Should we tax robots?

Study suggests a robot levy — but only a modest one — could help combat the effects of automation on income inequality in the U.S.

Peter Dizikes | MIT News Office • mit
Dec. 21, 2022 • ~7 min

Did He Jiankui 'Make People Better'? Documentary spurs a new look at the case of the first gene-edited babies

Scientific and public uproar resulted when the Chinese scientist announced the births of the first human babies with heritable edits to their genes. A new documentary reexamines the saga.

G. Owen Schaefer, Assistant Professor in Biomedical Ethics, National University of Singapore • conversation
Dec. 20, 2022 • ~11 min

Biodiversity: one way to help countries stick to their commitments to restore nature

Human rights law could be used to make sure countries abide by the agreement made at the COP15 summit.

Claudia Ituarte-Lima, Leader of the Human Rights and Environment Thematic Area at the Raoul Wallenberg Institute, Lund University • conversation
Dec. 20, 2022 • ~7 min

This course teaches students how to connect with older adults to forge intergenerational bonds and help alleviate loneliness and isolation

Social isolation and loneliness in aging adults have been linked to numerous physical and mental health ailments. Teaching students how to listen deeply to older people can lessen those effects.

Jeremy Holloway, Assistant Professor of Geriatric Education, University of North Dakota • conversation
Dec. 20, 2022 • ~7 min

London Underground polluted with particles small enough to enter the human bloodstream -- new research

New research reveals that the London Underground is polluted with small particles which may carry negative health effects for humans.

Hassan Aftab Sheikh, PhD Researcher in Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge • conversation
Dec. 19, 2022 • ~7 min

UN biodiversity conference: what does living in harmony with nature look like?

Human-wildlife conflict can undermine public support for conservation.

Alexandra Zimmermann, Senior Research Fellow, University of Oxford • conversation
Dec. 16, 2022 • ~6 min

Physician, heal thyself?

Research shows doctors and their families are less likely to follow guidelines about medicine. Why do the medically well-informed comply less often?

Peter Dizikes | MIT News Office • mit
Dec. 15, 2022 • ~10 min

Meet the 2022-23 Accenture Fellows

This year's fellows will work across research areas including telemonitoring, human-computer interactions, operations research,  AI-mediated socialization, and chemical transformations.

School of Engineering • mit
Dec. 9, 2022 • ~5 min

Brain-computer interfaces could allow soldiers to control weapons with their thoughts and turn off their fear – but the ethics of neurotechnology lags behind the science

From warfare to entertainment and VR, brain-computer interface development has extended beyond prosthetics for patients with disabilities. Missing is full ethical consideration of the consequences.

Andrew Ko, Assistant Professor of Neurological Surgery, University of Washington • conversation
Dec. 2, 2022 • ~11 min

Protecting 30% of Earth's surface for nature means thinking about connections near and far

Governments, scientists and conservation groups are working to protect 30% of Earth’s land and water for nature by 2030. Two scientists explain why scale matters for reaching that goal.

Jianguo "Jack" Liu, Rachel Carson Chair in Sustainability, Michigan State University • conversation
Dec. 2, 2022 • ~11 min

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