MIT researchers have found that flashing light may reduce the buildup of beta amyloid protein in the brain, which is associated with Alzheimer’s disease, writes Michelle Roberts for the BBC News. The researchers hope that “clearing beta amyloid and stopping more plaques from forming could halt Alzheimer's and its symptoms.”
Writing for The Atlantic, Ed Yong spotlights a study by MIT researchers that identifies a potential new treatment for Alzheimer’s – using pulses of light to stimulate brain waves. Yong writes that the study “heralds a completely new approach to dealing with Alzheimer’s—changing neural activity, rather than delivering drugs or chemicals.”
MIT researchers have found that exposure to flickering lights at a precise frequency may help fight off Alzheimer’s disease, reports Melissa Healy for The Los Angeles Times. The technique recruits “neurons and other cell types in the brain to sort of enable the brain’s inner ability to repair itself,” explains Prof. Li-Huei Tsai, director of the Picower Institute.
Guardian reporter Hannah Devlin writes about a new study by MIT researchers that shows that strobe lighting can reduce levels of toxic proteins found in Alzheimer’s disease. The researchers found that “exposure to flickering light stimulated brain waves, called gamma oscillations, that are known to be disturbed in Alzheimer’s patients.”
In an in-depth piece for The New York Times Magazine, Chris Jones spotlights Prof. Sara Seager, exploring her quest for an Earthlike exoplanet. Jones writes there has been an explosion of knowledge about exoplanets in part because of “Seager’s pioneering theoretical work in using light to study the composition of alien atmospheres.”
Wall Street Journal reporter Bob Davis writes about a study by Prof. David Autor that shows U.S. industries facing increased competition from China reduced R&D spending. Autor notes the findings show the importance of federal support for R&D.
In an article for The New York Times, Joi Ito, director of the Media Lab, underscores the need to create new technologies that are not only smart, but also socially responsible. “Unless we embed ethical and moral grounding, technology meant to advance our well-being could, in fact, end up amplifying the worst aspects of our society,” Ito explains.
Boston Globe reporter Hiawatha Bray writes about “Whiplash,” a book co-written by Media Lab Director Joi Ito that encourages people to become more creative and innovative to keep up with technological changes. Bray writes that “Whiplash” is, “a reliable guidebook for companies and individuals in an era of ever-changing machines, technologies, and life.”
President L. Rafael Reif writes for The Wall Street Journal about the importance of federal support for scientific research. “If we hope for technological solutions in the future to some of humanity’s great challenges… we must renew our national commitment to supporting basic science,” Reif explains, adding that society benefits from the investment through job creation and an improved quality of life.
Prof. Charles Stewart explains in The Washington Post that ballot recounts help to determine the accuracy of the initial vote count method in an election. Prof. Steward predicts that the Wisconsin recount will uncover “only small discrepancies between the election night totals” and will show that scanners are more accurate than humans at counting votes.
MIT researchers have found that water can stay frozen, even when heated to boiling temperatures, when molecules are placed inside tiny carbon nanotubes, reports Sam Lemonick for Forbes. The researchers hope to use the “ice-filled tubes as wires to move protons,” a key step in creating hydrogen fuel cells.
Prof. Emeritus Rainer Weiss and the LIGO team were honored as recipients of the 2016 Breakthrough Prizes during a ceremony in California, reports Lisa Krieger for Mercury News. The LIGO team was honored for their “observation of gravitational waves, a discovery which opens new horizons in astronomy and physics.”
Steven Melendez of NBC News writes that a new system developed by CSAIL researchers can predict the future by examining a photograph. Grad student Carl Vondrick explains that the system’s ability to forecast normal behavior could allow it to be used for applications like self-driving cars.
Wired reporter Liz Stinson writes about Vespers, a series of 3-D printed death masks designed by researchers in the MIT Mediated Matter group. “The team used fluid dynamics modeling software, colorful, translucent resins, and a high-resolution, multi-material 3-D printer to produce hues, forms, and textures that look surprisingly organic—despite the masks’ association with death.”
Boston-area museums swapped Instagram accounts this week to promote and share the plethora of cultural offerings available, reports Steve Annear for The Boston Globe. The Peabody Essex Museum visited the MIT Museum and shared images of Kismet, “art from the Hart Nautical Collection; and Harold Edgerton’s stop-motion photograph the ‘milk-drop coronet.’”