a tooth to outer space. EBIFA's form and fu…
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Project Research

Spatial Flux: Body and architecture in space

Structurally, zero gravity means that we do not have to contend with architecture's greatest arch-nemesis, gravity. This opens up a new wor…
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Telepresent Drawings in Space

This project asks, how can we transmit experiences across space and time? The launching point of the project is to create a drawing that co…
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Floral Cosmonauts: Self-assembling silver dendrite networks in microgravity

Biological neuronal networks are highly complex and interconnected with superior information processing capabilities. Such networks have pr…
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Project Research

Persian Domes for Human Space Exploration on Mars

The Lut Desert of Iran is one of the most similar regions to Mars. Close to that area, there are vernacular adobe architectures that are hu…
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Project Research

A tailored, electronic textile conformable suit for large-scale spatiotemporal physiological sensing in vivo

The rapid advancement of electronic devices and fabrication technologies has further promoted the field of wearables and smart textiles. Ho…
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Public Library Innovation Exchange

Public libraries are one of most trusted public institutions in the U.S. and increasingly provide a broad range of education services, rang…
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TESSERAE: Self-Assembling Space Architecture

Overview: How will we build the coming generations of Space Architecture—the modules, space ships, and space stations that will enscon…
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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,…
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Moon Village

In 2015, the director general of the European Space Agency (ESA), Jan Wörner, introduced the concept of the “Moon Village.” Inspired by the…
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Project Research

Climate CubeSat Co-Building Outreach Program (C3)

Climate CubeSat Co-Building (C3) The Media Lab Space Exploration Initiative is driven by an effort to democratize the future…
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Project Research

Space Fabrics: resilient electronic textiles for distributed sensing in low Earth orbit

Overview: The outermost skin of a space-based structure is designed using materials known to protect against the harsh elements of space. S…
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Radiofungi: Biological Pigments for Radioprotection

A major concern for manned missions is space radiation. Ionizing radiation is known to pose both acute and chronic risks to many organisms,…
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SEI Analog Environments Study: Adaptation, Collaboration, and Resilience in Extreme Environments

SEI Analog Environments StudyProject OverviewThe way humans engage with space has changed rapidly over the past 60 years, moving from a mod…
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Project Research

Lunar Open Architecture

Building an open, shared, and collaborative future of lunar exploration.Explore the Lunar Open Architecture (LOA) at loa.mit.edu. …
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Interplanetary Gastronomy

The  Interplanetary Gastronomy research  aims to address the unique challenges and opportunities associated with eating in s…
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H0TP0T

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

Harmony in Precarity

By Po-Hao ChiHow could microgravity/hypergravity shape our perceptual experience of listening with weightlessness? How can we seek to explo…
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Miniature Optical Steered Antenna for Intersatellite Communication (MOSAIC)

The Miniature Optical Steered Antenna for Intersatellite Communications (MOSAIC)By Shreeyam KackerThe Miniature Optical Steered Antenn…
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Moving Liquids With No Moving Parts

Solid-state microfrabricated devices are in development to replace contemporary heavy mechanical components for use in spacecraft propellan…
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Ø-scillation: oscillating chemistry in zero gravity and beyond

How did life originate? Nobody knows. Life might not even be native to our Earth - it might have come from asteroids or the interstellar me…
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AgriFuge

By Somayajulu Dhulipala and Manwei ChanAs humanity explores deeper into space, long-duration missions will require horticulture activities …
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Panspermia

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

Dava Newman on the Selected podcast

In an interview recorded at VivaTech, Media Lab Director Dava Newman talks about the Media Lab's mission to enhance the human experience.
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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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Space/Craft

Space/Craft explores sculpting in zero gravity. Making artistic works by hand is a fundamentally human act, but how will it transform …
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ELI: Electronic Life-detection Instrument

Life on Mars, if it exists, could have been transferred between Earth and Mars due to meteorite impacts. The Search for Extra-Terrestrial G…
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Tasting Menu in Zero G

 A multi-course tasting menu was flown on a zero gravity flight in August 2019.  Five specially crafted dishes were consumed…
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