In an article for The New York Times Magazine about the history of women working in the field of computer programming, Clive Thompson highlights the work of Mary Allen Wilkes, a “programming whiz” who worked at MIT’s Lincoln Lab back in the 1960s on the creation of the LINC.
MIT startup Vicarious Surgical is developing a minimally invasive surgical technique that combines virtual reality and miniature surgical robots, reports Jonathan Sieber for TechCrunch. The founders say they hope “to drive down both the cost of higher impact surgeries and access to the best surgeons through remote technologies.”
Washington Post reporter Taylor Telford highlights a working paper by MIT researchers that examines how misinformation about vaccines spreads on social media. “The majority of misinformation about vaccines is spread by individuals,” explains Prof. Catherine Tucker. “That is a far harder problem to solve, as trying to clamp down on that kind of social sharing has tensions with trying to preserve free speech.”
TechCrunch reporter Jonathan Sieber writes about biomanufacturing company Culture Biosciences, which was co-founded by MIT alumnus Will Patrick. Sieber writes that Patrick was inspired by his time at the Media Lab and by MIT startups like Gingko Bioworks, explaining that he noticed “that the problem and the bottleneck in the industry was moving from industrial design to scale-up.”
Forbes reporter Chuck Tannert spotlights alumnus R.J. Scaringe, founder and CEO of the electric vehicle company Rivian Automotive. Scaringe explains his motivation to build electric vehicles: “It was frustrating knowing the things I loved were simultaneously the things that were making the air dirtier and causing all sorts of issues, everything from geopolitical conflict to the smog to climate change.”
WBUR’s Andrea Shea spotlights an exhibit at the Fitchburg Art Museum celebrating the work of artist Otto Piene, who served as the director of MIT’s Center for Advanced Visual Studies from 1974 to 1994. The new show, “reveals concepts and connections he forged throughout his long career, and proves how Piene was ahead of his time.”
Writing for The New York Times about up-and-coming technology startups, Erin Griffith highlights MIT spinoff Benchling, which is developing software that allows lab scientists to store notes and records in the cloud. The software is aimed at enabling scientists to “more easily use the records to collaborate with one another,” Griffith explains.
In an article for Forbes, Joseph Coughlin, director of the AgeLab, provides tips for adult children planning to have difficult conversations with their parents about such topics as driving and housing. “Hanging up the keys or leaving the family home often places two sets of critical values at odds – freedom versus safety,” writes Coughlin.
Guardian columnist John Naughton highlights Prof. Emeritus Jay Forrester’s work developing a simulation tool for urban planning. “A chance encounter with the outgoing mayor of Boston awakened Forrester’s interest in cities and led to the construction of a simulation model of a city at a time when American planners were alarmed by the flight to the suburbs,” Naughton explains.
In an article for the Financial Times, President L. Rafael Reif calls for government investment in AI research, and educational offerings that integrate the study of AI into every discipline. “Those nations and institutions which act now to help shape the future of AI will help shape the future for us all,” writes Reif.
MIT researchers have developed a new ingestible capsule that in the future could be used to deliver medication to diabetes patients, reports Dr. Erica Orsini for ABC News. “The oral route is preferred by both patients and health care providers,” explains visiting scientist Giovanni Traverso.
Boston Globe reporter Janelle Nanos writes about Radian Jeans, an MIT startup developing women’s jeans with functional pockets. Nanos explains that the company was inspired by Wardah Inam’s experience as a graduate student at MIT when “she grew annoyed that she couldn’t easily transport her phone, wallet, keys, and ID between her lab and office.”
Scientific American reporter Knvul Sheikh highlights how two teams of MIT researchers have developed ingestible devices that could assist with medication adherence. “Many patients delay therapy because it requires an injection,” explains visiting scientist Giovanni Traverso. “Delivering these medicines orally can have a tremendous impact.”
A new ingestible pill developed by MIT researchers positions itself against the walls of the stomach and can deliver insulin directly to the bloodstream, reports Gina Kolata for The New York Times. “It’s a very new concept and a really cool idea,” says Edith Mathiowitz, a professor of medical science and engineering at Brown University.
Financial Times reporter Clive Cookson writes that MIT researchers have developed an ingestible pill that can deliver insulin directly to a patient’s stomach. “This discovery has the potential to transform not only drug delivery but drug discovery as well,” explains Prof. Robert Langer, “since most current drug discovery efforts are aimed at creating small molecule drugs that patients can take orally.”