A study co-authored by Prof. David Rand finds repeated exposure to plausible and implausible statements increases believability, reports Susana Martinez-Conde for Scientific American. “The implications for daily life,” writes Martinez-Conde, “is that even patent lies may slowly become more credible, provided enough repetition.”
A study co-authored by Prof. David Rand finds repeated exposure to plausible and implausible statements increases believability, reports Susana Martinez-Conde for Scientific American. “The implications for daily life,” writes Martinez-Conde, “is that even patent lies may slowly become more credible, provided enough repetition.”
Prof. Eugene Fitzgerald, CEO and director of the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART), speaks with Bloomberg News about how researchers have developed a new way to manufacture integrated silicon III-V chips. “We were able to create a technology that allows us to bring in higher-performing semiconductors, but still use the same manufacturing technology,” Fitzgerald explains.
The Economist spotlights “The Redemption of Vanity,” an artwork conceived by MIT artist in residence Diemut Strebe in collaboration with Prof. Brian Wardle, in which a diamond disappears behind the blackest material ever created. The Economist notes that the piece was a “stark demonstration of allotropy—the fact that a single element can come in many guises, depending on the arrangement of its atoms.”
Research affiliate Ashley Nunes writes for BBC Future about the challenges facing the development of autonomous aircraft. “Autonomous does not mean humanless,” writes Nunes. “While sensors and software curb the need for manual labor, that need isn’t – contrary to we’re told – purged entirely.”
A study by MIT researchers underscores the importance of sleep consistency when it comes to academic performance, reports Jamie Ducharme for TIME. “If you can just get the same amount each night, compared to someone who averages the same amount as you but gets less consistent sleep, you’re going to do better,” says Prof. Jeff Grossman.
CSAIL researchers have developed a new algorithm that could help doctors better analyze the placenta and monitor for potential issues during pregnancy, reports Christine Fischer for Engadget. The algorithm “could allow doctors to diagnose and treat placental issues earlier in pregnancy,” Fisher explains.
MIT researchers have developed a 3D-printed mesh structure that can transform from a flat surface into complex shapes in response to temperature changes, reports the Xinhua news agency. “The technique can be used to design deployable structures like tents or coverings that automatically unfurl and inflate, and also be used as scaffolds for artificial tissue or deformable lenses in telescopes.”
Writing for the Financial Times, Channing Arndt highlights a study co-authored by MIT researchers that finds climate mitigation efforts will not hamper economic growth in developing countries. “If poorer countries were exempted for a period of time from having to curb emissions, not only would climate change still be constrained, but most poorer countries would be likely to reap net economic benefits,” writes Arndt.
UPI reporter Brooks Hays writes that MIT researchers has developed a new test to verify the destruction of nuclear weapons. “The test can identify the specific isotope of the target element, which could allow inspectors to confirm the identity of a warhead before it's disassembled,” writes Hays.
Speaking with WBUR's Carrie Jung, Prof. Catherine Drennan shares how the experience of growing up with dyslexia has shaped her research and helped her better connect with her graduate students. "I know how to give them an environment where they can really show what they're capable of doing," she says.
In a letter to The Boston Globe, Tim Brothers, observatory manager of the MIT Wallace Astrophysical Observatory, argues for the importance of reducing light pollution. “Preserving the night sky is about more than the stars: It protects our fragile ecosystem, saves taxpayer dollars, and brings our carbon reduction goals much closer to reality,” writes Brothers.
Writing for The New York Times, Alexander Agadjanian of the MIT Election Lab examines the potential political implications of the Democratic presidential candidates embracing more progressive policies. In a recent survey, Agadjanian found that the “embrace of progressivism…repels independents, with a negative effect that is stronger and clearer than the signs of enthusiasm generated among Democrats.”
Writing for The New York Times, Alexander Agadjanian of the MIT Election Lab examines the potential political implications of the Democratic presidential candidates embracing more progressive policies. In a recent survey, Agadjanian found that the “embrace of progressivism…repels independents, with a negative effect that is stronger and clearer than the signs of enthusiasm generated among Democrats.”
Writing for The Boston Globe, Prof. Richard Samuels examines Japan’s current approach towards foreign policy and national security. “Despite its ambitious and enhanced capabilities,” writes Samuels, “Tokyo still has its hands full in resisting or deterring foreign provocations — including from Washington.”