MIT researchers have created bomb-detecting spinach by embedding fluorescent nanoparticles into the plant’s leaves, The Guardian reports. Plants are ideal for this detection system because they “have built-in power sources and are able to move fluids around very efficiently,” explains Prof. Michael Strano.
Quentin Palfrey of J-PAL North America writes for The Hill about steps the Commission on Evidence-based Policymaking can take to support research and policymaking. “Analyzing administrative data to adjust government programs may seem like dry, behind-the-scenes work, but when scaled up to redirect national policies, it can have a significant impact on millions of Americans.”
A study co-authored by MIT researchers finds African-American ridesharing passengers are more likely to experience cancellations and higher wait times, reports Chelsea Bailey for NBC News. "The patterns of discrimination were quite clear and consistent in both cities – and one can only assume it's happening all across the country," explains Prof. Christopher Knittel.
Prof. Christopher Knittel speaks with Lewis Wallace of Marketplace about his study that shows that Uber or Lyft passengers with “African-American sounding” names were more likely to be cancelled on or experience long wait times. “The chances that an Uber driver accepted their ride, observed their name, and then cancelled their ride more than doubled,” says Knittel.
A study co-authored by Prof. Christopher Knittel finds that some Uber and Lyft drivers are discriminating against passengers with “African-American sounding” names and taking women on longer, more expensive rides, writes Sara Ashley O’Brien for CNN Money. "We went into this hoping that we wouldn't see anything, but we found pretty strong evidence of discrimination," says Knittel.
A study co-authored by MIT researchers suggests that touch can influence how people process social experiences, writes Marguerite Ward for CNBC. “Feeling a rough or uncomfortable texture, like that of a wool sweater, increases the chances that a person will view a social situation as difficult or awkward,” Ward explains.
A new study co-authored by Prof. Evan Apfelbaum examines the best way to address racism in the workplace and beyond, reports Ellen McGirt for Forbes. The researchers found that “the more that leaders understand what people see as the root of the problem — malice or ignorance — the more likely they are to come up with effective solutions.”
BBC News reporter Paul Rincon writes that by embedding carbon nanotubes into spinach leaves, MIT researchers have created plants that can detect explosives. “The plants could be used for defense applications, but also to monitor public spaces for terrorism related activities,” explains Prof. Michael Strano.
New York Times reporter Mark Scott writes that a study co-authored by Prof. Christopher Knittel finds that some Uber and Lyft drivers racially discriminate. The researchers suggested that the companies could avoid discrimination by “not including passengers’ names when bookings are made.”
A new study co-authored by Prof. Christopher Knittel shows some Uber and Lyft drivers are racially discriminating when selecting passengers, writes Bloomberg News reporter Eric Newcomer. One of the study’s findings was that “Uber drivers disproportionately canceled on riders with black-sounding names, even though the company penalizes drivers who cancel frequently.”
Bryan Marquard writes for The Boston Globe about Prof. Susan Lindquist, one of the most honored scientists in the nation, who died on Oct. 27. “She did not want to do an experiment unless she thought it would deliver deep biological impact and make a difference to the world,” said Dr. Vikram Khurana of Yumanity Therapeutics.
In an article for Wired, Issie Lapowsky interviews Prof. Charles Stewart about the fairness of the American voting system. Lapowsky explains that Stewart has been tracking voter experiences since 2008, and his research has “become the basis of other election administration research like the studies conducted by the Brennan Center.”
Scientists at MIT and Brown University have discovered the origin of the Orientale basin, the oldest crater on the Moon, according to EFE. The impact of an asteroid 3.8 billion years ago formed a crater that has since “collapsed under the rock fractures and its temperatures forming three concentric rings visible today.”
Prof. Susan Lindquist, a former director of the Whitehead Institute known for her “conceptually daring work with yeast proteins,” died on Oct. 27, writes William Grimes for The New York Times. Her research “demonstrated that protein-folding errors occurred in all species and that biological changes could be passed from one generation to the next through proteins alone.”
Xconomy reporter Jeff Engel writes about The Engine, a new venture MIT launched to provide “resources to startups whose technologies typically take lots of time and capital to develop—think biotech, robotics, advanced manufacturing, medical devices, and energy.”