Physicists have created a new and long-lasting magnetic state in a material, using only light. They used a terahertz laser to stimulate atoms in antiferromagnetic materials, which could advance information processing and memory chip technology.

Around the world, policies supporting specific sectors are thought to have sparked major growth, but new research suggests static consumer demand limits the overall impact. “It has to be in a world where people want those goods,” Dave Donaldson says.

At D-Lab, students innovate to help solve challenges in communities worldwide. “Students are coming from every major, and we really are providing them with tools to think about interdisciplinary complex problems,” Libby Hsu says.

Andres Sevtsuk examines how the design of built environments affects daily life within them: The way cities are structured influences whether street-level retail commerce can thrive, how much people walk, and how often they encounter each other.

In the vast universe of MIT club sports, thousands of individuals compete for the love of the game. A complement to 33 intercollegiate varsity sports, MIT’s 34 club sports range from archery, badminton, and cricket to triathlon and ultimate frisbee.

Students strove for “Balance!” in a lively product showcase: New products presented at the 2.009 prototype launch included a crash-detecting bicycle helmet, an augmented reality mask for divers, and a respirator for wildland firefighters.