New power sources
Thirty-six million people in the U.S. use an energy system developed by a handful of activists in the 1990s. An MIT scholar examines this unusual story.
Study: Higher minimum wages raise voter turnout
Low-wage workers, who vote infrequently, gain a participation boost when their salaries increase.
From modeling quantum devices to political systems
Senior Sihao Huang uses his background in physics and complex systems to inform his interdisciplinary approach to political science.
3 Questions: Jinhua Zhao on a “third place” between home and office
Remote workers have been seeking new types of workspaces, with implications for business and transit.
Cynthia Breazeal named dean for digital learning at MIT
Overseeing business and research units across MIT Open Learning, Breazeal will focus on the future of digital technologies and their applications in education.
Agustín Rayo named dean of SHASS
Philosophy professor brings deep experience in campus leadership to his role as head of the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences.
Giving robots social skills
A new machine-learning system helps robots understand and perform certain social interactions.
Cures for the health insurance enrollment blues
An experiment in Indonesia shows how much subsidies and in-person assistance spur people to get insurance — and how many people stop trying.
Punishment for the people
Professor Lily Tsai’s new book explains how “retributive justice,” the high-profile sanctioning of some in society, helps authoritarians solidify public support.
MIT economist Joshua Angrist shares Nobel Prize
Cited for work building the foundations of “natural experiments” in economic research, Angrist is honored along with David Card and Guido Imbens.
Citizens emerge from the slums
PhD student Ying Gao's research reveals that the urban poor in the developing world are politically engaged and capable of effecting change.
New views of autocracy emerge from historic archives
Political science PhD student Emilia Simison has found that despotic regimes vary, and the move to democracy doesn’t necessarily guarantee policy change.
Comparing seniors who relocate long-distance shows where you live affects your longevity
Analysis of Medicare data finds location matters, not just past health behavior.
How authoritarian leaders maintain support
Study finds public anticorruption campaigns bolster leaders, even when such measures lack tangible results.
A sleep study’s eye-opening findings
Experiment with working poor in India finds no impact from more night sleep, though naps help; rest quality may be key.