Prof. Edward Boyden speaks with STAT about winning the Breakthrough Prize and his research at MIT. Boyden explains that the technique he developed to examine brain samples is being applied to “bacteria, cancer, biopsies, virology questions. There’s a huge pent-up demand for ways of seeing large objects with nanoscale precision.”
In an article for The Huffington Post, research scientist Matthew Carroll shares his experience working on the Boston Globe team that uncovered decades of sexual abuse by Catholic priests, as recounted in the film Spotlight. “Our original stories in 2002 were a catalyst for helping many survivors get the help they needed,” says Carroll.
In an interview with Eduardo Porter of The New York Times, Prof. Christopher Knittel speaks about whether a carbon tax could be effective in the U.S. According to Porter, Knittel explains that “a properly calibrated carbon price in the United States could effectively replace all the climate-related regulations businesses hate so much.”
MIT researchers have found that Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are the leading online influencers of the 2016 presidential election, reports Natalie Andrew for The Wall Street Journal. Research scientist William Powers explained that the findings show, “how influential social media and earned media is in the election.”
In this Science Nation video, Miles O’Brien explores Prof. Polina Anikeeva’s work developing a tool to repair nerve damage. “It would be wonderful if we were able to regenerate the spinal cord and restore the movement or if we were able to bypass the spinal cord with a device that mimics its function,” explains Anikeeva.
Ambika Behal writes for Forbes about MIT startup Authess, which is dedicated to changing educational assessments. Based off Prof. Chris Kaiser’s experiences in the classroom and with edX, Authess is focused on developing a more authentic learning experience for students.
Boston Globe reporter Mark Feeney writes about the MIT Museum’s new show, “Imagining New Technology: Building MIT in Cambridge,” which honors the 100th anniversary of the Institute’s move to Cambridge. Feeney writes that the items on display “make up a very MIT blend of the majestic, even magnificent…with the cheerfully goofy.”
In an article for CBS News about carbon capture, Jonathan Berr speaks with Senior Research Engineer Howard Herzog about why the technology has not been more widely implemented. "It comes down to financing," says Herzog. "The markets are just not developing."
MIT researchers have developed an algorithm capable of predicting the onset of rogue waves, writes Jason Thomson for The Christian Science Monitor. The algorithm, “hunts through data collected about surrounding waves, sifting for signs of clusters that could coalesce and crest into one of these behemoths.”
Wesley Clark, who was known for his work at MIT’s Lincoln Lab on the design of the first modern personal computer, died on February 22nd, reports John Markoff for The New York Times. “Mr. Clark’s computer designs built a bridge from the era of mainframe systems…to personal computers that respond interactively to a user.”
Writing for Forbes, Keith Flamer explores Prof. Carlo Ratti’s design for the world’s highest vertical park. “Imagine you take New York’s Central Park, turn it vertical, roll it and twirl it,” says Ratti of his design.
MIT researchers have developed the lightest and thinnest solar cells ever produced, reports Lindsey Kratochwill for Popular Science. “Instead of the usual method of fabricating each layer separately, and then depositing the layers onto the substrate, the MIT researchers made all three parts of their solar cell at the same time."
The Tangible Media Group created HydroMorph to examine water manipulation on smooth surfaces, writes Liz Stinson for Wired. The researchers say they “envision a world filled with living water that conveys information, supports daily life, and captivates us.”
MIT researchers have developed an algorithm that can predict rogue waves, reports Matt Burgess for Wired. Burgess explains that the algorithm uses “statistical data, collected from buoys in the ocean, to quantify the range of possible waves for any body of water.”
Popular Science reporter Mary Beth Griggs writes that MIT researchers have developed a new tool that could provide advanced warning of rogue waves. The tool should allow crews “to detect rogue wave minutes before they form, giving them enough time to adjust course, or at least hang on.”