Prof. Ioannis Yannas was inducted into the National Inventor’s Hall of Fame for his work with Dr. John Burke on regenerating human skin as a treatment for burn victims, writes Robby Berman for Slate. In a video accompanying the story, Yannas explains that his work was focused on “speeding up the rate of closing up these wounds.”
The Economist highlights an MIT study that shows Massachusetts is outperforming Silicon Valley in creating life sciences startups, and credits MIT for its role in driving innovation in Kendall Square. “The Boston metropolitan area...seems to be holding its own as the world’s pre-eminent biotech hub.”
In an article for Boston Magazine about Massachusetts being named the most innovative state in the country, Garrett Quinn highlights MIT’s role in the state’s success. Quinn writes that Nariman Behravesh, chief economist at IHS Inc., credited MIT as being “one of the main drivers of innovation in Massachusetts.”
A number of MIT students, researchers and alumni have been named to Forbes’ annual “30 Under 30” list, which honors rising stars in 20 different sectors.
MIT solar, wind, energy storage, and nuclear innovations are among the eight technology breakthroughs of 2015 recognized by National Geographic editor Wendy Koch. Discussing MIT’s approach to addressing climate change, MIT Energy Initiative Director Robert Armstrong says, “We’re problem solvers here, so there’s nothing like a great challenge.”
Scott Eisen of the Associated Press explores a new motion-tracking device developed by MIT researchers that can detect movement using wireless signals. "It's a sensor that can monitor people and allow you to control devices just by pointing at them," explains graduate student Fadel Adib.
In an article for Boston Magazine, Lauren Landry writes about MIT startup TVision, which has developed a secure, anonymous device to track how viewers watch programming. “Television and the way we consume video content is shifting,” explains co-founder Dan Schiffman. “And the way we measure that is shifting.”
Prof. Carlo Ratti writes about the proliferation of startup hubs around the world in this piece for Project Syndicate. “Before long, the digital world and the physical world will be indistinguishable,” writes Ratti. “The era of ‘Silicon Everywhere’ is upon us – and it is taking shape in the world’s cities.”
Boston Herald reporter Jessica Van Sack writes that Grove, an MIT startup dedicated to enabling people to grow their own produce, will award five of its indoor garden/fish tank systems to local schools. “When you have a full ecological system, it becomes more than just planting seeds and watching them grow,” explains co-founder Gabe Blanchet.
Lauren Landry writes for Boston Magazine about MIT startup Lumii, which is developing glasses-free 3-D technology. Our vision is that, one day, you will take out your phone and you’ll see a 3-D, interactive hologram popping out of it,” says co-founder Tom Baran. “You won’t need to wear those goofy glasses.”
A new study from MIT’s Industrial Performance Center finds that while Massachusetts is successfully launching and growing new startups, the state has a shortage of “super-scale” companies, reports Hiawatha Bray for BetaBoston. Bray explains that the report “calls for public- and private-sector efforts to foster the development of bigger businesses in the Bay State.”
A new report details the entrepreneurial impact of MIT’s alumni entrepreneurs, reports Hiawatha Bray for BetaBoston. “We’re seeing a more rapid rate of growth than we have ever seen before,” explains Prof. Edward Roberts, in the “growth in the formation and startup of new companies by MIT alumni.”
In this video, CBS Boston’s Bree Sison reports on MIT startup Affectiva, which is developing technology that can identify human emotions and could help with mental health. Rana el Kaliouby, Affectiva CSO and co-founder, explains that the technology could “tell you something is off, or flag it to a friend or doctor. Or maybe it could customize a digit experience to help you.”
In an article for U.S. News & World Report about innovations for seniors, Teresa Mears reports that MIT researchers are developing a shirt that can sense a heart attack and administer CPR. While “such a shirt is [probably] 15 years away, shirts with sensors are already on the market, used primarily by athletes,” writes Mears.
In this video, CBS News correspondent Don Dahler speaks with Prof. Dina Katabi about her group’s work developing wireless technology that can track a person’s motion through walls. Katabi and her colleagues demonstrated how the system also detects a person’s elevation and could be used to help protect seniors at risk of falling.