Making the CutLincoln Laboratory spinout is commercializing the first direct-diode laser bright enough to cut and weld metal
Wed, 08/06/2014 - 16:06
Diode lasers—used in laser pointers, barcode scanners, DVD players, and other low-power applications—are perhaps the most efficient, compact, and low-cost lasers available. Attempts have been made over the years to amplify the brightness of these… Mathematical PatchworkAlice Guionnet, an authority on random matrix theory, aims to make sense of huge data sets
Tue, 07/15/2014 - 09:54
From the increasing information transmitted through telecommunications systems to that analyzed by financial institutions or gathered by search engines and social networks, so-called “big data” is becoming a huge feature of modern life.
But to… A New Approach to NegotiationsFinding the advantages in a win-win situation
Thu, 07/03/2014 - 12:31
Classically, negotiations are thought to be about playing one’s hand well at the bargaining table: The right combination of resolve, nerve, and polish can get you what you want.
But a new book from an MIT professor brings a different message: It’s… Solving the World’s Plastic ProblemA continuous, zero-toxic-emission system converts nonrecycled plastics into crude oil
Tue, 07/01/2014 - 14:05
Plastic is becoming a major problem worldwide: In 2012, the United States alone produced roughly 32 million tons of plastic waste, while recycling only about 9 percent of its plastic, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
This is… Smart Components That Assemble ThemselvesSelf-assembly may solve some of the world’s biggest challenges
Wed, 04/30/2014 - 16:49
Designer and architect Skylar Tibbits was constructing a massive museum installation with thousands of pieces when he had an epiphany. “Imagine yourself facing months on end assembling this thing, thinking there’s got to be a better way,” he says… Tiny Particles Could Help Verify GoodsChemical engineers hope smartphone-readable microparticles could crack down on counterfeiting
Mon, 04/28/2014 - 11:02
According to a 2013 United Nations report 2 to 5 percent of all international trade involves counterfeit goods. These illicit products—which include electronics, automotive and aircraft parts, pharmaceuticals, and food—can pose safety risks and… Robot 101: Learning to Work With HumansA new generation of robots will collaborate with workers across industries
Thu, 04/24/2014 - 11:28
With the advent of “inherently safe” robots, industrial designers are changing their ideas about the factory of the future. Robots such as ABB's Frida and the Baxter robot from MIT spinoff Rethink Robotics are working “elbow to elbow with people,”… When the Job Search Becomes a Blame GameWhite-collar job hunters suffer unnecessarily when they can’t find work
Tue, 02/11/2014 - 09:44
Searching for a job is tough, and the hiring process in the United States makes matters far tougher and more emotionally fraught than it needs to be. That is the central assertion of MIT’s Ofer Sharone in a new book based on his in-depth study of U… Weighing Particles at the Attogram ScaleNew device measures masses as small as one millionth of a trillionth of a gram
Wed, 01/15/2014 - 09:35
MIT engineers have devised a way to measure the mass of particles with a resolution better than an attogram—one millionth of a trillionth of a gram. Weighing these tiny particles, including both synthetic nanoparticles and biological components of… New Algorithm Streamlines Solutions to the ‘Max Flow’ ProblemResearch could boost the efficiency even of huge networks like the Internet
Fri, 01/10/2014 - 15:57
Finding the most efficient way to transport items across a network like the U.S. highway system or the Internet is a problem that has taxed mathematicians and computer scientists for decades.
To tackle the problem, researchers have traditionally…
