MIT Open Learning
@mitopenlearning

Transforming teaching and learning around @MIT and the globe. Online offerings from @mitocw, @MITxCourses, @MITxPRO, and more on MIT Learn: learn.mit.edu

 Cambridge, MA
openlearning.mit.edu/
Joined June 2018
When a university needs to train 15,000 students in AI fast, you adapt. Namibia University of Science and Technology did. Over 1,100 people moved from zero AI skills to confident practitioners in six months. Free resources. Strategic focus. Institutional change. Read the full story on MIT Learn: bit.ly/3SyELK5
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🔥 What does 100 calories really look like? Hint: It's fiery! Watch a burst of energy—97 nutritional calories of it—come alive as 25 mL of isopropyl alcohol combusts in this striking demonstration. Head to MIT Learn to keep learning. Learn.mit.edu
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Senior engineer Badri Ratnam has taken over 40 online courses from MIT Open Learning since 2012. MITx Courses in physics, mechanical engineering, materials science, and more have helped Badri advance his education and career and explore topics of interest. Read his story on MIT Learn: bit.ly/3Nfz29b
A person wearing glasses and a patterned jacket is smiling. Above them, a quote says, "I've learned to never fear learning new things and exploring new areas. I used to think of more unfamiliar subjects and feel a little terrified, not knowing where to start, but I don’t feel that any more." The MIT Open Learning logo is in the top right corner.

ALT A person wearing glasses and a patterned jacket is smiling. Above them, a quote says, "I've learned to never fear learning new things and exploring new areas. I used to think of more unfamiliar subjects and feel a little terrified, not knowing where to start, but I don’t feel that any more." The MIT Open Learning logo is in the top right corner.

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Free returns are not free. 📦 MIT research scientist Eva Ponce breaks down the hidden operational, financial and environmental costs of hitting “return” in a new Open Seminar episode. Watch on MIT Learn: bit.ly/4ipuGJn
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“Problems of the world don’t have labels.” Dimitris Bertsimas, vice provost for MIT Open Learning, on why you should never stop learning. Watch the full “Beyond Biology” episode on MIT Learn. learn.mit.edu/podcast/114927…
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What do a researcher at the South Pole, a high school student in Peru, and MIT faculty have in common? They're all part of our community, and they've all been featured in our monthly newsletters. Each issue brings you the latest from MIT Open Learning: inspiring learner stories, breakthrough innovations, free courses, and fresh ideas that challenge how we think about teaching and learning. Stay up to date with what's happening at MIT Open Learning. Subscribe for free: eepurl.com/hVEi2v
Black background with red and white text. Red text reading "Teaching. Learning. Research." White text reads, "one community. one newsletter." The MIT Open Learning logo is at the bottom right.

ALT Black background with red and white text. Red text reading "Teaching. Learning. Research." White text reads, "one community. one newsletter." The MIT Open Learning logo is at the bottom right.
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Science or art? These images on display at the MIT Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research are both. Learn about three winners of the Image Awards, established to recognize and display extraordinary visuals produced by life sciences and biomedical research at MIT. Plus, explore more learning moments on MIT Learn: learn.mit.edu
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When a university needs to train 15,000 students in AI fast, you adapt. Namibia University of Science and Technology did. Over 1,100 people moved from zero AI skills to confident practitioners in six months. Free resources. Strategic focus. Institutional change. Read the full story on MIT Learn: bit.ly/3SyELK5
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What does changing your point of view reveal? MIT chemistry instructor David Grimes walks through how chemists shift perspective to understand materials. Want to keep learning? head to learn.mit.edu
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Day 2 at #OEGlobal2026: What happens when MIT Open Learning meets Wikipedia? Curt Newton and Peter B. Kaufman of MIT Open Learning joined Wikipedia’s Andrew Lih to share how they’re bringing MIT course materials to the places people already go to learn. In just a few months, more than 1,500 MIT images have been added to Wikimedia Commons, and they now appear in articles across 51 language editions. The takeaway from the room: Open knowledge grows when more people help share it.
This is a poster for the OE Global Conference 2026 in Cambridge, MA. It features an abstract background with geometric shapes and a quote by Umberto Eco: "The cultivated person's first duty is to be always prepared to rewrite the encyclopedia.

ALT This is a poster for the OE Global Conference 2026 in Cambridge, MA. It features an abstract background with geometric shapes and a quote by Umberto Eco: "The cultivated person's first duty is to be always prepared to rewrite the encyclopedia.

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MIT professor Chris Capozzola opened OE Global this morning with a reminder that open education grows stronger with every person who contributes to it. #OEGlobal
A professional in a suit smiles in the bottom right corner of a poster showcasing a quote about open education by Chris Capozzola, MIT professor. The poster is labeled OE Global Conference 2026, taking place in Cambridge, MA, and online.

ALT A professional in a suit smiles in the bottom right corner of a poster showcasing a quote about open education by Chris Capozzola, MIT professor. The poster is labeled OE Global Conference 2026, taking place in Cambridge, MA, and online.
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A keynote that reminded us why open learning matters. Thank you, @sirjoshbennett, @mit professor of literature and distinguished chair of the humanities, for kicking off @openedglobal. Explore Chalk Radio and more on learn.mit.edu #oeglobal2026
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Paula Hammond arrived at @MIT at 16. Now she is Dean of the MIT School of Engineering. Watch our new short film spotlighting her life and career: bit.ly/4xIn4ql
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MIT Open Learning is proud to co-host #OEGlobal26 with @OpenEdGlobal and the Massachusetts Open & Low-Cost Educational Resources Advisory Council. In-person spots are sold out, but you can still be part of it. Register to join online from anywhere in the world, October 7 to 9. The global open education community returns to the Samberg Conference Center at @MIT in Cambridge, MA, for the first time since 2011, in the same year MIT Open Course Ware, part of MIT Open Learning, turns 25. Join 170+ sessions from presenters in 28 countries. Register for online access: conference.oeglobal.org
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Other sports already have it. Automatic strike zones in baseball. VAR in soccer. Sensor tech in tennis. So where's the tech for the National Basketball Association (NBA)? Jadal Williams, a PhD student at MIT Sports Lab, is answering that question. His research shows how tracking data, sensors, and video can help referees make split-second calls with more accuracy and less bias. Head to MIT Learn to keep learning! learn.mit.edu
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Bringing world-class @MIT education to everyone 🌍 Universal Learning is a new initiative from MIT Open Learning — built on our 25+ years of digital education innovation — designed to help learners everywhere tackle the world's biggest challenges. The focus? Cultivating the kind of interdisciplinary thinking at the core of an MIT education, but online and available to the world. Start your own learning journey on MIT Learn: learn.mit.edu #OnlineLearning #LifelongLearning #ProfessionalDevelopment #InterdisciplinaryThinking #FutureOfLearning
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AI pilots are no longer the prize. Discover how to scale AI across functions, redesign how work gets done, and turn fragmented experimentation into enterprise-wide impact. Join MIT xPRO’s AI for Senior Executives program to elevate your leadership for the AI era. Gain exclusive access to MIT CSAIL faculty during a 5-day on-campus immersion in Cambridge. Learn more about the program: emrt.us/moaise/sch_li
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What do prosthetic feet and plastic forks have in common? Meet Autumn, a prosthetic foot designer at MIT's Gear Center. Same manufacturing process, different purpose: injection molding. Melt plastic, inject into a mold, produce thousands of affordable, complex parts. The prosthetic foot has a stiff keel for springiness, foam cushioning, and grip-textured soles. Head to MIT Learn to keep learning: bit.ly/4vsmOLp
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What happens when learners take ownership of their education? Four medical students at Ege University in Turkey did exactly that. They used MIT OpenCourseWare to build a rigorous curriculum in mathematics and science, and transformed it into İleri Çalışmalar, a thriving independent research group that now publishes in peer-reviewed journals and collaborates internationally. Curious about our past learners? Read their stories, then head to MIT Learn to start your own journey. bit.ly/4xCR0Ur
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How can open educational resources strengthen trusted public knowledge? Join MIT Open Learning's open conversation with Andrew Lih, Peter B. Kaufman & Curt Newton on a new collaboration with #Wikipedia. 📅 Oct. 22, 2026 🕠 5:30 PM ET 💻 Online Register now: bit.ly/4xEQcyr #OpenEducation #Wikipedia #OpenKnowledge #MITOpenLearning #HigherEd
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Is your organization deploying AI faster than it's governing it? Join MIT Sloan's Jeff Saviano on October 13 for a 90-minute live session on winning the AI race without losing control. No technical background needed. You'll leave with a readiness diagnostic, a governance gap framework, and the language to push for change. Reserve your seat: bit.ly/477FJjV
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Congratulations to the 3MTT Nigeria learners who recently completed Universal AI with MIT Open Learning! Through Nigeria's 3MTT initiative, these learners gained access to Universal AI and put in the work to build practical skills they can use right away. We're proud to see so many of you sharing your achievement here on LinkedIn. This is just the beginning! Explore Universal AI and more at learn.mit.edu
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Safety doesn't have to mean surveillance. Meet Dominique, an MIT researcher using radar instead of cameras to help seniors stay safe at home. Radar picks up falls and unusual activity, but here's the thing: it can't see you. Your privacy stays protected while someone looks out for your wellbeing. Continue learning on MIT Learn. learn.mit.edu/video-playlist…
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Meet Gevorg Minasyan: He's sparking meaningful change across Armenia using lessons from our MITx Courses MicroMasters Program and MIT Department of Economics master's in Data, Economics, and Design of Policy. When Gevorg saw well-intentioned public policies fail to address pressing issues, he was inspired to understand what works, what doesn’t, and why. Get to know Gevorg: bit.ly/4mg0HTu
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AI won't deliver value on its own. Strategic decisions will. Learn where AI deserves your investment. Join MIT xPRO’s AI for Senior Executives program to elevate your leadership for the AI era. Gain exclusive access to MIT CSAIL faculty during a 5-day on-campus immersion in Cambridge. Learn more about the program: emrt.us/moaise/sch_li
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What happens when 800 joules unleash in microseconds? Capacitors store massive charge and release it almost instantly. When 4,000 volts and 800 joules force through a tiny wire in microseconds, resistance creates intense heat. That heat vaporizes the wire. It's dangerous. It's loud. It's why you never touch a charged capacitor or try to repair a microwave yourself. Continue learning on MIT Learn: bit.ly/4vsmOLp
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What happens when passion becomes purpose? ✨ Gustavo Barboza traded a college classroom in Colombia for a life of adventure, serving in the French military before finding his way back to learning. Today, he's working toward an electrical engineering degree — and @mitocw has been there every step of the way with free courses in calculus, classical mechanics, electrical engineering, and more. 🔗 Click on the link in our bio to start learning! #OnlineLearning #OpenEducation #LifelongLearner #OpenAccess
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Thinking about adding machine learning to your engineering toolkit? Start by hearing from the person who teaches it. On Wednesday, September 9 at 12pm ET, MIT professor Youssef Marzouk will walk through MIT xPRO's machine learning, modeling, and simulation: engineering problem-solving in the age of Ai. You'll learn what to expect from the program and get to ask the course team directly. Register now: bit.ly/3UD0lxE
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When a university needs to train 15,000 students in AI fast, you adapt. Namibia University of Science and Technology did. Over 1,100 people moved from zero AI skills to confident practitioners in six months. Free resources. Strategic focus. Institutional change. Read the full story on MIT Learn: bit.ly/3SyELK5
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Camera lenses are doing something far cooler than most people realize. Half the lens covered. Half the image gone? Actually, no. Jim Bales, associate director at @MITEdgerton, breaks down the physics of how lenses focus light, bend rays, and form complete images. Two minutes to understand what's really happening behind the camera. Want to learn more? Head to MIT Learn: bit.ly/4vsmOLp
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Recognize. Relate. Integrate. MIT senior lecturer Laura Frawley's students use concept maps to show how they organize ideas, and the mapping itself is a way to study. Full episode of Open Seminar on MIT Learn: bit.ly/4gfArJ3
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If you've found learning with our free educational resources helpful, we'd like to know. Please share your story with us. bit.ly/4v4YK08
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Meet Gevorg Minasyan: He's sparking meaningful change across Armenia using lessons from our MITx Courses MicroMasters Program and MIT Department of Economics master's in Data, Economics, and Design of Policy. When Gevorg saw well-intentioned public policies fail to address pressing issues, he was inspired to understand what works, what doesn’t, and why. Get to know Gevorg: bit.ly/4mg0HTu
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You know light years. But have you heard of light hours? Light seconds? @MIT Professor Brett McGuire breaks down the units that measure the universe, from the sun to the Andromeda galaxy. The answer might surprise you. Learn more on MIT Learn: bit.ly/4vsmOLp
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Meet Freesia: She built a VR prototype at 19 years old thanks to our free @mitocw courses. “I couldn’t find anything else quite like it online,” she says. “It really helped me in terms of understanding how electrical engineering worked in a practical sense, and I just started modding things.” Start your own learning journey on Learn.mit.edu #VR #VirtualReality #ElectricalEngineering #Circuits #FreeCourses #FreeEducation
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Pop quiz: Is an exam really the only way to assess learning? @MIT Lecturers say no. Peer-to-peer learning lets you learn from others. You get choice in how you demonstrate mastery. Short personalized assessments work just as well as long exams. You learn more, feel less stressed. Continue learning on MIT Learn: bit.ly/4vsmOLp
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Nearly 20 years into a career in real estate and property management, Joshua Gayman signed up for MIT-level finance coursework. He didn't expect what it did to how he thinks. Read his story on MIT Learn: bit.ly/4pgZNZF #Finance #OnlineLearning #LifelongLearning #CareerGrowth #ProfessionalDevelopment
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You might be able to pronounce LIP-id NAN-oh-par-ti-kulz, but do you know what they actually do? Not only is it a thousand times smaller than a human hair, but it's powerful enough to carry life-saving medicine. Here's what a lipid nanoparticle is and how it works. Want to keep learning with us? Head to bit.ly/4vsmOLp
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Paula Hammond arrived at @MIT at 16. Now she is Dean of the MIT School of Engineering. Watch our new short film spotlighting her life and career: bit.ly/4xIn4ql
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How did people make iron 1,000 years ago without electricity? Erin Cusson, an @MIT physics undergraduate, is part of a team reconstructing this ancient iron-making process to understand the engineering principles behind it. Watch more learning moments: bit.ly/4vsmOLp
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Kendall Square is known as "the most innovative square mile on the planet" — but how did it get there? Our documentary "From Controversy to Cure: Inside the Cambridge Biotech Boom" traces the wild path: science, engineering, politics, urban renewal, and even the space race, all colliding to turn a Cambridge neighborhood into the global capital of biotech. Hear from the people who lived it, on what this transformation has meant for the community. 🎥 Watch the full documentary on MIT Learn: bit.ly/4xFheG2
A graphic with the MIT Open Learning logo. Quote: "One of the impacts of Kendall Square that I've seen is that kids here, from all backgrounds, will have opportunities to be exposed to this kind of research and get involved in it." – Tim Rowe, Co‑founder, LabCentral.

ALT A graphic with the MIT Open Learning logo. Quote: "One of the impacts of Kendall Square that I've seen is that kids here, from all backgrounds, will have opportunities to be exposed to this kind of research and get involved in it." – Tim Rowe, Co‑founder, LabCentral.
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From Detroit to @MIT at 16, to becoming the first woman to lead @MITEngineering, Professor Paula Hammond's story is one of curiosity, care, and conviction. Read how her path led to pioneering research in nanotechnology and ovarian cancer 🧪: bit.ly/4xIn4ql
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Your textbook showed you bacteria and human cells at basically the same size. That's not even close to the truth. When you zoom in, the reality is striking. A human cell is so much larger than bacteria that you can cram tons of them inside. See the real scale difference that changes how you think about cells, and explore more learning moments on MIT Learn: bit.ly/4vsmOLp
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Units are how humans agree on reality. A second. A meter. A kilogram. They seem simple until you ask: how do we know yours is the same as mine? The answer: the speed of light, atomic physics, and decades of scientific precision. Welcome to the International System of Units. Watch more learning moments >> bit.ly/4vsmOLp
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What do a researcher at the South Pole, a high school student in Peru, and MIT faculty have in common? They're all part of our community, and they've all been featured in our monthly newsletters. Each issue brings you the latest from MIT Open Learning: inspiring learner stories, breakthrough innovations, free courses, and fresh ideas that challenge how we think about teaching and learning. Stay up to date with what's happening at MIT Open Learning. Subscribe for free: eepurl.com/hVEi2v
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How do we know what molecules are in space if we can't collect physical samples? In a new MIT Learn Open Seminar, @ChemistryMIT Professor Brett McGuire explains how scientists use light, quantum mechanics, and cutting-edge telescopes to uncover the chemistry of our universe. Watch the full seminar: bit.ly/4gfArJ3
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You have $1,000. What you do with it might say more about moral obligation than you think. Watch @mitphilosophy PhD student Julian Perilla break down one of philosophy's most provocative questions about what we owe to others. Watch more learning moments on MIT Learn: bit.ly/4vsmOLp
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Why does your neighborhood look and feel the way it does? A lot of it comes down to zoning. MIT Associate Professor Jeff Levine discusses how land use decisions shape daily life, community, and the environment. 🎧 Listen on MIT Learn: bit.ly/4bjnHxY
An individual with short, curly hair and glasses speaks into a microphone. The background features deep blue and purple curtains. Text on the image reads, "How zoning shapes neighborhoods.

ALT An individual with short, curly hair and glasses speaks into a microphone. The background features deep blue and purple curtains. Text on the image reads, "How zoning shapes neighborhoods.
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Science or art? These images from MIT's @kochinstitute are both. Learn about three winners of the Image Awards, which recognize extraordinary visuals from life sciences and biomedical research at MIT. Explore more learning moments: bit.ly/4vsmOLp
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Cancer isn't one disease — it's many. Summer Morrill went from MIT cancer genetics research to teaching high school biology. In this episode of Beyond Biology, she connects the science of DNA repair and tumor suppression to the personal stories that drive the field forward. 🎧 Listen on MIT Learn: bit.ly/4fPTg3T
A person with wavy hair speaks into a microphone against a dark blue curtain backdrop. Text on the image reads, "Understanding the genetics of cancer."

ALT A person with wavy hair speaks into a microphone against a dark blue curtain backdrop. Text on the image reads, "Understanding the genetics of cancer."

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How did ancient mathematicians solve complex math equations without calculators? Nearly 2,000 years ago, the Greek mathematician Archimedes used geometry to find the sum of an infinite series. Watch to learn how he got there: bit.ly/4vsmOLp
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Your fantasy sports obsession? It's actually statistics in disguise. 🏀 @MIT researcher Jadal Williams breaks down how player stats, time series data, and fatigue analysis help predict where athletes will score on the court. The same thinking powering your draft picks powers real sports analytics. Explore more learning moments: bit.ly/4vsmOLp
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Bacteria are some of the best cell biologists in the world. In this episode of the Beyond Biology podcast, MIT's @lamasonlab explains how pathogens hijack our cells—and what that means for the future of infectious disease research. 🎧 Listen now on MIT Learn: bit.ly/4wjo0kv @MITBiology
A person smiling in front of a blue background, speaking into a microphone. Text on the image reads, "Why are pathogens the world’s best cell biologists?"

ALT A person smiling in front of a blue background, speaking into a microphone. Text on the image reads, "Why are pathogens the world’s best cell biologists?"

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People who are learning with MIT Open Learning programs like @MITOCW and @MITxCourses are truly amazing. We'd love to hear about your experience! Please share it with us: bit.ly/4v4YK08
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What does it mean to be an entrepreneur? What does it take to succeed? @MIT Professor Bill Aulet shares his perspective on entrepreneurship and the role entrepreneurs play in market dynamics. Explore Bill Aulet's lectures and more entrepreneurship resources on MIT Learn: learn.mit.edu @MITOCW
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What do your morning coffee, a knee diagnosis, and distant stars have in common? They can all be studied using spectroscopy — the interaction of light with matter. Learn more from @ChemistryMIT Prof. Brett McGuire in our recent Open Seminar: bit.ly/4vOziwi
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What if you could detect an approaching drone using only sound? BirdWatch, the winning project at @MITMechE's Research Exhibition, uses a lightweight ML model to identify drone type, trajectory, and speed from audio alone — then delivers real-time alerts to the user. Watch the full breakdown and explore more learning moments: bit.ly/4vsmOLp
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