News

Beantown Taqueria to close for renovations by the end of the month

This time, Beantown’s departure appears to be final; court records obtained by The Tech reveal that MIT is suing Beantown Taqueria for failing to vacate the property by a June 30, 2026 deadline.

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The Beantown Taqueria storefront on 245 Massachusetts Avenue. The restaurant is being sued by MITIMCo for not meeting their deadline to vacate by Tuesday, June 30, 2026. Levy Le–The Tech
News

MIT Mathematics Department announces new Master of Science in Mathematics of Data

Applications open as many MIT departments consider expanding master’s degree offerings.

News

Amidst financial pressures, MIT’s endowment rises in 2026 fiscal year

The MIT endowment grew by 6.7% (now totaling $29.2 billion excluding pledges), according to the Report of Treasurer released by the Office of the Vice President for Finance at MIT on Oct. 2.

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MIT endowment value, additional assets, and pooled investment returns for the fiscal years of 2017 to 2026. Hana Sousa–The Tech
News

MIT Police Association returns to negotiations

The MIT Police Association is disappointed with MIT’s offer, especially as top executives at MIT receive salary increases substantially above the increase in cost of living.

News

MIT announces “MIT for America” program

Cynthia Breazeal, Professor of Media Arts and Sciences and the Benesse Professor of Research in Education, and Eric Klopfer, director of the Scheller Teacher Education Program and the Education Arcade at MIT, are the initiative’s faculty co-directors.

News

MIT Facilities workers launch petition amidst ongoing contract negotiations

Chapter 32BJ of the Service Employees International Union, which represents MIT’s custodians, mechanics, electricians, and other facilities workers, has been working without a contract since the prior expired on June 30.

News

MIT pauses authorization of work-study credit programs for international students

On Aug. 24, MIT received a broadcast message from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), warning colleges of an increase in work-study authorization for international students in violation of SEVP’s standards.

News

10/22 In Short

MIT Family Weekend starts on Friday, Oct. 23 and concludes Saturday, Oct. 24.

News

Faculty adapt teaching strategies to address AI use

MIT’s Ad Hoc statement points to one of the biggest opportunities facing higher education today: “By modeling responsible use of AI, instructors can help reinforce the new social contract our community will need to adapt to an AI-infused world.”

News

Over a thousand students attend HackMIT 2026

Over the weekend of Sept. 19–20, over a thousand students from more than 200 colleges across the country gathered at MIT to turn ideas into projects.

weather

Crisp weather for Family Weekend and lots of sunshine next week

As we head into Family Weekend, the highs will be running in the upper 50s and low 60s, with morning lows in the 30s. Dewpoints are expected to be low, meaning the air will have a cool autumn crisp to it.

Fun

Crossword: Mass Tech Terms

This is a lightly challenging midi crossword.

News

Akirah Bradley-Armstrong appointed vice chancellor for student life

Effective Oct. 19, Akirah Bradley-Armstrong will join the MIT community as the vice chancellor for student life.

News

U.S. News & World Report ranks MIT as #1 national university

On Sept. 22, the U.S.News & World Report announced that MIT would claim the top spot of its new 2027 National Universities Ranking.

News

McDermott Court finally reopens with new landscaping

At 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 15, McDermott Court — the open space in front of the Green Building (Building 54) — reopened to the public after more than five years of continuous construction. The superintendent of the renewal project packed up the last orange cones and yellow cordon surrounding the new plaza. Students then began to filter through the stone walkways around the “Green Dot,” the circular lawn at the center of the court.

News

Service requested: A look inside MIT’s elevators

According to records obtained by The Tech, 749 elevator service requests, including 46 related to entrapment, were logged between Jan. 2 and Sept. 20, 2026.

Opinion

You too can prevent a bicycle crash

To be safe on a bicycle in Boston-area traffic, you need to think outside the box and the bike lane.

Science

The science of bouncing back

On Oct. 14, Truwit joined Dr. Lauri Santos, professor of Yale University’s popular ‘Psychology and the Good Life,’ and host of ‘The Happiness Lab’ podcast, for a live taping at the Boston Museum of Science.

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Professor Laurie Santos (left) and Ali Truwit, PLY (right) live tape an episode of ‘The Happiness Lab’ at the Boston Museum of Science on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026. Lauren Adler–The Tech
Science

Physics, fluids, and frits

On Oct. 24, 2,000 pumpkins will sprout from the lawn of Kresge Oval. Their bodies will be plump and vividly colored, and their stems will curl in whimsical spirals. They will be made entirely out of glass.

Science

Lived experience meets MIT research

The screening of “End of the Cycle” was the evening’s centerpiece, to spread awareness of endometriosis and highlight the impact that MIT’s continued work will continue to have on awareness, understanding, and future therapies.

3 questions

The consequences of overrelying on imperfect AI

Professor Marzyeh Ghassemi PhD ’17 PD ’17 describes how using AI systems in human settings can exacerbate social inequality, and what scientists can do about it.

Science

Collaboration: The cornerstone of innovation at MIT

How do we know an ocean we cannot see, hear, or listen to? From Sept. 30 to Oct. 4, MIT Future Fest set out to answer these questions and many more.

club close-up

Co-design in action: A deep dive into MIT Assistive Technology Club

Assistive Technology at MIT (AT@MIT) was established as an Edgerton Center build team in fall 2023; today, it consists of over 60 students grouped into eight teams that partners with a disabled community member to improve the user’s life.

Science

‘Artificial Intimacy’: Sherry Turkle says AI should “stay in its lane”

Turkle’s book on the dangerous seductiveness of chatbots is “Sherry unplugged.”

Sports

Freshman Sabine Smith makes history with MIT Volleyball

On Oct. 6, Sabine Smith ’30 of Park City, Utah, became the first MIT volleyball player in history to win the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division III Women’s Player of the Week award.

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Sabine Smith ’30 bumps the volleyball on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in a game against Bowdoin College. The Engineers won 3-2. Photo courtesy of Greg Sabin/MIT Athletics
Sports

Sports Blitz: Sept. 28–Oct. 4

Engineers updates through Oct. 4.

Sports

Sports Blitz: Oct 5.–Oct. 18

Engineers updates through Oct. 18.

Sports

Battle of the Beavers

Babson women’s field hockey had not lost a NEWMAC regular-season game since 2015 until Tuesday night at Jack Barry Field.

Sports

Women’s soccer falls to #1 WashU, drops to 9-2-1

The Engineers have put up dominant performances one after the other, leading opponents 34–6 in goals this season.

Sports

A new Legacy begins

After a 2–0 loss to the Seattle Reign on Saturday, Sept. 26, the Legacy are no longer in contention for the NWSL playoffs, but they still have much to look forward to.

Sports

MIT competes in the 2026 Head of the Charles Regatta

The 61st annual Head of the Charles Regatta, the largest three-day rowing regatta in the world, took place from Oct. 16 to Oct. 18. Every year, the regatta draws nearly 400,000 spectators and 12,000 rowers from more than 32 countries. MIT Crew had seven entries on Saturday.

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The MIT Rowing Club competes in the Women’s Club Eights at the 2026 Head of the Charles Regatta, starting from Boston University's DeWolfe Boathouse on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. Photo courtesy of MIT Athletics
concert review

Nelsons’s BSO performs all-Rachmaninoff program with soloist Seong-Jin Cho

Volunteers handed out roses outside Symphony Hall before the concert, campaigning to keep conductor Andris Nelsons on the podium.

movie review

New ‘Sense and Sensibility’ adaptation poorly translates its source material

Film adaptations of books must necessarily make compromises and cuts, and the work of carving out the heart of a story to transplant it intact from one medium to another is precarious. While revisions are necessary, the ones made in ‘Sense and Sensibility’ (2026) undermine the story, leaving it mutilated rather than translated.

brandy’s breadcrumbs

Being sick @ MIT for a week sucks

I got absolutely nerfed by a mysterious illness and did not attend classes for a whole week.

chloe’s ramblings

Sponge talk

MIT Simmons Hall through the eyes of a freshman after a month of amused observation.

jojo’s bizarre musings

I was a lighthouse keeper this summer

In this, oh so cruel and fast world, maybe the lighthouse was the only place circlin’ all ’round the sun where time seemed to have stopped.

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The totoro I chalked in my room. Chloe Weng – The Tech
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This is actually bread I made last year for Thanksgiving, but I used the same recipe. Brandy Romine – The Tech
News

MIT announces “MIT for America” program

Cynthia Breazeal, Professor of Media Arts and Sciences and the Benesse Professor of Research in Education, and Eric Klopfer, director of the Scheller Teacher Education Program and the Education Arcade at MIT, are the initiative’s faculty co-directors.

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Amidst financial pressures, MIT’s endowment rises in 2026 fiscal year

10/22 In Short

MIT Family Weekend starts on Friday, Oct. 23 and concludes Saturday, Oct. 24.

Opinion

Free expression is essential to MIT’s mission

Some of your most valuable learning will come from those you disagree with.

Re: MIT’s financial records contradict its claims of austerity

Vice Chancellor for Graduate and Undergraduate Education David L. Darmofal responds to previously published op-ed, “MIT’s financial records contradict its claims of austerity” to provide some clarity and additional context.

A vote for Evan MacKay is a vote for justice

The MIT community needs a strong advocate against the entrenched establishment on Beacon Hill. It’s time to clean house and elect democratic socialist MacKay.