Content by Jennifer Chu
Engineers Print Soft, Rubbery Brain ImplantsTechnique may enable speedy, on-demand design of softer, safer neural devices
Thu, 04/30/2020 - 12:02
The brain is one of our most vulnerable organs, as soft as the softest tofu. Brain implants, on the other hand, are typically made from metal and other rigid materials that, over time, can cause inflammation and the buildup of scar tissue. MIT…
Engineers Mix and Match Materials to Make New Stretchy ElectronicsNext-generation devices made with new “peel and stack” method may include electronic chips worn on the skin
Wed, 02/26/2020 - 12:01
First published Feb. 5, 2020, on MIT News. At the heart of any electronic device is a cold, hard computer chip, covered in a miniature city of transistors and other semiconducting elements. Because computer chips are rigid, the electronic devices…
A New Approach to Making Airplane Parts, Minus the Massive InfrastructureCarbon nanotube film produces aerospace-grade composites with no need for huge ovens or autoclaves

Thu, 02/20/2020 - 12:03
A modern airplane’s fuselage is made from multiple sheets of different composite materials, like so many layers in a phyllo-dough pastry. Once these layers are stacked and molded into the shape of a fuselage, the structures are wheeled into…
Flexible Yet Sturdy Robot Is Designed to ‘Grow’ Like a PlantIts extendable appendage can meander through tight spaces and then lift heavy loads
Wed, 12/04/2019 - 12:02
In today’s factories and warehouses, it’s not uncommon to see robots whizzing about, shuttling items or tools from one station to another. For the most part, robots navigate pretty easily across open layouts. But they have a much harder time winding…
Wristband Enables Wearers to Control a Robotic Hand With Their Own MovementsUsers can direct a robot to play piano, shoot hoops, or manipulate objects
Thu, 04/09/2026 - 12:03
The next time you’re scrolling your phone, take a moment to appreciate the feat: The seemingly mundane act is possible thanks to the coordination of 34 muscles, 27 joints, and more than 100 tendons and ligaments in your hand. Indeed, our hands are…