News – MIT Department of Chemistry

Researchers detected statistically significant changes in global atmospheric temperatures in response to three major natural events: the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991 (inset on left), the Australian wildfires in 2019-2020 (center), and the eruption of the underwater volcano Hunga Tonga in the South Pacific in 2022 (bottom right).

Study reveals climatic fingerprints of wildfires and volcanic eruptions

In research that could help elucidate humans’ role in global warming, scientists showed how three major natural events impacted global atmospheric temperatures.

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A man smiles in front of a glass periodic table of elements sculpture.

MIT faculty, alumni named 2026 Sloan Research Fellows

Annual award honors early-career researchers for creativity, innovation, and research accomplishments.

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Moungi Bawendi smiles in a conference room.

MIT community members elected to the National Academy of Engineering for 2026

Seven faculty members, along with 12 additional alumni, are honored for significant contributions to engineering research, practice, and education.

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Professor Tim Swager smiles in front of a map.

Timothy M. Swager to receive the 2026 Theodore Richards Medal

This prestigious honor is awarded biennially by the Northeastern Section of the American Chemical Society.

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Charles Casey smiles in front of a blue background

Charles Casey (1942–2025)

Charles "Chuck" Casey (PhD '67) passed away on December 21, 2025.

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Rows and rows of pink and turquoise circles with sketches of variations of p53.

Cancer’s Secret Safety Net

Researchers uncover a hidden mechanism that allows cancer to develop aggressive mutations.

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MIT chemists showed they can use nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to decipher the structure of the fuzzy coat that surrounds Tau proteins. The findings may aid efforts to develop drugs that interfere with Tau buildup in the brain.

Chemists determine the structure of the fuzzy coat that surrounds Tau proteins

Learning more about this structure could help scientists find ways to block Tau from forming tangles in the brain of Alzheimer’s patients.

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“What’s remarkable is that intelectin-2 (mltln2) operates in two complementary ways. It helps stabilize the mucus layer, and if that barrier is compromised, it can directly neutralize or restrain bacteria that begin to escape,” says Laura Kiessling. On left, mltln2 stabilizes the mucus layer on healthy tissue. On right, it neutralizes bacteria in an inflamed GI tract.

A protein found in the GI tract can neutralize many bacteria

The protein, known as intelectin-2, also helps to strengthen the mucus barrier lining the digestive tract.

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Department of Chemistry Welcomes Meg Fuchs as Director of Administration and Finance

Meg joins the Chemistry Department after 18 years at Harvard University.

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Bin Zhang Named one of Eighteen MIT faculty honored as “Committed to Caring” for 2025-27

The program recognizes outstanding mentorship of graduate students.

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Dilyara Sharipova smiles in front of the Taj Mahal.

Graduate Student Spotlight: Dilyara Sharipova

Chemistry Graduate Student Dilyara Sharipova describes her research and answers 20 random questions as part of the Graduate Student Spotlight series.

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A new study from MIT reveals how a high-fat diet rewires liver cells and makes them more susceptible to becoming cancerous.

Study: High-fat diets make liver cells more likely to become cancerous

New research suggests liver cells exposed to too much fat revert to an immature state that is more susceptible to cancer-causing mutations.

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Three women spell out MIT with their hands.

Creating Stronger Bonds: MIT’s Women+ in Chemistry club builds community through science

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