MIT Physicist and Fusion Expert Nuno F.G. Loureiro Fatally Shot at Home in Brookline

MIT Professor Nuno F.G. Loureiro Fatally Shot at Home in Brookline, Massachusetts A 47-year-old physicist and fusion scientist, Nuno F.G. Loureiro, was shot and killed at his home in Brookline, Massachusetts, on Monday night. The Norfolk District Attorney's Office confirmed that Loureiro died at a local hospital on Tuesday. Authorities have launched a homicide investigation, but no suspects have been taken into custody as of Tuesday afternoon. The shooting occurred at Loureiro's residence in Brookline, a suburb near Boston. The incident was reported on Monday night, and Loureiro was rushed to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday. The investigation is ongoing, with the Norfolk District Attorney's Office leading the probe. The immediate impact of Loureiro's death is being felt within the scientific community, particularly at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he served as a professor and the director of the Plasma Science and Fusion Center. The center, one of the largest labs at MIT, had over 250 people working across seven buildings under Loureiro's leadership. His research focused on advancing clean energy technology and nuclear fusion. Loureiro was a renowned expert in his field, having earned a doctorate in London and worked as a researcher at an institute for nuclear fusion in Lisbon before joining MIT in 2016. He was married and had a strong reputation as a mentor, teacher, and leader within the scientific community. As the investigation continues, the MIT community is coming together to pay tribute to Loureiro's contributions to the field of physics and fusion science. The university has not announced any immediate plans to replace Loureiro as the director of the Plasma Science and Fusion Center, but it is expected that the center will continue its research and development efforts in the coming weeks and months.