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In the Media

Displaying 15 news clips on page 622

Mercury News

CSAIL researchers have found that ride-sharing services could reduce the number of cars on the road by 75 percent, reports Marisa Kendall for The Mercury News. The researchers developed an algorithm that can increase service speeds by 20 percent by rerouting cars to “their most efficient routes, including automatically sending idle cars to areas of high demand.”

United Press International (UPI)

UPI reporter Brooks Hays writes that MIT researchers have developed a new model that helps predict the frequency of extreme precipitation events. The researchers found that “a rise in global temperature of 4 degrees Celsius will yield an extra three extreme precipitation events per year in California by the end of the century.”

Boston.com

Kevin Slane writes for Boston.com that a number of the honorees recognized on Forbes’ “30 Under 30” list are members of the MIT community. 

BBC News

A new study conducted by MIT researchers shows that ride-sharing services could reduce the number of cars on the road in New York City by 75 percent, according to the BBC News. The researchers found that “a fleet of 3,000 four-passenger taxis could do the same job as the current fleet of 13,000 yellow cabs in New York City.”

Forbes generic

The 2017 Forbes “30 Under 30” lists, an annual recognition of change-makers and innovators in 20 industries, feature a number of MIT students, alumni and researchers. 

Boston Globe

A new study by MIT researchers provides evidence that if more people in New York City were willing to carpool, the city would only need 3,000 taxis, reports Hiawatha Bray for The Boston Globe. With carpooling, “we have fewer vehicles, we have less pollution and we have a better travel situation for everyone,” explains Prof. Daniela Rus. 

Financial Times

CSAIL researchers have found that ride-sharing taxis controlled by a citywide computer system could decrease the number of cars on the road in New York City, reports Clive Cookson for the Financial Times. The researchers found that “3,000 four-passenger cars could satisfy 98 per cent of the city’s demand.”

The Washington Post

Washington Post reporter Faiz Siddiqui writes that MIT researchers have found that 3,000 four-person cars could serve 98 percent of New York City’s taxi demand. “Fewer cars on roads means improved quality of life for everyone, it means better traffic, it means lower pollution, it’s a better transportation experience,” explains Prof. Daniela Rus. 

Forbes

Prof. Ann Graybiel speaks with Forbes contributor Pat Brans about age and habit formation. Graybiel explains that she does not think “it’s ever too late to change habits or to make new ones,” adding that “‘habit’ patterns in the brain have to get renewed reinforcement from time to time.”

CNN

CNN reporter Matt McFarland writes about a new MIT study that finds ridesharing would allow the number of taxi cabs in Manhattan to be reduced by 78 percent, cutting congestion and pollution in the city. The study showed that “only 3,000 four-person sedans are needed to serve 98% of ride demands in Manhattan.”

WCVB

A study co-authored by Prof. Christopher Knittel that found discriminatory practices by Uber and Lyft drivers has prompted the latter company to begin monitoring for racist behaviors, reports WCVB’s Abigail Elise. Lyft will monitor “driver behavior, ratings and cancellation rates in low-income and minority areas” to track drivers.

New York Times

Kevin Roose of The New York Times writes about “Whiplash,” a new book co-written by Joi Ito, director of the Media Lab, which examines the next generation of technology. Roose explains that the book “puts forth broad theories of technological change, accompanied by examples from their work at the Media Lab.”

The Wall Street Journal

A Wall Street Journal article by James Rice Jr. of MIT’s Center for Transportation and Logistics examines the problem of “phantom inventory,” an issue for many retailers unaware of how low on-shelf availability is for many products. Rice and his co-authors suggest that “paying special attention to retail operations and employing modern data analytics” can help resolve the issue. 

Forbes

Forbes reporter Christina Wallace speaks with MIT alumna Kathleen Stetson about Trill, the app she developed to provide arts recommendations, and why she felt having an MBA would help further her career promoting the arts. Stetson notes that “At MIT, I not only found massive support and encouragement for Trill, but I also co-founded Hacking Arts." 

United Press International (UPI)

MIT researchers have developed a new technique to improve atom interferometers, which are used to measure gravity, reports Brooks Hays for UPI. The researchers “found a way to improve the precision of atom interferometers by augmenting the condensates.”