In the Media

In a piece for Wired, Olivia Solon writes about how Professor Daniela Rus’ research group has developed, “a system of 2D patterns cut into plastic that can self-fold under heat into 3D shapes.” 

Adam Waytz and Michael Norton write for The Wall Street Journal about their research that indicates that people prefer to interact with robots that can convey emotion. Waytz and Norton cite the MIT Media Lab’s Nexi as an example of a robot that effectively conveys feelings.

Kevin Colon of CNN reports that MIT undergraduate Matt Guthmiller will attempt to become the youngest person ever to fly solo around the world. "My real goal is to inspire other young people to attempt things of a similar magnitude,” Guthmiller explains.

TIME reporter Bijan Stephen writes about how researchers from MIT and NASA have been testing the effectiveness of using lasers to transmit information to and from the moon. 

MIT researchers have helped to produce an algorithm that applies professional photograph editing to self-portraits, writes Billy Steele for Engadget. The software uses existing works to make a match with the captured image, explains grad student YiChang Shih. 

Nitasha Tiku of The New York Times interviews Dr. Natalie Rusk of the MIT Media Lab about how to interest young girls in coding. Rusk was one of the developers of Scratch, an open-source programming platform for children.

Forbes reporter Jasper Hamill describes a new technique developed by Prof. Daniela Rus that allows robots to self-assemble when heated. “The components can be produced simply by heating up the plastic, which is cleverly designed so it folds itself into the right form,” writes Hamill. 

Irving Wladawsky-Berger writes for The Wall Street Journal about this year’s MIT Sloan CIO Symposium. This year’s symposium focused on the importance of cloud, data science, social and mobile technology that are transforming the economy and driving companies to digitize all aspects of their business, writes Wladawsky-Berger.

The Huffington Post reports on new MIT research examining how sperm cells travel and function. The team’s findings, which show how sperm travel upstream so efficiently, could lead to advances in artificial insemination. 

“Eventually she can see a world where people can use an algorithm to analyze an image, create blueprints and print out fully functional robots. This could be a big deal in manufacturing, health care and, yes, toys,” writes NBC News writer Keith Wagstaff of Professor Daniela Rus’ work with self-assembling robots. 

The BBC reports on a suit developed by the MIT AgeLab that simulates the aging process and the physical difficulties that come with age. The suit is designed to give young people a better idea of the challenges faced by the elderly.

“The prize for astrophysics goes to Alan Guth of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Andrei Linde of Stanford University, and Alexei Starobinsky of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow,” writes Malcolm Ritter for The Associated Press about this year’s Kavli recipients. 

Professor Alan Guth has been awarded the prestigious Kavli Prize in Astrophysics, reports Carolyn Johnson of The Boston Globe. Guth received the award for his work on the theory of cosmic inflation.

Anant Agarwal, an MIT electrical engineering and computer science professor who has served as CEO of edX since its establishment, sat down with The Crimson to recount the challenges of creating courses for an online learning environment, discuss how the non-profit can become self-sustaining, and speculate about what the future might hold for edX. EdX is a not-for-profit venture in online learning launched jointly by MIT and Harvard in May 2012.

Teo Kermeliotis and Jessica Ellis write about Sloan alumnus Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola, CEO of Wecyclers, a company aimed at solving waste management issues in Lagos, Nigeria. Wecyclers rewards households that participate in recycling with SMS points that can be redeemed for rewards.