MIT Nuclear Science Professor Nuno Loureiro Dies After Fatal Shooting at Massachusetts Home

Distinguished MIT nuclear science professor Nuno Loureiro, age 47, was fatally shot at his residence.

Nuno F. Gomes Loureiro, a respected professor of nuclear science and engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), has passed away following a tragic incident. The 47-year-old academic was shot inside his Massachusetts home on Monday (Dec 15) and died from multiple gunshot wounds on Tuesday night (Dec 16).

According to the Norfolk District Attorney's (DA) Office, authorities responded to emergency calls reporting a shooting around 8:30 pm local time. Loureiro was immediately transported to a nearby hospital, where medical professionals pronounced him deceased several hours later.

The DA's office stated, "This is an active and ongoing homicide investigation. No further information is being released at this time."

Brookline Police Deputy Superintendent Paul Campbell confirmed that Loureiro had sustained multiple gunshot wounds but declined to provide additional details about the case.

An MIT representative expressed condolences in a statement to the BBC, saying, "Our deepest sympathies are with his family, students, colleagues, and all those who are grieving."

The Portuguese academic held positions in MIT's departments of Nuclear Science and Engineering and Physics since joining the institution in 2016. He earned recognition for his groundbreaking research in magnetized plasma dynamics and was appointed director of MIT's Plasma Science and Fusion Centre in 2024.

Dennis Whyte, the previous director of the Plasma Science Centre, paid tribute: "Nuno was not only a brilliant scientist, he was a brilliant person. He shone a bright light as a mentor, friend, teacher, colleague and leader, and was universally admired for his articulate, compassionate manner."

"His loss is immeasurable to our community at the PSFC, NSE and MIT, and around the entire fusion and plasma research world."

Loureiro completed his undergraduate degree in physics at Instituto Superior Tecnico (IST) in Lisbon in 2000 before earning his PhD in physics from Imperial College London in 2005, according to his faculty profile. Beyond his plasma research, he made significant contributions to astrophysics, helping reveal fundamental mechanisms of the universe.

He pioneered the theory of turbulence in pair plasmas, which differ from conventional plasmas and may be abundant throughout space. His research also explored methods to harness clean "fusion power" as a solution to combat climate change.