Historian of science Charles Weiner dies at 80
Longtime faculty member was a pre-eminent analyst of the political, social and ethical dimensions of contemporary science.
Hippie days
How a handful of countercultural scientists changed the course of physics in the 1970s and helped open up the frontier of quantum information.
Wind, war and weathermen
How a Swedish bon vivant let MIT introduce modern meteorology to America — just in time to help the Allies win World War II.
Doc Draper in space
A letter written by Charles Stark Draper in 1961 hitches a ride on Space Shuttle Endeavour.
Exploring exploration
From deep space to deep sea, two-day symposium examined MIT’s impacts and innovations.
3 Questions: Jeffrey Hoffman on the Space Shuttle at 30
Anniversary of the first shuttle flight comes just as it nears retirement, but the vehicle has changed space travel dramatically.
A difference maker
Vannevar Bush PhD ’16, a unique figure in American history, transformed his country’s scientific establishment during its wartime hour of need.
3 Questions: Evelyn Fox Keller on the nature-nurture debates
In a new book, prominent historian of science dismisses the ‘unanswerable’ question of whether heredity or the environment matter more in human development.
Galileo revisited: How ribbons roll
In a twist on a classic experiment, MIT researchers discover how flexible cylinders behave when rolling down a slope.
Their infinite wisdom
An MIT historian of science uncovers the saga of the Russian scholars whose mysticism helped them redefine the concept of infinity
ET: Check your voicemail
New message beamed to the stars commemorates Earth’s first attempt to reach out to intelligent aliens
Landing Apollo via Cambridge
Former MIT Instrumentation Lab member recalls his contribution to the safe landing of Apollo 11 on the lunar surface.
