MIT Building 18 stays closed after mercury spill

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MIT Building 18 Remains Closed After Mercury Spill

MIT's Building 18 at 21 Ames Street remains closed at least through Sunday after a graduate student went to an emergency room Wednesday night saying they had synthesized dimethyl mercury in a campus lab, prompting a hazardous materials response by Cambridge firefighters at about 9:40 p.m. A blood test Saturday showed no sign of mercury exposure, MIT said, and the university added that emerging information calls into question whether the compound was in fact synthesized. Dimethyl mercury can be fatal if swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through the skin; MIT says the surrounding area is safe.

The Boston Globe

Everybody Gotta Eat BBQ Cookout Returns to University Park

The Black-led food, music and community cookout runs today, Aug. 30, from noon to 6 p.m. at University Park Commons, with local food vendors, live entertainment and family activities supporting local food entrepreneurs and small businesses.

Cambridge Office for Tourism

MIT Parent Orientation Continues With Panels and Campus Expo

MIT's Parent and Family Orientation continues today, Aug. 30, with residence hall open houses, a Life on Campus Expo, and sessions on finances, academics and student wellbeing.

MIT Office of the First Year

Cambridge Under-18 Team Wins Lou Tompkins League Title

Cambridge's under-18 summer baseball team finished 18-1 and beat Dracut 6-0 to win the Lou Tompkins All-Star League championship, as reported by Cambridge Day on Aug. 29.

Cambridge Day

ART Stages Ionesco's 'Rhinoceros' at Loeb Drama Center

American Repertory Theater's production of Eugène Ionesco's 'Rhinoceros,' directed by Diane Paulus, has a performance today, Aug. 30, at 2 p.m. at the Loeb Drama Center.

American Repertory Theater

John Gorka Plays Two Shows at Club Passim Today

Folk singer-songwriter John Gorka performs at Club Passim in Harvard Square today, Aug. 30, at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Club Passim

CircleSinging Boston Hosts Vocal Improvisation Session Today

CircleSinging Boston hosts a community vocal improvisation event today, Aug. 30, from 4 to 6 p.m. at St. Mary Orthodox Church in Cambridge.

CircleSinging Boston

Kadampa Meditation Center Holds Sunday Class Today

Kadampa Meditation Center Boston hosts its 'Wiser Way to Live' Sunday meditation class today, Aug. 30, at its Cambridge location.

Kadampa Meditation Center Boston

Odissi Dancer Bijayini Satpathy Debuts 'Rāgachitra' Tonight

Classical Odissi dancer Bijayini Satpathy performs her Boston-area solo debut of 'Rāgachitra' tonight, Aug. 30, at 6:30 p.m. at the Multicultural Arts Center.

Boston Dance Alliance

Harvard, MIT Host Bruno Classic Water Polo Matches Today

Harvard and MIT host tournament matches at Blodgett Pool today, Aug. 30, starting at 9 a.m., including games with No. 11 University of the Pacific and Wagner College.

Collegiate Water Polo Association

MIT, Harvard Men's Water Polo Fall in Season Openers

On Saturday, Aug. 29, MIT lost to Air Force 17-14 and No. 13 Cal Baptist 21-7, while No. 17 Harvard fell 16-15 to Cal Baptist on the first day of the Bruno Classic.

Collegiate Water Polo Association

Cambridge Launches 13th Participatory Budgeting Cycle

The City of Cambridge has launched its 13th Participatory Budgeting cycle, letting residents 12 and older submit ideas through Oct. 11 for spending $500,000 of the capital budget.

City of Cambridge

MIT Museum Shows Janet Echelman's Climate Installation Today

The MIT Museum presents Janet Echelman's 'Remembering the Future,' an immersive installation of braided and knotted twine visualizing Earth's climate history, today, Aug. 30, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Cambridge Office for Tourism

Mount Auburn Cemetery Opens Bigelow Chapel for Drop-In Visits

Mount Auburn Cemetery hosts a Bigelow Chapel Open House today, Aug. 30, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with staff answering questions about the 1840s chapel.

Mount Auburn Cemetery