Upon the introduction of ChatGPT, many educators were initially alarmed. They questioned the future of higher education and philosophy, which rely on thoughtful reflection and carefully composed writing. However, over the last two years, I have come to a different perspective: the real issue is not AI’s ability to outperform students in writing, but how…
Climbing Mount Everest is becoming safer, according to a recent study, although the mountain remains perilous with nearly one in 100 climbers not returning. Paul Firth, a seasoned climber and associate professor at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, spearheaded the research to enhance the safety of climbers by studying high-altitude fatalities since George…
Deborah Willis, a photographer, curator, and historian, has been on a journey to uncover the history of Black photographers since her college days. While studying at the Philadelphia College of Art, she noticed the absence of Black photographers in history books and the limited representation of Black individuals, who were often depicted only in contexts…
The Fisk Jubilee Singers and Harvard Glee Club recently collaborated for the first time in their long histories, performing together in Nashville. Both choirs are among the most renowned collegiate groups in the United States, with Harvard’s Glee Club established in 1858 and the Fisk Jubilee Singers in 1871. The Harvard Glee Club, known as…
Daniela Solis, captured by Veasey Conway, Harvard Staff Photographer, finds herself unable to stop painting, despite her aspirations of becoming president. Liz Mineo, a Harvard Staff Writer, reports that Solis, inspired by the pioneering female politicians from Costa Rica, arrived at Harvard dreaming of a political career. “Since childhood, I wanted to be president,” Solis…
Under a microscope, tiny lollipop-shaped structures, smaller than grains of sand, gently float in a liquid-filled petri dish. Suddenly, these structures snap together like a Venus flytrap when a scientist moves a small magnet above the dish. These previously passive forms have been transformed into an active robotic gripper. This gripper demonstration showcases a new…
Blood molecular activity may provide insights into a person’s fitness levels and the biological processes that enhance physical performance. A collaboration between MIT, GE HealthCare, and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point has led to a computational model connecting numerous molecular signals with fitness indicators. This model could guide future research to enhance fitness…
A study by MIT researchers suggests that using robotically assembled building blocks could offer a more sustainable and efficient method for constructing large structures compared to some current techniques. The team evaluated the feasibility of building with “voxels,” modular 3D units that form complex, strong structures. They developed three new voxel designs, a robotic assembler,…
Illustrations by Liz Zonarich accompany a health guide on gut wellness. Sy Boles from Harvard reports that about 40% of Americans experience bowel movement issues that affect their daily life, as noted by Trisha Pasricha, an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School. Pasricha, a gastroenterologist and contributor to The Washington Post’s “Ask a Doctor” column,…
During a discussion at Harvard’s Mahindra Humanities Center, Catherine Lacey shared how fiction serves as a means to explore personal truths. She explained, “When I try to decide what to reveal or hide, it fails,” emphasizing that personal elements inevitably surface in her writing, or the story won’t come together. Lacey’s debut novel, “Nobody Is…
