Feeling climate change + black hole triple + prenatal testing

[view in browser]( MIT Weekly [MIT Logo] October 26, 2024 Greetings! Here’s a roundup of the latest from the MIT community.  Want a daily dose of MIT in your inbox? [Subscribe to the MIT Daily](. Feeling Climate Change #[Person on bike near ocean on a sunny day.]( MIT researchers have modeled the number of “outdoor days” — with comfortable temperatures for outside activities — that U.S. states will experience as the climate warms. States in the Southeast will lose a significant number of outdoor days, while the Northwest should see a slight increase. [Full story via MIT News →]( Top Headlines Physicists discover first “black hole triple” System observed 8,000 light-years away may be the first direct evidence of “gentle” black hole formation. [Full story via MIT News →]( [News thumbnail]( How cfDNA testing has changed prenatal care The noninvasive screening procedure can reduce pregnancy risks and lower costs at the same time, but only when targeted effectively. [Full story via MIT News →]( [News thumbnail]( Study: Marshes provide cost-effective coastal protection As climate change accelerates sea-level rise and intensifies storms, marsh-fronted seawalls can provide an economical coastal defense, MIT engineers report. [Full story via MIT News →]( [News thumbnail]( Brain pathways that control dopamine release may influence motor control The newly identified pathways appear to relay emotional information that helps to shape the motivation to take action. [Full story via MIT News →]( [News thumbnail]( Misinformation is all around. How can we combat it? In a lecture at MIT, Professor Adam Berinsky surveyed one of the thorniest ongoing problems in modern politics. [Full story via MIT News →]( [News thumbnail]( From engineer to mountain-climbing yogi Following a long career as a software developer, Lillian Cuthbert ’83 now teaches yoga and pilates and has climbed the highest mountain on every continent. [Full story via Slice of MIT→]( [News thumbnail]( #ThisisMIT #[Eight students line up as in a Conga line against an indoor wooden wall. Text via @mitridonkulous: Do I see eight new donkies? Introducing Vivian, Amy, Annie, Vanessa, Inori, Irene, Harry, and Alex — our fall babies! Welcome to Ridonkulous!]( [Follow @mitridonkulous on Instagram→]( In the Media Opinion: America is sleepwalking into an economic storm // The New York Times Institute Professor Daron Acemoglu, one of the recipients of the 2024 Nobel Prize in economics, explores the “three epochal changes poised to reshape the U.S. economy in coming years: an aging population, the rise of artificial intelligence, and the rewiring of the global economy.” [Full story via The New York Times→]( You don’t need words to think // Scientific American Associate Professor Evelina Fedorenko discusses her research demonstrating that “language and thought are, in fact, distinct entities that the brain processes separately.” [Full story via Scientific American→]( Reinventing concrete, the ancient Roman way // The New York Times Associate Professor Admir Masic discusses his research studying the benefits of lime clasts, a material used in ancient Roman infrastructure. [Full story via The New York Times→]( “SuperLimbs” could help astronauts recover from falls // CNN MIT researchers developed robotic limbs to help astronauts recover from falls. The “‘SuperLimbs’ are designed to extend from a backpack containing the astronauts’ life support system.” [Full story via CNN→]( Meet Your MIT Neighbor #[Irina Singh headshot]( Name: Irina Singh Affiliation: Department of Biological Engineering (BE) Years at MIT: 8 Role at MIT: Administration of the human resources activities in the department [and] advising faculty and staff on HR matters, policies, and procedures. Favorite part of your job: The people! BE has amazing staff, faculty, postdocs, scientists, and students. … I love working on promotions and especially enjoy visa processing. Formerly an international student, I can personally relate to the life-changing experience of studying or working abroad. Hence, getting to help BE scholars navigate the world of immigration is extremely rewarding. Hobbies or interests: I study Italian, ride a motorcycle, and have an affinity for art, classical literature, and music. I also absolutely adore my dog, Mishka. [Full interview via the School of Engineering]( Digit 91 Percentage of the MIT Class of 2024 that took part in at least one Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) project before graduating [Learn more via MIT UROP →]( [“] My inspiration really comes from real life. I just fall in love with the power that these materials and products give us … When we think about design, we really try to understand: Why are people wearing these products? —Gihan Amarasiriwardena ’11, co-founder of the clothing brand Ministry of Supply, on designing sustainable garments ­in the performance apparel space [Learn more→]( This edition of the MIT Weekly was brought to you by [the courage to climb that wall](. 🧗🏽 ♀️ Have feedback to share? Email mitdailyeditor@mit.edu. Thanks for reading, and have a great week! —MIT News [Forward This Email]( [Subscribe]( [MIT Logo] This email was sent to {EMAIL} because of your affiliation with MIT, or because you signed up for our newsletters. [subscribe]( [update preferences]( [unsubscribe]( [view in browser]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Youtube]( [Instagram]( MIT News Office · 77 Massachusetts Avenue · Cambridge, MA 02139 · USA