Nov 12, 2024
The process of computational design in mechanical engineering often begins with a problem or a goal, followed by an assessment of literature, resources, and systems available to address the issue. The Design Computation and Digital Engineering (DeCoDE) Lab at MIT...
Nov 7, 2024
By studying changes in gene expression, researchers learn how cells function at a molecular level, which could help them understand the development of certain diseases. But a human has about 20,000 genes that can affect each other in complex ways, so even knowing...
Nov 6, 2024
When Nikola Tesla predicted we’d have handheld phones that could display videos, photographs, and more, his musings seemed like a distant dream. Nearly 100 years later, smartphones are like an extra appendage for many of us. Digital fabrication engineers are now...
Nov 5, 2024
Large language models can do impressive things, like write poetry or generate viable computer programs, even though these models are trained to predict words that come next in a piece of text. Such surprising capabilities can make it seem like the models are...
Nov 5, 2024
Artist and designer Es Devlin is the recipient of the 2025 Eugene McDermott Award in the Arts at MIT. The $100,000 prize, to be awarded at a gala in her honor, also includes an artist residency at MIT in spring 2025, during which Es Devlin will present her work in a...
Nov 5, 2024
At the turn of the 20th century, W.E.B. Du Bois wrote about the conditions and culture of Black people in Philadelphia, documenting also the racist attitudes and beliefs that pervaded the white society around them. He described how unequal outcomes in domains like...
Nov 4, 2024
Silicon transistors, which are used to amplify and switch signals, are a critical component in most electronic devices, from smartphones to automobiles. But silicon semiconductor technology is held back by a fundamental physical limit that prevents transistors from...
Oct 30, 2024
The MIT Stephen A. Schwarzman College of Computing has announced the launch of a new program to support postdocs conducting research at the intersection of artificial intelligence and particular disciplines. The Tayebati Postdoctoral Fellowship Program will focus on...
Oct 28, 2024
In the classic cartoon “The Jetsons,” Rosie the robotic maid seamlessly switches from vacuuming the house to cooking dinner to taking out the trash. But in real life, training a general-purpose robot remains a major challenge. Typically, engineers collect data that...
Oct 24, 2024
Art has always been a profound expression of human consciousness—a way to explore the unseen, convey emotions, and push the boundaries of perception. The Learncast “Art & Consciousness” delves into the fascinating intersection of creativity, science, and the human...
