Wall Street Journal reporter Robert Lee Hotz writes that scientists have detected colliding neutron stars and found that the smashups are the source of gold and other heavy elements found throughout the universe. “The neutrons can condense down into the heavy elements—gold, platinum and others—that make pretty jewelry so pretty,” explains MIT’s David Shoemaker.
MIT’s David Shoemaker, spokesperson for the LIGO Scientific Collaboration, speaks with NPR’s Nell Greenfieldboyce about the first detection of colliding neutron stars. Shoemaker recalls the excitement of the discovery, “as we tried to figure out how we could most quickly get the news out to observers to try and make the most of this event."
Researchers from the LIGO, Virgo and 70 additional observatories around the world have detected gravitational waves and light from the collision of two neutron stars, reports Dennis Overbye for The New York Times. MIT’s David Shoemaker, the spokesperson for the LIGO Scientific Collaboration, described the event as, “joy for all.”
Using video to processes shadows, MIT researchers have developed an algorithm that can see around corners, writes Alyssa Meyers for The Boston Globe. “When you first think about this, you might think it’s crazy or impossible, but we’ve shown that it’s not if you can understand the physics of how light propagates,” says lead author and MIT graduate Katie Bouman.
CSAIL researchers have developed a system that detects objects and people hidden around blind corners, writes Anthony Cuthbertson for Newsweek. “We show that walls and other obstructions with edges can be exploited as naturally occurring ‘cameras’ that reveal the hidden scenes beyond them,” says lead author and MIT graduate Katherine Bouman.
MIT researchers have developed a new system that can spot moving objects hidden from view by corners, reports Douglas Heaven for New Scientist. “A lot of our work involves finding hidden signals you wouldn’t think would be there,” explains lead author and MIT graduate Katie Bouman.
Wired reporter Matt Simon writes that MIT researchers have developed a new system that analyzes the light at the edges of walls to see around corners. Simon notes that the technology could be used to improve self-driving cars, autonomous wheelchairs, health care robots and more.
In an article published by U.S. News & World Report, Robert Preidt writes that MIT researchers have identified a mechanism that helps the flu viruses evolve rapidly. “Blocking flu viruses from using the host cells' chaperones could help prevent the viruses from developing resistance to existing drugs and vaccines,” says Preidt.
WBUR’s Bruce Gellerman profiles Nobel laureate Prof. Emeritus Rainer Weiss, noting that his “stories of accomplishments and failure are legendary at MIT.” Prof. Peter Fisher, head of the Physics Department, says that Weiss, "is a tremendously intelligent man, but he’s got more perseverance, I think, than anyone else.”
Boston Globe reporter Eric Moskowitz spotlights the work of Prof. Emeritus Rainer Weiss, who was named one of the recipients of the 2017 Nobel Prize in Physics for the “decades of determination” he invested in detecting gravitational waves. Moskowitz writes that Weiss is still, “as energized as ever by the thrill of scientific discovery.”
Prof. David Kaiser writes for The New York Times that the LIGO Scientific Collaboration’s successful detections of gravitational waves, for which Prof. Rainer Weiss was awarded a Nobel Prize, underscores the importance of basic scientific research. “By building machines of exquisite sensitivity and training cadres of smart, dedicated young scientists and engineers, we can test our fundamental understanding of nature to unprecedented accuracy.”
Forbes reporter Ethan Siegel writes about how Prof. Emeritus Rainer Weiss and two of his colleagues were awarded a Nobel Prize in Physics for their work detecting gravitational waves, “the culmination of theoretical and experimental work dating all the way back to Einstein.” Siegel adds that the detection of gravitational waves, “has transformed our idea of what's possible in astronomy.”
CBS Boston reports on Prof. Emeritus Rainer Weiss winning the Nobel Prize in Physics for his work detecting gravitational waves. “It’s quite awe-inspiring to think that somehow the three of us got mixed up with a prize that was won by the giants of this science,” said Weiss of his emotions upon winning the award. “It’s amazing.”
Guardian reporter Hannah Devlin writes that this year’s Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded to Prof. Emeritus Rainer Weiss. Weiss said the successful detection of gravitational waves was the culmination of “40 years of people thinking about this, trying to make detections, sometimes failing … and then slowly but surely getting the technology together to be able do it.”
Prof. Emeritus Rainer Weiss has won the 2017 Nobel Prize in Physics for his work developing a device that detects gravitational waves, reports the AP. Weiss said that he views the prize as recognition for the entire LIGO team, and “more as a thing that recognizes the work of a thousand people."