Vapor-collection technology saves water while clearing the air

System could reclaim pure water from power plant cooling towers; at-scale prototypes tested on MIT facilities have proven effective.

David L. Chandler | MIT News Office • mit
Aug. 3, 2021 ~9 min

The FDA’s weak drug manufacturing oversight is a potentially deadly problem

COVID-19 has exacerbated a backlog of domestic and foreign drug manufacturing inspections that the FDA is still too short-staffed to adequately deal with.

C. Michael White, Distinguished Professor and Head of the Department of Pharmacy Practice, University of Connecticut • conversation
June 23, 2021 ~9 min


Artisan robots with AI smarts will juggle tasks, choose tools, mix and match recipes and even order materials – all without human help

Custom fabrication involves taking measurements, choosing tools, deciding on sequences of steps and ordering from a menu of materials. AIs under development promise to take humans out of the loop.

Glenn S. Daehn, Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, The Ohio State University • conversation
June 15, 2021 ~8 min

Why is the FDA funded in part by the companies it regulates?

The FDA receives almost half its funding from companies it regulates, such as drug and medical device makers. Is this something you should be concerned about?

C. Michael White, Distinguished Professor and Head of the Department of Pharmacy Practice, University of Connecticut • conversation
May 13, 2021 ~10 min

With a zap of light, system switches objects’ colors and patterns

“Programmable matter” technique could enable product designers to churn out prototypes with ease.

Daniel Ackerman | MIT News Office • mit
May 4, 2021 ~5 min

Why Johnson & Johnson throwing out 15 million COVID-19 vaccine doses shouldn't scare you

Vaccine manufacturing is complex, with lots of potential points for errors. But it also has extensive quality control checks and approvals.

Tinglong Dai, Associate Professor of Operations Management & Business Analytics, Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing • conversation
April 1, 2021 ~6 min

Study reveals plunge in lithium-ion battery costs

Analysis quantifies a dramatic price drop that parallels similar improvements in solar and wind energy, and shows further steep declines could be possible

David L. Chandler | MIT News Office • mit
March 23, 2021 ~9 min

Could we recycle plastic bags into fabrics of the future?

Engineers have developed self-cooling fabrics from polyethylene, a material commonly used in plastic bags.

Jennifer Chu | MIT News Office • mit
March 15, 2021 ~9 min


Less-wasteful laser-cutting

Fabricaide, developed at MIT CSAIL, provides live design feedback to help users reduce leftover material.

Adam Conner-Simons | MIT CSAIL • mit
Feb. 17, 2021 ~4 min

Better learning with shape-shifting objects

MIT study shows the power of adaptive training tools, like a basketball hoop that shrinks and raises as you make shots.

Adam Conner-Simons | MIT CSAIL • mit
Dec. 7, 2020 ~4 min

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