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MIT dataset helps predict biodegradable polyesters
January 1st, 2024
Each image was taken eight hours apart and shows the progress of the polymer-eating bacteria. Researchers analyzed a library of 642 polyesters and polycarbonates to predict how biodegradable they are. Image: MIT Biodegradable polymers, including those found in textiles, are a huge area of current research, in part because even some materials that are labeled […]
MIT suit designed to educate about aging
June 1st, 2023
Chris Hemsworth (left) is outfitted in the MIT AgeLab’s AGNES suit on a recent episode of the documentary series “Limitless with Chris Hemsworth.” Photo: MIT AgeLab Visitors to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) AgeLab in the Center for Transportation and Logistics are greeted by a striking image: a mannequin in a jumpsuit and red goggles. But […]
A better-fitting mask
January 1st, 2023
A new sensor developed at MIT could make it much easier to ensure a good face mask fit. The sensor, which measures physical contact between the mask and the wearer’s face, can be applied to any kind of mask. Photo: MIT Wearing a mask can help prevent the spread of viruses such as COVID-19 and […]
Motion and posture sensing textiles
September 1st, 2022
A form-fitting sock embedded with sensors can track the wearer’s movement and posture. Photo: MIT Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have come up with a novel fabrication process to produce smart textiles that can snugly conform to physical requirements by sensing the posture and motion of the wearer. By incorporating a special […]
Robotic hand gives amputees tactile control
November 1st, 2021
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) News Service reports that engineers at MIT and Shanghai Jiao Tong University have designed a soft, lightweight and potentially low-cost neuroprosthetic hand that can give an amputee the ability to perform daily activities with dexterity. Additionally, the researchers found the prosthetic, designed with a system for tactile feedback, restored […]
KnittedKeyboard II breaks new musical ground
October 1st, 2021
The KnittedKeyboard II can sense physical contact and gestures in the air. Musical keyboards with digital interfaces (MIDI) come in many sizes, but all rest on a rigid, heavy structure. Irmandy Wicaksono from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Media Lab found a user-friendly alternative in textiles and developed an interactive textile-based musical interface, laid out […]
E-fiber just got smarter
September 1st, 2021
MIT researchers have created the first fabric fiber with digital capabilities, ready to collect, store and analyze data using a neural network. “This work presents the first realization of a fabric with the ability to store and process data, adding a new information content dimension to textiles and allowing fabrics to be programmed literally,” says […]
Engineers make a self-cooling fabric from polyethylene
June 1st, 2021
In considering materials that could become the fabrics of the future, helping humans adapt to climate change, scientists have largely dismissed one widely available option: polyethylene. This thin and lightweight material, commonly used in plastic grocery bags, could keep a person cooler than most textiles because it allows heat through rather than trapping it in. […]
Medical patch designed for sealing internal injuries
April 1st, 2021
Many surgeries today are performed via minimally invasive procedures, in which a small incision is made, and miniature cameras and surgical tools are threaded through the body to remove tumors and repair damaged tissues and organs. However, surgeons face challenges in sealing internal wounds and tears. Taking inspiration from origami, engineers at the Massachusetts Institute […]