Q&A: A fresh look at data science
MIT Visiting Scholar Alfred Spector discusses the power of data science and visualization, as well as his new textbook on the subject.
Nobel laureates with MIT ties feted in Sweden
The 2022 honorees received their prizes, and the 2020 and 2021 winners were also honored at the first full ceremony since the start of the pandemic.
Building resilience for the next supply chain disruption
James Rice discusses supply chain resilience and how organizations can prepare for the next big problem.
Are Covid-19 “comas” signs of a protective hibernation state?
Scientists hypothesize that, as in a hibernating turtle, the brain under sedation and deprived of oxygen may assume a protective state.
Keeping indoor humidity levels at a “sweet spot” may reduce spread of Covid-19
A new study links very dry and very humid indoor environments with worse Covid-19 outcomes.
MIT engineers develop sensors for face masks that help gauge fit
The system measures biological and environmental changes, and detects contact between the mask and the wearer’s skin.
Does mask-wearing affect behavior?
New research, set in China, suggests that using masks for health reasons also leads people to behave more ethically.
Wiggling toward bio-inspired machine intelligence
Inspired by jellyfish and octopuses, PhD candidate Juncal Arbelaiz investigates the theoretical underpinnings that will enable systems to more efficiently adapt to their environments.
SMART researchers develop quick test to determine immunity against Covid-19
Test that measures a person’s antibodies requires a drop of blood and takes just 10 minutes to show results.
Analysis of email traffic suggests remote work may stifle innovation
At MIT, social networks with “weak ties,” which help foster new ideas, declined during the Covid-19 pandemic, researchers report.
Assay determines the percentage of Omicron, other variants in Covid wastewater
Developed by the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, the assay can provide new details about the type of SARS-CoV-2 circulating in a community.
MIT chemists develop a wireless electronic lateral flow assay test for biosensing
Design from the Swager Lab uses electronic polymers, rather than colored lines, to indicate a positive response, enabling quantitative monitoring of biomarkers.
3 Questions: Amar Gupta on an integrated approach to enhanced health-care delivery
The MIT researcher and former professor discusses how Covid-19 and the influx of virtual technologies created a new medical ecosystem that needs more synchronized oversight.
New test may predict Covid-19 immunity
The paper test measures the level of neutralizing antibodies in a blood sample and could help people decide what protections they should take against infection.
3 Questions: What to expect from Covid-19 this fall
Cecilia Stuopis, Shawn Ferullo, and Ian A. Waitz discuss where things stand; explain the rationale behind the Institute’s testing and policies; and provide insights about what to expect this fall.