Researchers at MIT have designed a new living material infused with cells that could one day be used as a wearable sensor, writes Brooks Hays for UPI. The researchers used the new material to “design gloves and bandages that light up when they come in contact with target chemicals.”
In this Wired video, Prof. Daniela Rus speaks about how her research group is developing and applying autonomous vehicle technology to other vehicles, in particular wheelchairs. Rus explains that she envisions the technology “impacting anyone who is confined in their motions. I see it applied in hospitals, in retirement communities, in assisted living communities.”
Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Akst writes that MIT researchers have developed a way to “tap into the insight of the expert minority within a crowd—a minority whose views would otherwise be swamped in a simple majority vote or poll.” The technique significantly enhanced “the wisdom of crowds, reducing errors by more than 20%.”
Boston Globe reporter Tim Logan writes that MIT has unveiled preliminary plans for the Volpe Center site. Logan writes that the plans currently include “1,400 housing units — one-fifth set at affordable rents — 1.7 million square feet of office and lab space, street-level retail and three acres of greenspace on the campus.”
Adam Vaccaro of The Boston Globe reports that Prof. Christopher Knittel is working with Uber to identify and reduce racial bias observed in ride-sharing services. Knittel explains that he is working on designing “follow-up studies to minimize the amount of discrimination that’s occurring.”
Prof. Thomas Kochan writes for Fortune that the new U.S. Secretary of Labor should support policies that unite the workforce and address issues brought forth during the presidential election. A strategy of investing in and empowering employees, “will generate both good long-term profits and support good wages and careers,” Kochan writes.
Boston Herald reporter Jordan Graham writes that a committee co-chaired by Prof. Richard Hynes has made a series of recommendations for the use of gene editing in humans. Graham explains that the committee recommended “leaving the door open to altering the human genome in ways that would affect the descendants of patients with hereditary diseases and disabilities.”
A committee co-chaired by Prof. Richard Hynes has presented a set of guidelines for using the CRISPR gene-editing tool in humans, reports Lauran Neergaard for the AP. Neergaard writes that Hynes noted, “safety is one reason for caution, as scientists will have to learn whether editing one gene has unwanted downstream effects.”
Washington Post reporter Sarah Kaplan writes that a new study by MIT postdoc Julien de Wit provides evidence of a star that pulses when in proximity to its orbiting planet. De Wit and his colleagues found that the “star's brightness oscillated according to the exact rhythm of its planet's orbit.”
In this episode of NOVA that explores how origami is being used in scientific innovations, Prof. Erik Demaine speaks about his work applying math to create new origami figures. “It’s mind blowing that the simple operation of folding lets you transform a boring square of paper into super complicated, crazy 3-D shapes," he explains.
Washington Post reporter Joel Achenbach writes that a committee co-chaired by Prof. Richard Hynes has presented a series of guidelines for applying CRISPR gene editing in humans. “We say proceed with all due caution, but we don’t prohibit germline, after considerable discussion and debate,” says Hynes. “We’re talking only about fixing diseases.”
In this video, USA Today highlights Tiera Guinn, an MIT student who is working on designing rocket components for NASA while she completes her senior year at MIT. Guinn explains that her parents always told her that "others don’t declare the fate of your destiny. It’s up to you to achieve the dream you set in the first place.”
MIT astronomers have discovered a star that pulsates in response to an exoplanet orbiting around it, reports Brooks Hays for UPI. The findings “contradict the wisdom of most stellar models, which suggest planets can't influence their host stars in such a manner,” Hays explains.
BBC reporter Lorelei Mihala highlights DriveWell, an app developed by Profs. Hari Balakrishnan and Sam Madden, aimed at addressing the problem of distracted driving. “We wanted to show that smartphones could be used to make drivers better,” says Balakrishnan.
Postdoc Jennifer Burt speaks with Boston Globe reporter Andrew Grant about a new database of nearby stars that has been made publically available. “This could be a great way to get undergrad and high school students involved in science,” Burt explains. “We’re inspiring the next generation of scientists and that’s awesome.”