Writing for The Boston Globe, Nancy Shohet West highlights Prof. Erik Demaine and Martin Demaine’s paper sculptures, which are on display at the Concord Center for the Visual Arts. “We started getting interested a number of years ago in curve creases and what was possible mathematically,” explains Prof. Demaine. “We started making models and then turned those into sculpture.”
Scientific American reporter David Biello writes about the growth of clean energy technologies, highlighting a new MIT report that finds that commitments from the U.S., Europe and China to cut greenhouse gas emissions could drive cost reductions in wine and solar technologies.
Boston.com reporter Nina Godlewski writes that a time capsule from 1957 has been discovered at MIT. The capsule was a “specially designed glass cylinder and contained argon gas to preserve the contents. A little bit of carbon-14 was also added so scientists could date the capsule.”
Bloomberg Business reporter Chris Martin writes about MIT startup Cambrian Innovation, which is using microbes to transform wastewater into clean water and energy. Martin explains that the system developed by Cambrian “uses bio-engineered microbes that consume much of the contaminants in wastewater and belch out methane.”
Emily Reynolds reports for Wired that NASA has awarded an R5 “Valkyrie” humanoid robot to a team led by Prof. Russ Tedrake. Reynolds explains that the team “will develop algorithms to make the robot more dexterous” so that they could potentially take the place of humans during extreme space missions.
A team led by Prof. Russ Tedrake has been awarded one of NASA’s R5 “Valkyrie” robots to develop software that could allow humanoid machines to assist astronauts in space, reports Rachel Feltman for The Washington Post. Feltman writes that Tedrake’s team was awarded the robot based on its strong performance in the DARPA Robotics Challenge.
NASA has awarded two humanoid robots to research groups at MIT and Northeastern, reports Brian Mastroianni for CBS News. The robots “are seen as potential tools to aid astronauts in future Mars expeditions,” writes Mastroianni. “They could potentially assist or even replace humans in extreme environments.”
Alexandra Ossola of Popular Science reports on an ingestible sensor that allows doctors to monitor vital signs by listening to the body’s gastrointestinal tract. The device could help treat “chronic illnesses, monitor soldiers in battle, or even help athletes train more effectively,” writes Ossola.
MIT researchers have developed an ingestible sensor that can monitor vital signs, reports Rae Ellen Bichell for NPR. "Trauma patients are a really clear winner here, because we can do vital sign monitoring without touching the skin," says Albert Swiston of Lincoln Laboratory.
A glass time capsule from 1957 has been unearthed during excavation for MIT.nano, reports Steve Annear for The Boston Globe. Deborah Douglas, director of collections for the MIT Museum, says that the capsule is “a wonderful gesture, executed MIT-style.”
Popular Science reporter Mary Beth Griggs writes about the discovery of a time capsule from 1957 during excavation for MIT.nano. Griggs writes that the capsule had “been in the ground for 58 years, but it was supposed to be in place for much longer.”
Katie Peek revisits an article from the March 1949 edition of Popular Science about a solar-powered house developed by MIT researchers. The house was designed to channel the “sun’s warmth to the sodium-sulfate tanks, which meted out heat on cold or overcast days.”
Olga Khvan reports for Boston Magazine that a team from MIT has been awarded a humanoid robot for research and development. “The R5—nicknamed Valkyrie—is a humanoid robot designed to assist during human missions to Mars by completing disaster-relief maneuvers,” writes Khvan.
Prof. John Gabrieli speaks with WGBH’s Arun Rath about the effectiveness of standardized testing in the U.S. Gabrieli explains that researchers have, “consistently found academic achievement tests of the kind given by states in the United States correlate considerably with other independent measures of cognitive ability.”
A team led by Prof. Russ Tedrake has been awarded a humanoid robot from NASA to develop software for future space missions, reports Hiawatha Bray for BetaBoston. NASA is “interested in modifications that would let the machines assist human astronauts during long-duration space missions,” writes Bray.