Rob Matheson

Writer, editor, and web producer

Rob Matheson is a writer, editor, and web producer at MIT News, as well as a contributing writer at MIT Technology Review of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Mon, 02/05/2018 - 12:01
More Efficient Computing With Magnetic WavesPeople are beginning to look for computing beyond silicon, and wave computing is a promising alternative
Thu, 01/23/2020 - 12:02
MIT researchers have devised a novel circuit design that enables precise control of computing with magnetic waves—with no electricity needed. The advance takes a step toward practical magnetic-based devices, which have the potential to compute far…
Drag-and-Drop Data Analytics Get a New ToolSystem lets nonspecialists use machine-learning models to make predictions for medical research, sales, and more
Thu, 07/25/2019 - 12:02
In the Iron Man movies, Tony Stark uses a holographic computer to project 3D data into thin air, manipulate them with his hands, and find fixes to his superhero troubles. In the same vein, researchers from MIT and Brown University have now developed…
Democratizing Data ScienceTool for nonstatisticians automatically generates models that glean insights from complex data sets
Wed, 02/13/2019 - 12:00
Democratizing data science is the notion that anyone, with little to no expertise, can do data science if provided ample data and user-friendly analytics tools. MIT researchers are hoping to support that idea with a new tool for nonstatisticians…
Converting Wi-Fi Signals to Electricity With New 2-D Materials‘What if we could develop electronic systems that we wrap around a bridge or cover the walls of our office?’
Wed, 01/30/2019 - 12:00
Imagine a world where smartphones, laptops, wearables, and other electronics are powered without batteries. Researchers from MIT and elsewhere have taken a step in that direction, with the first fully flexible device that can convert energy from wi-…
More Efficient Security for Cloud-Based Machine Learning Combination of encryption techniques protects private data without slowing neural networks
Wed, 09/05/2018 - 12:01
A novel encryption method devised by MIT researchers secures data used in online neural networks, without dramatically slowing their runtimes. This approach holds promise for using cloud-based neural networks for medical-image analysis and other…
Novel Optics for Ultrafast Cameras Create New Possibilities for ImagingTechnique can capture a scene at multiple depths with one shutter click
Tue, 08/28/2018 - 12:03
MIT researchers have developed novel photography optics that capture images based on the timing of reflecting light inside the optics, instead of the traditional approach that relies on the arrangement of optical components. These new principles,…
Faster Analysis of Medical ImagesAlgorithm makes the process of comparing 3D scans up to 1,000 times faster
Mon, 07/16/2018 - 12:01
Medical image registration is a common technique that involves overlaying two images, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, to compare and analyze anatomical differences in great detail. If a patient has a brain tumor, for instance,…
3D-Printed, Driverless Boats Can Self-Assemble Into Other Floating StructuresAutonomous fleet could be used to taxi people, deliver goods, or as waste ferries
Thu, 06/07/2018 - 12:01
The future of transportation in waterway-rich cities such as Amsterdam, Bangkok, and Venice—where canals run alongside and under bustling streets and bridges—may include autonomous boats that ferry goods and people, helping clear up road congestion…
Device That Recycles Vaporized Water From Power Plants Wins MIT $100KAt annual entrepreneurship competition, eight teams pitched business ideas, and three took home cash prizes
Tue, 06/05/2018 - 12:00
The grand prize winner at this year’s MIT $100K Entrepreneurship Competition was an MIT spinout that’s developing a system that captures and recycles vaporized water from thermoelectric power plants. The recycled water can be constantly reused in…
Measuring the Economy With Location DataAnonymized smartphone GPS data help startup analyze how people shop, work, and live
Tue, 04/24/2018 - 12:01
Carrying your smartphone around everywhere has become a way of life. In doing so, you produce a surprising amount of data about your role in the economy—where you shop, work, travel, and generally hang out. Thasos Group, founded at MIT in 2011, has…