Faculty

Duflo, Lander, Lewin to lead spring-semester MITx coursesEdX takes stock of last semester’s MITx courses; data will be used to improve education online and in the classroom.

Why are Japanese cartoons a global hit?MIT scholar’s new book heralds ‘creative collaboration’ with the masses as the key to anime’s worldwide popularity.

Cardiac development needs more than protein-coding genesBiologists find that long non-coding RNA molecules are necessary to regulate differentiation of embryonic stem cells into cardiac cells.

Capturing energy from the sunMIT investigators are inspired by a deep-sea bacterium that is able to harvest tiny amounts of incoming solar energy with exquisite efficiency.

Putting the squeeze on cellsBy deforming cells, researchers can deliver RNA, proteins and nanoparticles for many applications.

Preserving cultureMIT historian Lerna Ekmekcioglu explores how women preserve Armenian cultural identity.

Five with ties to MIT earn top IEEE awardsBeranek, Dennis, Chou, Jacobs and Langer are among 20 recipients recognized for decades of engineering achievements.

Two from MIT win AFOSR Young Investigator AwardAeroAstro assistant professor, RLE research scientist among 40 winners

Microbiologists eavesdrop on the hidden lives of microbesScientists track ocean microbe populations in their natural habitat to create a ‘day in the life’ montage.

Rare earth oxides make water-repellent surfaces that lastCeramic forms of hydrophobic materials could be far more durable than existing coatings or surface treatments.

Hard times in ChicagoMIT anthropologist’s new book recounts the painful aftermath when steel plants suddenly closed in the American heartland.

Research update: Multiple steps toward the ‘quantum singularity’Over three days in December, four research groups announced progress on a quantum-computing proposal made two years ago by MIT researchers.

James Utterback honored as exemplar of excellenceProfessor was honored by KU Leuven at its bi-annual Leuven International Forum.

The right’s resistance to regulationBook details how conservatives have changed the terms of the environmental debate in recent decades.

Possible role for Huntington’s gene discoveredMutant forms of the gene disrupt chemical modifications that control access to genes necessary for normal brain cell function.

Study finds a new culprit for epileptic seizuresDiscovery that some seizures arise in glial cells could offer new targets for epilepsy treatment.

Clark and Sollins receive Test of Time AwardMIT researchers honored for their paper 'Tussle in Cyberspace: Defining Tomorrow’s Internet.'

Susan Solomon wins international climate awardMIT professor honored by BBVA for discovering links between atmosphere, climate and human activity.

Pioneering applied mathematician Chia-Chiao Lin dies at 96An Institute Professor since 1966, he was an active member of the MIT faculty for 40 years.

Sports Shorts for Jan. 14: A weekly wrap-up of MIT varsity athleticsMen’s volleyball ranked in preseason top-10; Sailing team 10th in Rose Bowl Regatta.

The natural experimenter

Gloria Choi to join McGovern InstituteChoi will serve as McGovern Investigator and as assistant professor of brain and cognitive sciences.