Mechanical engineering

Avinatan Hassidim, a postdoc in the Research Laboratory of Electronics, writes out a system of four linear equations with four variables. The quantum algorithm that he, Seth Lloyd, and Aram Harrow devised can solve systems with a trillion equations and a trillion variables.

Quantum computing may actually be useful

A quantum algorithm that solves systems of linear equations could point in a promising new direction.

October 9, 2009

Stickybot has specially designed footpads, inspired by the surface of a gecko’s foot, that allow it to climb smooth surfaces. MIT Assistant Professor Sangbae Kim worked on the robot as a graduate student at Stanford.

From nature, robots

Mechanical engineer Sangbae Kim looks to animals to inspire his robot designs

September 25, 2009

An example of what happens when the plants are not harvested early enough - mature pods begin to regerminate and those nuts are no longer useable.

In the World: A better way to beat around the bush

International teams in Ghana tackle local needs of village farmers for better methods and devices to harvest their crops

September 25, 2009

Of Note: MIT professors win NIH grants aimed at spurring innovative research

September 24, 2009

This schematic drawing shows the sensor Manalis and colleagues built to weigh single cells. Cells flow through a channel (dark blue lines) that carries them to the end of a vibrating cantilever and back.

In Profile: Scott Manalis

His technology to weigh single cells led to an unexpected research focus: figuring out how cancerous cells escape normal growth controls.

September 23, 2009

Carol Livermore, associate professor of mechanical engineering, left, stands with graduate student Frances Hill in Livermore's lab.

Small springs could provide big power

Mechanical engineer Carol Livermore and colleagues find that carbon nanotubes, used as springs, have potential to compete with batteries for energy storage.

September 21, 2009

A close up of the 6dot Braille Labeler, a device created by MIT students to enable blind or visually impaired people to make labels for objects easily and inexpensively.

Braille made simple

MIT students develop device that could make labeling easier for the visually impaired. Product could be on the market next year.

September 21, 2009

Researchers at MIT have shown the benefits of a new approach toward eliminating carbon-dioxide emissions at coal-burning power plants.

Concentrating emissions

Ahmed Ghoniem of mechanical engineering leads an MIT effort to make coal plants cleaner by using a pressurized combustion system to capture carbon dioxide.

September 17, 2009