ENGINEERING IN ACTION
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An Unexpected Ambition Borne from MIT Experience
Senior Annamarie Bair was determined to become a medical doctor when she arrived at MIT from the Midwest nearly four years ago. She was fascinated by neuroscience but had yet to channel that passion toward what became her true focus: artificial intelligence and health care. -
Engineering Joy
MIT senior Isabel “Izzy” Lloyd will graduate this spring with not only a degree in mechanical engineering, but with the pleasure of knowing she accomplished a goal she set for herself as a freshman: to impact those around her in a truly positive way. -
Computation Counts
When James Quigley applied to MIT, he didn’t need an algorithm to tell him getting in wasn’t a high-probability outcome. An Army veteran attending community college in California, he possessed a talent for math, a desire to do big things, and a sobering group of friends who insisted: “Mortals don’t get into MIT.” Quigley knew a dare when he heard one. As for probability measures, those he chose to ignore. -
Artificial Intelligence in Action
A person watching videos that show things opening — a door, a book, curtains, a blooming flower, a yawning dog — easily understands the same type of action is depicted in each clip. -
3Q: Daron Acemoglu on Technology and the Future of Work
"The way we live continuously changes in significant ways — how we learn, how we acquire food, what we emphasize, our social organizations."
IN THE NEWS
Magnetic 3-D-printed structures crawl, roll, jump, and play catch
New printing technique could be used to develop remotely controlled biomedical devices. go
MIT engineers configure RFID tags to work as sensors
Platform may enable continuous, low-cost, reliable devices that detect chemicals in the environment. goASK AN ENGINEER
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Are we harming the structure of the earth by taking so much oil out of it?
No. You see, the earth is like a can of soup….
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Can a honeybee cause a sonic boom if it travels fast enough?
Sure it can — but sadly, the bee isn’t likely to survive the experience…
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Can nuclear waste be put to some positive use instead of just polluting the environment?
Technically yes, but we need to develop the technology to make it feasible…
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Can we use heat generated from an air conditioner or refrigerator?
Unfortunately, that waste heat isn't quite hot enough to be useful...
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Is there a way to harness electricity from lightning?
Sure, it’s possible. But it might not be worth it…
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What’s the difference between fuel efficiency and fuel economy?
What we really ought to be thinking about is fuel consumption, measured in gallons per mile — not the customary miles per gallon…
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What are the future propulsion systems for interplanetary travel?
In a few decades, enhanced versions of current propulsion technology could reduce travel time to Mars from about a year to a few months…
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Are Santa’s reindeer used for propulsion or navigation?
Both. They work as a team — and Santa is an incredible pilot…