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Space, astronomy and planetary science
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Jason Dittmann named an inaugural Heising-Simons Foundation 51 Pegasi b Postdoctoral Fellow
Fellowship to provide scientists the opportunity to conduct theoretical, observational, and experimental research in planetary astronomy.
Twin wins for planetary exploration
MIT scientists and alumni well represented on newly announced NASA asteroid missions Psyche and Lucy.
"Hidden Figures" screening, discussion addresses the history of black women at NASA
Author and executive producer Margot Lee Shetterly explores inspiration for the film; MIT guest speakers provide additional historical context.
Chikang Li brings the Crab Nebula to the lab
Plasma Science and Fusion Center researcher figures out the kink in the crab.
LIGO back online, ready for more discoveries
Upgrades make detectors more sensitive to gravitational waves.
Pluto’s icy, slushy heart
Data from New Horizons mission suggest a water-ice ocean lies beneath Pluto’s heart-shaped basin.
Retracing the origins of a massive, multi-ring crater
Scientists reconstruct first hours after a giant impact created one of the largest craters on the moon.
Team simulates a magnetar to seek dark matter particle
Detecting “axion” particles may solve longstanding problem in particle physics.
MIT’s REXIS is bound for asteroid Bennu
Instrument will help OSIRIS-REx mission identify locations for collecting an asteroid sample.
Scene at MIT: Margaret Hamilton’s Apollo code
A brief history of the famous 1969 photo of the software that sent humans to the moon.
New technique may help detect Martian life
A novel interpretation of Raman spectra will help the 2020 Mars rover select rocks to study for signs of life.
Neutrino search finds no evidence of “hidden” particle
If discovered, sterile neutrinos may explain dark matter.
Avoiding stumbles, from spacewalks to sidewalks
Vibrating footwear could help astronauts and visually impaired earthlings skirt obstacles.
First atmospheric study of Earth-sized exoplanets reveals rocky worlds
Two potentially habitable planets in nearby system are confirmed to be rocky.