Department
Mechanical Engineering
QS ranks MIT the world’s top university for 2016-17
Ranked No. 1 for the fifth straight year, the Institute also places first in 12 of 42 disciplines.
Microchip enables fast, precise measurement of single-cell growth
Device that measures growth of many individual cells simultaneously could lead to rapid tests for antibiotics.
Rohit Karnik seeks sustainable solutions through nanotechnology
Engineer’s designs may help purify water, diagnose disease in remote regions of world.
Reducing runoff pollution by making spray droplets less bouncy
MIT researchers find a way to make pesticides stick to leaves instead of bouncing off.
Pushing through sand
Simple equation predicts force needed to push objects through granular and pasty materials.
3-D printed structures “remember” their shapes
Heat-responsive materials may aid in controlled drug delivery and solar panel tracking.
Sponge creates steam using ambient sunlight
Bubble-wrapped structure requires no mirrors or lenses to focus the sun’s heat.
New heads of house join undergraduate and graduate communities to start the fall semester
Areas of expertise include robotics, writing, physics, jewelry-making, and breakfast cereal.
J-WAFS Solutions program awards $750,000 in commercialization grants
Four new projects and one renewal receive $150,000 in funding for 2016-2017.
Needles that hit the right mark
New sensor could help anesthesiologists place needles for epidurals and other medical procedures.
When to get your head out of the game
Wearable sensor for athletes detects potential head injuries, gathers data on hard hits.
Replicating the connection between muscles and nerves
New chip could help test drugs for ALS, other neuromuscular disorders.
Fighting ALS with mind, hand, and heart
With support from the MIT Sandbox Innovation Fund Program, an MIT spinoff is creating assistive technology for people with ALS.
Gliding from classroom to market
Treaded hand truck created as class project is now making downstairs deliveries safer.