| MIT and the 1918 Flu Pandemic | | | | | | MIT Libraries archivist Nora Murphy has compared the Institute’s responses to Covid-19 and the 1918 flu pandemic. Then, as now, classes were impacted, and the community was committed to “aid in every way possible the fight against this terrible disease.” Full story via MIT News → |
| SHERLOCK-based one-step test provides rapid and sensitive Covid-19 detection |
A new CRISPR-based tool delivers results in an hour; researchers share protocol and kits to advance research and move toward clinical validation. Full story via MIT News → | |
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| Myth-busting on YouTube Postdoc Izabella Pena uses social media to combat the infodemic about the Covid-19 pandemic. Full story via MIT News → | |
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| How many jobs do robots really replace? |
MIT economist Daron Acemoglu’s new research puts a number on the job costs of automation. Full story via MIT News → | |
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| Design that makes a difference Fusing art, science, and product design, senior Jierui Fang has followed — and sometimes created — her own path at MIT. Full story via MIT News → | |
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| Fixing the overload problem at work |
Sloan Distinguished Professor of Work and Organization Studies Erin Kelly describes how work redesign may help keep employees from burning out. Full story via MIT Sloan Management Review → | |
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| A meteor shower created by Halley’s Comet and a supermoon will peak this week // The Boston Globe |
Research scientist Michael Person discusses how sky watchers had the chance to observe both the Eta Aquarid meteor shower and a supermoon this week. Full story via The Boston Globe → |
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| What is the future of work in a post-coronavirus world? // WGBH |
Senior Lecturer Robert Pozen discusses how the coronavirus pandemic could impact the future of work, the construction boom in the greater Boston area, and what office spaces might look like going forward. Full story via WGBH → |
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| MIT junior Rona Wang lands book deal with Simon & Schuster // The Boston Globe |
Third-year student Rona Wang’s debut novel, “You Had Me at Hello World,” will be published in 2022. “I really hope that readers can see themselves in my stories,” she says. “Not just Asian-Americans, immigrants, or women in STEM, but anybody who has ever felt unsure of themself or anybody with a dream that they tirelessly pursue.” Full story via The Boston Globe → |
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| A few MIT students produced one of the best hackathons on Covid-19 // True Africa A team of MIT students hosted the Africa Takes on Covid-19 virtual hackathon, which brought together participants from around the world to “create tech-driven solutions to address the most critical unmet needs caused by the Covid-19 outbreak across the continent.” Full story via True Africa → |
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| | | Desiree Plata, an assistant professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, is keeping her “lab family” running remotely while caring for three children, ages 6, 4, and 3 months. She calls this moment “a great example of the MIT spirit: Nobody is going to knock us down.” To all moms and care-givers in our community: Happy Mother’s Day! Watch the video → |
| | | Samantha Farrell is an administrative assistant at MIT.nano and a professional musician. She says that in times like these, “the arts really shine ... people’s humanity can really shine ... and musicians and filmmakers and artists are needed more than ever.” Listen to the podcast → |
| | | As an MIT senior majoring in computer science, Ariel Levy was on course to graduate this spring alongside close friends. “I wouldn't trade the 3.75 years I had for anything,” she tells them over Zoom, as they share a virtual hug and reminisce about a beautiful early spring day they shared just before leaving campus. Watch the video → |
This edition of the MIT Weekly was brought to you by the cat and the card catalog. 🐱
Visit the MIT Covid-19 website for the latest on the Institute’s response to the Covid-19 emergency.
Thanks for reading, and have a great week!
— MIT News Office |
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