3 Questions: How to control biofilms in space
MIT and University of Colorado researchers are collaborating on an experiment to be sent to the International Space Station.
Department
Mechanical Engineering
Two-legged robot mimics human balance while running and jumping
New control system may enable humanoid robots to do heavy lifting and other physically demanding tasks.
Double-sided tape for tissues could replace surgical sutures
New adhesive that binds wet surfaces within seconds could be used to heal wounds or implant medical devices.
System provides cooling with no electricity
Passive device relies on a layer of material that blocks incoming sunlight but lets heat radiate away.
Students present mechanical engineering projects that have global impact
At the sixth annual Mechanical Engineering Research Exhibition, graduate students and postdocs sharpen their communication and presentation skills.
Scaling up a cleaner-burning alternative for cookstoves
Mechanical engineering students in MIT D-Lab are working with collaborators in Uganda on a solution for the health hazards associated with wood-burning stoves.
Pushy robots learn the fundamentals of object manipulation
Systems “learn” from novel dataset that captures how pushed objects move, to improve their physical interactions with new objects.
Cell stiffness may indicate whether tumors will invade
Study shows tumors with softer, larger cells at their periphery are more likely to spread; may suggest new route for cancer therapy.
Giving robots a faster grasp
An algorithm speeds up the planning process robots use to adjust their grip on objects, for picking and sorting, or tool use.
Professor Emeritus Woodie Flowers, innovator in design and engineering education, dies at 75
Beloved teacher and pioneer in hands-on engineering education developed design and robotics competitions at MIT, FIRST, and beyond, while promoting his concept of “gracious professionalism.”
“Electroadhesive” stamp picks up and puts down microscopic structures
New technique could enable assembly of circuit boards and displays with more minute components.
New capsule can orally deliver drugs that usually have to be injected
Coated pill carries microneedles that deliver insulin and other drugs to the lining of the small intestine.
Scientists observe a single quantum vibration under ordinary conditions
Studying a common material at room temperature, researchers bring quantum behavior “closer to our daily life.”
Oobleck’s weird behavior is now predictable
MIT engineers develop a model that predicts how the cornstarch-water mixture turns from liquid to solid, and back again.
Strong mentorship through great decision-making
Gabriella Carolini, Paula Hammond, and David Trumper honored as Committed to Caring graduate student mentors.