MIT in the media: 2020 in review
In a particularly newsworthy year, news and views from the MIT community made headlines.
MIT community in 2020: A year in review
In a year full of challenges, top Institute stories dealt with resilience, innovation, and MIT’s drive to embody its longstanding values in a changing world.
Top MIT research stories of 2020
The year’s popular research stories include astronomical firsts, scientific breakthroughs, and engineering milestones addressing Covid-19 and other global problems.
Dava Newman named director of MIT Media Lab
Visionary astronautics researcher, explorer, and expert on human adaptation to space will lead the Institute’s world-renowned research center.
Making smart thermostats more efficient
A smart thermostat quickly learns to optimize building microclimates for both energy consumption and user preference.
Discovery allows early detection of shade avoidance syndrome
SMART researchers use Raman spectroscopy for early detection of SAS, which can help farmers better monitor plant health and improve crop yields.
A better model for business insurance
Founded by an MIT alumnus, Newfront Insurance offers brokers and businesses digital tools for responding to a rapidly changing risk landscape.
Want cheaper nuclear energy? Turn the design process into a game
Researchers show that deep reinforcement learning can be used to design more efficient nuclear reactors.
Controlling drug activity with light
Miniaturized device activates drugs in a small region deep within the brain.
Method finds hidden warning signals in measurements collected over time
A new deep-learning algorithm could provide advanced notice when systems — from satellites to data centers — are falling out of whack.