Many view the waterfront as a city boundary, but MIT researchers envision it as a site for dynamic construction. Their “FloatForm” system consists of small, square robotic boats that autonomously assemble into larger structures on water, disassemble, and reconfigure with minimal human input. Each robot, measuring 21 centimeters square, operates independently with thrusters, sensors, and…
Scientists at MIT Lincoln Laboratory have developed a throwable sensor, about the size of a baseball, that can detect hazardous vapors and aerosols from a distance. This device, named the Tactical Optical Spherical Sensor for Interrogating Threats (TOSSIT), is intended to warn military personnel, first responders, and police about chemical dangers such as nerve and…
Birds such as loons, gulls, puffins, and petrels are among 100 species capable of both flying and swimming. These diving birds can submerge to chase prey and then take off into the air. Inspired by these creatures, engineers from MIT and EPFL in Lausanne, Switzerland, have developed a robot that can mimic this behavior, moving…
Rubies, often imagined as sparkling treasures in tales like “The Wizard of Oz” and pirate lore, serve a deeper purpose beyond mere decoration. They provide scientists with insights into the natural world. The Earth and Planetary Sciences Gallery at Harvard’s Museum of Natural History is showcasing a variety of rubies from polished to raw states….
Photos captured by Paul Firth during his canoe journey on the Yukon River. Paul Firth, an associate professor at Harvard Medical School, embarked on a 460-mile solo canoe trip through the Yukon wilderness, encountering a bear along the way that left a lasting impression. Firth, who had time off when plans fell through, chose this…
Large events, such as an 18-inning World Series game or an election night, often cause sleep loss for many people. Harvard researchers have noted that while the effects of sleep deprivation on individuals are well-documented, the impact on communities remains less understood. A new paper from Harvard sleep experts suggests that “public sleep,” or the…
A recent study has revealed that players in the National Football League are four times more likely to die from neurodegenerative diseases than the general population. The investigation, involving nearly 20,000 NFL players, found that while these athletes tend to live longer overall, their risk of dying from brain diseases is significantly higher. This research,…
Some individuals benefit from discussing their problems, but MIT neuroscientists assert that language is not essential for logical reasoning. Research led by MIT’s Evelina Fedorenko, published in PNAS, indicates that people can excel in tasks needing logical thinking even with significant language impairments. Brain imaging reveals that the brain’s language areas are not involved in…
I recently took part in Said Saddouk’s Virtual Facilitation Masterclass, which offers valuable skills for online teaching and event facilitation. I highly recommend this course to anyone in such roles. One key lesson I learned was using OBS Studio, a free and open-source tool. I created various ‘scenes’ for different purposes, like demonstrating technical tasks…
