“Particle Robots” Form Large Groups to Complete Tasks
Taking a cue from biological cells, researchers from MIT, Columbia University, and elsewhere have developed computationally simple robots that connect in large groups to move…
Computer Science
Newly Developed Cryptocurrency is Faster and More Efficient
MIT researchers have developed a new cryptocurrency that drastically reduces the data users need to join the network and verify transactions — by up to…
Innovative Approach to Controlling Magnetism Opens Route to Ultra-Low-Power Microchips
A new approach to controlling magnetism in a microchip could open the doors to memory, computing, and sensing devices that consume drastically less power than…
‘Robotic Skins’ Turn Inanimate Objects Into Multifunctional Robots
Developed in the lab of Yale’s Rebecca Kramer-Bottiglio, NASA-inspired robotic skins enable users to turn soft objects – a stuffed animal or a foam tube,…
Newly Developed “Variable Friction” Fingers Enable Better Robot Hands
Picking up a pen off a desk and writing with it might seem easy to you, but it’s no small feat to a robot. For…
“Time-Folded Optics” Create New Possibilities for Imaging
MIT researchers have developed novel photography optics that capture images based on the timing of reflecting light inside the optics, instead of the traditional approach…
New AI System Identifies Personality Traits from Eye Movements
Computers are gradually learning to interpret human behaviour – and can now also do so by analysing the way people use their eyes. A team…
New Artificial Intelligence Device Identifies Objects at the Speed of Light
A team of UCLA electrical and computer engineers has created a physical artificial neural network — a device modeled on how the human brain works…
On-Chip Optical Filter Provides Cheaper Alternative to “Broadband” Filters
Silicon-based system offers smaller, cheaper alternative to other “broadband” filters; could improve a variety of photonic devices. MIT researchers have designed an optical filter on…
Machine-Learning Models Capture Subtle Variations in Facial Expressions
Personalized machine-learning models capture subtle variations in facial expressions to better gauge how we feel. MIT Media Lab researchers have developed a machine-learning model that…
Heat-Conducting Crystals Help High-Power Electronics Keep Their Cool
The inner workings of high-power electronic devices must remain cool to operate reliably. High internal temperatures can make programs run slower, freeze or shut down….
New Low-Power Chip Will Help Miniature Drones Navigate
Researchers at MIT, who last year designed a tiny computer chip tailored to help honeybee-sized drones navigate, have now shrunk their chip design even further,…
Researchers Develop a Wireless Way to Power Human Implants
MIT researchers, working with scientists from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, have developed a new way to power and communicate with devices implanted deep within the…
MIT Engineers Develop Autonomous Glider That Can Fly and Sail
MIT engineers have designed a robotic glider that can skim along the water’s surface, riding the wind like an albatross while also surfing the waves…
Machine-Learning System Replicates Human Auditory Behavior, Predicts Brain Responses
Using a machine-learning system known as a deep neural network, MIT researchers have created the first model that can replicate human performance on auditory tasks…
‘Deep Learning’ Algorithm Brings New Tools to Astronomy
A ‘deep learning’ algorithm trained on images from cosmological simulations has been surprisingly successful at classifying real galaxies in Hubble images. A machine learning method…
Integrating Photonics with Silicon Nanoelectronics Into Chip Designs
New technique would allow addition of optical communication components to existing chips with little modification of their designs. Two and a half years ago, a…
Optoelectronic Chips Reduce Energy Usage, Increase Speed
Startup’s optoelectronic chips could reduce energy usage by up to 50 percent in data centers while increasing computing speeds. With novel optoelectronic chips and a…