Inspired by vines’ twisty tenacity, engineers have developed a robotic gripper that can snake around and lift objects. The robot can safely and stably lift a variety of heavy and fragile items; a larger version can safely lift a human out of bed.
A preserved construction site in Pompeii showed how the ancient Romans produced concrete that endured for millennia. The concrete heals itself when cracked — “a dream process we want to translate into our modern materials,” Admir Masic says.
Researchers in EECS and AeroAstro developed a tiny aerial robot that can fly with speed and agility comparable to some insects. The research opens the door to future bug-sized robots that could aid in search-and-rescue missions.
Engineers have shown they can accurately measure blood glucose by shining near-infrared light on the skin. “If we can make a noninvasive glucose monitor with high accuracy, then almost everyone with diabetes will benefit,” says Jeon Woong Kang.
MIT’s new TechAMP program teaches production principles to workers, helping them to advance their careers. “We think there’s a gap between the traditional worker categories of engineer and technician, and this technologist training fills it,” John Liu says.
In a world without MIT, radar wouldn’t have been available to help win World War II. We might not have email, CT scans, time-release drugs, photolithography, or GPS. And we’d lose over 30,000 companies, employing millions of people. Can you imagine?
Since its founding, MIT has been key to helping American science and innovation lead the world. Discoveries that begin here generate jobs and power the economy — and what we create today builds a better tomorrow for all of us.