Computer science and technology

$Researchers trained a hybrid AI model to answer questions like “Does the red object left of the green cube have the same shape as the purple matte thing?” by feeding it examples of object colors and shapes followed by more complex scenarios involving multi-object comparisons. The model could transfer this knowledge to new scenarios as well as or better than state-of-the-art models using a frac...$

Teaching machines to reason about what they see

Researchers combine statistical and symbolic artificial intelligence techniques to speed learning and improve transparency.

April 2, 2019

“I thought nuclear made the most sense, since it produced energy and cleaned up the atmosphere, so I decided I should contribute to the field somehow,” Miriam Kreher recalls.

Fine-tuning multiphysics problems

Nuclear science and engineering graduate student Miriam Kreher codes to create better models for complex interactions within nuclear reactors.

March 25, 2019

A new model developed by MIT researchers creates richer, more easily computable representations of how individual amino acids determine a protein’s function, which could be used for designing and testing new proteins.

Model learns how individual amino acids determine protein function

Technique could improve machine-learning tasks in protein design, drug testing, and other applications.

March 22, 2019

Apptimize helps companies create seamless digital experiences

After a personal loss led to a new perspective, Nancy Hua ’07 left a career in finance to start the company.

March 21, 2019

MIT researchers have developed an efficient algorithm that could provide a “push-button” solution for automatically designing fast-running neural networks on specific hardware.

Kicking neural network design automation into high gear

Algorithm designs optimized machine-learning models up to 200 times faster than traditional methods.

March 21, 2019

Researchers have developed computationally simple robots, called particles, that cluster and form a single “particle robot” that moves around, transports objects, and completes other tasks. The work hails from MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL), Columbia University, and elsewhere.

“Particle robot” works as a cluster of simple units

Loosely connected disc-shaped “particles” can push and pull one another, moving en masse to transport objects.

March 20, 2019

Picower Professor Li-Huei Tsai (standing), co-director of the Alana Down Syndrome Center, reviews data in the lab with Senior Alana Fellow Hiruy Meharena.

Alana gift to MIT launches Down syndrome research center, technology program for disabilities

Foundation’s $28.6 million gift will fund science, innovation, and education to advance understanding, ability, and inclusion.

March 20, 2019

Using machine learning for medical solutions

Master’s student and Marshall Scholar Kyle Swanson uses computer science to help make drug development more efficient.

March 19, 2019

“One.MIT,” a new art installation at MIT.nano, displays a 6-inch silicon wafer depicting an image of MIT’s Great Dome. The image was formed by etching the names of the more than 270,000 people associated with the Institute from 1861 to spring 2018.

“One.MIT” creates a monument — at the smallest scale

MIT.nano etches more than 270,000 names from the MIT community on a 6-inch wafer.

March 18, 2019

MIT Professor Tim Berners-Lee is being honored for work on a new startup, inrupt, aimed at "re-decentralizing the web."

Tim Berners-Lee named FT “Boldness in Business” Person of the Year

CSAIL researcher and web inventor recognized for his startup inrupt, which aims to give users more control over their data.

March 18, 2019

For the second year, the Independent Activities Period course was coordinated by Alexander Amini ‘17 and Ava Soleimany ’16.

Exercises in amazement: Discovering deep learning

A popular student-coordinated class draws a capacity crowd from across the MIT campus and beyond.

March 15, 2019

Each January, the Microsystems Annual Research Conference (MARC) brings together MIT faculty and students with industry partners to highlight cutting-edge research in research in microsystems, nanotechnology, and more. MARC is led and organized by a student committee (pictured here), with support from the staff of the Microsystems Technology Laboratories.

MARC 2019 shines a light on research in microsystems, nanotechnology, and more

Annual student-led conference connects MIT researchers and industry partners.

March 8, 2019

The image on the right shows a graphene sheet coated with wax during the substrate-transfer step. This method drastically reduced wrinkles on the graphene’s surface compared to a traditional polymer coating (left).

Smoothing out the wrinkles in graphene

Coating graphene with wax makes for a less contaminated surface during device manufacturing.

March 6, 2019

Mark Silis named vice president for information systems and technology

Formerly associate vice president, Silis has been a member of MIT Information Systems and Technology for 15 years.

March 5, 2019

MIT A.M. Turing Award winners discuss MIT's new College of Computing: (l-r) Sir Tim Berners-Lee, Shafi Goldwasser, Butler Lampson, Barbara Liskov, Ronald Rivest, Michael Stonebraker, and Daniela Rus.

Computing the future

Fireside chat brings together six Turing Award winners to reflect on their field and the MIT Stephen A. Schwarzman College of Computing.