When the space shuttle Discovery blasted off for the International Space Station on May 31, most of the MIT aero-astro department was along for the ride -- at least photographically. As astronaut Greg Chamitoff Ph.D. '92 was preparing for the trip, he asked aero-astro communications director Bill Litant to recommend a memento of the department to take along. Bill and his colleagues suggested a group photograph, enabling all who appear in it to say they have "flown aboard the space station." Greg jumped at the idea, so last December, aero-astro students, staff, and faculty gathered in front of Building 37 for the group shot. Greg will bring the picture back with him when he returns to earth in the fall, and it will be placed on display. Photo / Donna Coveney
By sidestepping the need for costly interventions, a new method could potentially reveal gene regulatory programs, paving the way for targeted treatments.
A new design tool uses UV and RGB lights to change the color and textures of everyday objects. The system could enable surfaces to display dynamic patterns, such as health data and fashion designs.