| Math Quest | | | | | | After cracking the “sum of cubes” puzzle for 42, MIT mathematicians have discovered a long-elusive third solution for the number 3, seen above. However, their 21-digit solution suggests that yet another may exist: “I do believe it’s out there,” says Principal Research Scientist Drew Sutherland. |
| Supporting our Asian community in a difficult time |
MIT President L. Rafael Reif writes to the community following tragedies in Georgia and surging anti-Asian suspicion and violence. |
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| Ultrasound has the potential to damage coronaviruses, a new study finds Simulations show ultrasound waves at medical imaging frequencies can cause the virus’ shell and spikes to collapse and rupture. |  |
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| Traveling the world for global health solutions After studying and working on three continents, senior Andrea Orji now seeks to become a physician, eventually working in Nigeria. |  |
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| Could we recycle plastic bags into fabrics of the future? Engineers have developed self-cooling fabrics from polyethylene, a material commonly used in plastic bags. |  |
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| Covid skeptics don’t just need more critical thinking // Slate |
Graduate student Crystal Lee discusses her new study that illustrates how social media users have taken data visualizations to argue against public health measures during the Covid-19 pandemic. “The biggest point of diversion is the focus on different metrics — on deaths, rather than cases,” says Lee. “They focus on a very small slice of the data. And even then, they contest metrics in ways I think are fundamentally misleading.” |
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| GM signs deal with MIT spinout to reduce electric vehicle battery costs by 60% // CNBC MIT startup SolidEnergy Systems has signed a deal with GM to develop next-generation electric vehicle batteries that are expected to cut the cost of the technology by 60%. |
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| Easter eggs hidden aboard Mars Perseverance rover // NBC Boston |
Al Chen ’00, SM ’02, a NASA systems engineer, delves into the surprises that NASA engineers hid on the Perseverance rover for NASA fans and science enthusiasts to uncover. “I was at MIT for six years. We loved coding things; Mystery Hunt is a big deal,” says Chen. “I think it’s a little bit of a chance to bring the art and the engineering together.” |
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| The hidden upside of imposter syndrome // BBC Worklife Assistant Professor Basima Tewfik discusses her research investigating the impacts of imposter syndrome. Tewfik has found that “by leaning into the feelings of inadequacy — rather than trying to resist or overcome them — and putting extra effort into communication, imposters can actually outperform their non-imposter peers in interpersonal skills.” |
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| | | Born in 1918, Ruth Anderson was a pioneering mathematician and computer programmer who worked at the MIT Radiation Laboratory, which made key contributions to the development of microwave radar technology during the second world war. “There are quite a few books written about women programmers in World War II to help in the war, and I was one of them,” says Anderson, seen here on V-J Day in front of MIT’s Building 10. After the war, she continued her career in computing. Now retired, Anderson recently received her second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine at 102 years of age. |
| | | Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala MCP ’78, PhD ’81 is the newest director-general of the World Trade Organization, which regulates and facilitates international trade. She is both the first African and first female leader of the WTO. Born in Nigeria, Okonjo-Iweala earned an MCP from the MIT Department of Urban Studies and Planning in 1978 and a PhD in regional economics and development in 1981. She went on to serve at the World Bank for 21 years, as a development economist, vice president, and corporate secretary, before becoming Nigeria’s finance minister in 2003. In 2007, she returned to the World Bank as managing director, and she served as Nigeria’s finance minister for a second time from 2011 to 2015. In 2016, Okonjo-Iweala addressed MIT’s doctoral graduates, observing that “Every challenge presents an opportunity.” She is also the co-author of a new book, “Women and Leadership,” published last month by the MIT Press. |
I’m planning to get vaccinated because...
I’m looking forward to attending a cultural celebration with our students, visiting my relatives (all of them), and attending a Boston Red Sox game at Fenway Park.
—David C. Elwell, associate dean and director of the International Students Office |
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