3 Questions: Phillip Sharp on the discoveries that enabled RNA vaccines for Covid-19
Curiosity-driven basic science in the 1970s laid the groundwork for today’s leading vaccines against the novel coronavirus.
Dec. 11, 2020 • ~9 min
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3 Questions: Using fabric to “listen” to space dust
Fabric samples are headed to the International Space Station for resiliency testing; possible applications include cosmic dust detectors or spacesuit smart skins.
Nov. 25, 2020 • ~11 min
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3 Questions: Hsin-Yu Chen on treading lightly when dating the universe
MIT postdoc finds the angle at which we view neutron star collisions could significantly impact age measurements.
Nov. 13, 2020 • ~6 min
physics astrophysics astronomy research black-holes school-of-science 3-questions kavli-institute ligo neutron-stars
3 Questions: Anat Biletzki on the Human Rights and Technology Fellowship Program
Designed for students, the program explores on a grand scale how technology can aid or hinder human rights.
Oct. 13, 2020 • ~6 min
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3 Questions: Asegun Henry on five “grand thermal challenges” to stem the tide of global warming
“Our mission here is to save humanity from extinction due to climate change,” says MIT professor.
Aug. 10, 2020 • ~7 min
sustainability climate-change energy carbon carbon-dioxide global-warming greenhouse-gases emissions research renewable-energy mechanical-engineering school-of-engineering 3-questions alternative-energy energy-storage
3 Questions: Ibrahim Cissé on using physics to decipher biology
A biophysicist employs super-resolution microscopy to peer inside living cells and witness never-before-seen phenomena.
July 22, 2020 • ~7 min
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3 Questions: Harnessing wave power to rebuild islands
In the Maldives, an MIT team is conducting experiments to combat sea-level rise by redirecting natural sand movement.
May 11, 2020 • ~9 min
climate-change environment architecture research school-of-architecture-and-planning school-of-science 3-questions oceanography-and-ocean-engineering eaps self-assembly
3 Questions: The rapidly unfolding future of smart fabrics
Soon, your clothes may be able to monitor your vital signs, analyze the results, and warn you of health risks.
May 8, 2020 • ~6 min
electronics research school-of-engineering innovation-and-entrepreneurship-ie electrical-engineering-computer-science-eecs 3-questions materials-science-and-engineering dmse
3 Questions: Michael Yaffe on treating Covid-19 patients with acute respiratory distress
MIT professor and intensivist/trauma surgeon explains the new challenges that Covid-19 brings to treating patients in acute respiratory distress.
April 29, 2020 • ~7 min
medicine covid-19 biology pandemic disease viruses research school-of-engineering school-of-science 3-questions biological-engineering koch-institute
3 Questions: Areg Danagoulian on a new arms control tool and the future of nuclear security
Danagoulian and his research team developed a system that could greatly improve the process for verifying compliance of nuclear warheads.
April 23, 2020 • ~7 min
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