Traditional lidar sensors are expensive, bulky systems with mechanical parts that degrade over time. A new chip-based design from RLE researchers could enable next-generation lidar sensors that are compact, durable, and have no moving parts.
Found Industries aims to strengthen U.S. industrial supply chains through its technology for extracting gallium and other critical metals. “We believe we can deploy this at scale to become one the first major Western suppliers of these metals,” Peter Godart ’15, SM ’19, PhD ’21 says.
Researchers have found that a “pencil beam” laser allows brain imaging 25 times faster than current methods. This could help scientists quickly test whether new drugs for diseases like Alzheimer’s or ALS are reaching their targets in the brain.
Future quantum computers could break tried-and-true security schemes that now keep sensitive data secure. Engineers developed an ultra-efficient microchip to help protect power-constrained medical devices, like insulin pumps and pacemakers, from quantum attacks.
A new book by MIT faculty shows how the U.S. can move ahead in six key sectors, from semiconductors to biotechnology. “In each of these areas, there are breakthroughs to be had, where the U.S. can leapfrog competitors and gain an advantage,” Elisabeth Reynolds says.
In a world without MIT, radar wouldn’t have been available to help win World War II. We might not have email, CT scans, time-release drugs, photolithography, or GPS. And we’d lose over 30,000 companies, employing millions of people. Can you imagine?
Since its founding, MIT has been key to helping American science and innovation lead the world. Discoveries that begin here generate jobs and power the economy — and what we create today builds a better tomorrow for all of us.