In an excerpt from Prof. David Mindell’s new book published on Slate, Mindell argues that humans have a presence on Mars thanks to rovers that are exploring the planet and are controlled by human operators on Earth. “The rovers are more like programmable, mobile laboratories than scientists, physical more than cognitive surrogates,” writes Mindell.
Professor Kerry Emanuel speaks with Associated Press reporter Seth Borenstein about how Hurricane Patricia strengthened so rapidly. "I was really astounded," says Emanuel. "It was over the juiciest part of the eastern Pacific."
Scientific American reporter Michael Lombardi writes about a new robotic hand developed by MIT researchers that allows the user to sense what the robotic hand feels. The goal of the hand is to allow “people to work in extreme locations, including chemical, thermal or nuclear environments.”
In an article for Science, Rhitu Chatterjee writes about Project Prakash, an effort started by Prof. Pawan Sinha to help children with preventable or treatable blindness see. Chatterjee writes that the project has brought hundreds of young people, “into the light—while putting the field of visual neuroscience in a new light as well.”
A team of students from Norwood High School is among the recipients of the Lemelson-MIT InvenTeam awards for their design of a retractable awning to remove snow from roofs, writes Jean Lang for The Boston Globe. “It’s a great application of science, engineering, and technology,” says teacher Michael Crowley.
MIT researchers have developed a new method of delivering drugs to the gastrointestinal tract via ultrasound waves, reports Alexandra Ossola of Popular Science. The new drug-delivery method could prove effective in treating diseases like Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis.
MIT researchers have developed a self-sustaining water-purification system for a remote Mexican village, according to The Guardian. “The villagers are able to operate and maintain the water purification system themselves,” The Guardian reports.
In an article for the New York Times, Claire Cain Miller highlights Prof. David Autor’s research that indicates that disadvantages early in life cause more issues for boys than girls. “Boys particularly seem to benefit more from being in a married household or committed household,” says Autor.
Robert Preidt writes for U.S. News & World Report that MIT researchers have found that ultrasound waves can be used to deliver drugs to the digestive system. Preidt explains that the new approach, “might potentially benefit people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.”
MIT researchers have developed an ultrasound device that can deliver medication to the digestive system, reports Leah Samuel for The Boston Globe. The researchers “found that using ultrasound enhanced absorption of the drugs they tested up to tenfold,” writes Samuel.
In an article for The New York Times, Eduardo Porter highlights Prof. Abhijit Banerjee’s new study that found that cash transfer programs aimed at assisting people living in poverty do not discourage people from working. Prof. Banerjee explains that when it comes to welfare, “Ideology is much more pervasive than the facts.”
In honor of “Back to the Future II,” in which Marty McFly travels 30 years into the future, BBC reporter Jane O’Brien speaks with Media Lab Director Joi Ito about how technology might advance over the next 30 years. Ito says that his “dream invention is machine learning artificial intelligence that connects directly to my brain in some non-invasive way.”
MIT researchers are using Legos to map out how changes in bus-rapid transit systems could affect transportation in Boston, writes Nina Godlewski for Boston.com. “Our ultimate objective is this idea of co-creation...We would like that to happen in how we produce 21st century transit systems,” explains Prof. Chris Zegras.
Forbes reporter Jennifer Hicks writes about MIT spinoff EyeNetra, which is developing a self-diagnostic eye test could lead to customized, virtual-reality screens. “EyeNetra’s technology measures how a user’s optical refractive errors will affect how they see patterns on a digital display, just like a VR headset,” Hicks explains.
In a new study, MIT researchers have examined how credit card companies target their outreach based off consumers’ income levels, reports Jeff Guo for The Washington Post. The researchers found that, “Richer people were more likely to get cash-back, point-reward or mileage offers. Poor people were more likely to get offers that advertise a low introductory APR.”