November 24, 2009: Quantum Mechanics

Scientists at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) have circulated beams of protons in opposite directions at the same time, causing the first particle collisions in the Large Hadron Collider.

If you're a little rusty on Quantum Mechanics, give yourself a refresher with Prof. Vuletic's course.

November 19, 2009: Computer Games and Simulations for Investigation and Education

Believe it or not, computer games can be educational. Prof. Eric Klopfer's Computer Games and Simulations for Investigation and Education is a project-based look at how we learn from interactive computer environments. Be sure to check out the student projects in the Projects section.

November 16, 2009: Cryptographic Voting

MIT Professor Ron Rivest has helped develop a cryptographic voting system that could ensure accurate vote counts. Prof. Rivest covers cryptography in Network and Computer Security on OCW.

November 12, 2009: Project Management

Embarking on a project? Check out Project Management, which covers basic tools, skills and the knowledge necessary to manage a project from inception to completion.

November 9, 2009: Horse Genome Sequenced

Scientists at the Broad Institute have mapped the genome of the domestic horse. The work could reveal how horses were domesticated, as well as similarities between horses and humans.

Want to learn more about DNA, genomes and biology in general? Head over to the full video lectures of 7.012 Introduction to Biology.

November 3, 2009: Where Are You?

MIT and Volkswagen have teamed up to create the AIDA (Affective, Intelligent Driving Agent), a combination personal robot and intelligent navigation system: imagine a car that lets you know the fuel is low just as you're driving by a gas station. Fundamental to this device is Global Positioning System, which is covered in detail in Prof. Thomas Herring's freshman seminar, GPS: Where Are You? on OCW.

October 29, 2009: P vs. NP

The MIT News Office takes a look at a notorious problem in theoretical computer science, the assertion that P = NP. Professor Michael Sipser tells the News Office that this concept "is important for deepening our understanding of computational complexity."

The concept is covered in detail in Sipser's Theory of Computation, and in particular in his book Introduction to the Theory of Computation (find a link to his book in the Readings section of the course).

October 27, 2009: Diversity

MIT has launched a new site focused on dialogue and action to promote an inclusive community. Watch how issues of gender and cultural identity play out in Theater and Cultural Diversity in the U.S..

October 23, 2009: Leadership in Clean Energy

President Barack Obama visits MIT Friday, October 23 to tour a research lab and address the campus community on American leadership in clean energy.

MIT has long been a leader in energy research. You can explore many of MIT's energy-related courses on OCW.

October 20, 2009: Brain Waves from Dreaming Rats

By listening in on the brains of sleeping rats, MIT professor Matt Wilson has found solid evidence that sleep plays a vital role in learning and memory. Learn more about learning and memory in Prof. Wilson's Neural Basis of Learning and Memory.

October 13, 2009: A New Use for Quantum Computing

MIT researchers have presented a new algorithm that could bring efficiency to systems of linear equations. It has promising implications for image, video and signal processing; robot control; and weather modeling.

One of the authors of the paper, Prof. Seth Lloyd, leads students through the ultimate limits of communication and computation in Information and Entropy.

October 8, 2009: MIT Professor Awarded National Medal of Science

Professor JoAnne Stubbe has been awarded a National Medal of Science for her work in the mechanism of enzymes involved in DNA replication and repair. During the ceremony, President Obama said, "Science is more essential for our prosperity, our security, and our health, and our way of life than it has ever been."

Foster your own scientific curiosity with OCW's free, open resources such as Dr. Stubbe's own Biological Chemistry II.

October 6, 2009: Blogging MIT

MIT Admission's student blogs offer a window into life as an MIT student, often outside the classroom. MIT OpenCourseWare is a window inside the classroom, particularly courses such as Single Variable Calculus, an introductory calculus course with full video lectures.

October 1, 2009: A Focus on Focus

Members of the MIT Graphics Group have demonstrated that combining several low-quality exposures with different focal depths can yield a sharper photo than a single, higher-quality exposure. The finding lays the groundwork for the next generation of digital cameras.

Graphics Group member Frédo Durand's Computer Graphics offers a broad introduction to computer graphics, including hardware, algorithms and software.

September 28, 2009: A Push for "New Biology"

This week the MIT News Office talks with MIT Professor Phillip Sharp about the need for a new biology initiative to accelerate breakthroughs that could solve some of society's most pressing problems. Sharp's Cell Biology: Structure and Functions of the Nucleus is available on MIT OpenCourseWare.

September 24, 2009: MIT Economist Receives "Genius" Grant

MIT economist Esther Duflo, whose research has helped change the way governments and aid organizations address global poverty, has been named as a recipient of a 2009 MacArthur Fellowship - the prominent "genius" grant for innovative work. Her course Development Economics: Microeconomic Issues and Policy Models is available on OCW.

September 22, 2009: Course Home Page Improvements

In the next few weeks, you'll notice some changes to our course home pages. Some of these changes will make the courses easier to navigate, and some of them will allow us to share messages about OCW and MIT. Learn more about these changes in a letter from OCW Executive Director Cecilia d'Oliveira.

September 15, 2009: Photos from the edge of space

MIT senior Oliver Yeh has sent a camera into near-space - and received beautiful photos - for the cost of a standard engineering textbook.

Want to tackle your own backyard experiment? Start with a foundation in programming such as Building Programming Experience, a two-week bootcamp for students who lack a background in programming.

September 10, 2009: Introduction to Computer Science and Programming

We've just added complete video lectures to Introduction to Computer Science and Programming, which introduces students to the role computation plays in solving problems using Python™. The course is aimed at students with little or no programming experience.

September 8, 2009: Calculus

Taking Calculus this term? The complete text - including instructor's manual and student study guide - of Gilbert Strang's Calculus is available on OCW.

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