Inclusive fusion + food on the brain + keeping older adults safe

MIT Weekly August 27, 2022 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](. Inclusive Fusion # Joy Dunn ’08 is vice president of operations at [Commonwealth Fusion Systems]( an MIT spinout working to achieve commercial [fusion energy](. She’s drawn to fusion’s potential for “addressing issues of environmental injustice through an equitable distribution of power and electricity.” And she’s passionate about creating an open and inclusive work environment where everyone can succeed. [Full story via MIT News →]( Top Headlines New artificial intelligence model can detect Parkinson’s from breathing patterns An MIT-developed device uses a neural network to discern the presence and severity of one of the fastest-growing neurological diseases. [Full story via MIT News →]( [MIT Heat Island]( These neurons have food on the brain MIT scientists have discovered a population of neurons that light up whenever we see images of food. [Full story via MIT News →]( [MIT Heat Island]( Investing in women pays off “Research shows female-led teams see two and a half times higher returns compared to male-led teams,” says Lisa Burton O’Toole SM ’09, PhD ’13. “It’s still amazing to me that more investors aren’t taking this data more seriously.” [Full story via Slice of MIT→]( [MIT Heat Island]( What if reducing emissions isn’t enough? In a new book, Professor Robert Pindyck says that in addition to emissions reductions, we must invest in climate adaptation — hybrid crops, sea walls, geoengineering, and more. [Full story via MIT News →]( [MIT Heat Island]( Helping older adults stay safe and independent MIT alumni-founded WalkWise uses a motion-detecting device for walkers to allow family members and care professionals to monitor adults with mobility challenges. [Full story via MIT News →]( [MIT Heat Island]( #ThisisMIT # [Follow @mistiatmit on Instagram→]( In the Media Opinion: The CHIPS are on the table — but semis are only part of the story // The Hill MIT President L. Rafael Reif and Blackstone chairman, CEO, and co-founder Stephen A. Schwarzman praise the new CHIPS and Science Act and highlight the need for further action on the “science” part of the law. “We urge Congress to capitalize on this bipartisan momentum and appropriate the funds that the bill authorizes,” they write. The nation’s “future competitiveness, prosperity, and security all rely on technological leadership. To sustain its strength in the long term, the U.S. needs to invent and manufacture the next new technologies.” [Full story via The Hill→]( Opinion: Every dollar spent on this climate technology is a waste // The New York Times Professor Charles Harvey and his co-author argue that federal subsidies for carbon capture and storage projects are “a counterproductive waste of money.” The subsidies create a “perverse incentive” that they say works against technologies that reduce carbon dioxide production in the first place. [Full story via The New York Times→]( The secrets in our sewers helping protect us from infectious diseases // New Scientist Professor Eric Alm discusses the importance of studying wastewater to better understand the health, wealth and environment of various communities. “It’s not about going in and taking a measurement,” says Alm. “It’s about developing a platform that can help you reach insights about what’s going on.” [Full story via The New Scientist→]( Student Veterans of America chapters aim to build community, assist service members // Reserve & National Guard Magazine Graduate student Reilly John Nuckel, a captain in the New Jersey Air National Guard, talks about the importance of building community and the meaningful role the Student Veterans of America chapter at MIT plays on campus. Nuckel says he often encourages veterans who are nervous about going back to school: “You have the skills, you have the knowledge. You deserve to be in the classroom with everybody else because of the steps you took to be there.” [Full story via Reserve & National Guard Magazine→]( Watch This # This past week, athletes, international students, and others began arriving on MIT’s campus in advance of the new fall semester. Today, all remaining members of the Class of 2026 will be moving into their dorms in preparation for [orientation](. To mark the occasion, enjoy this music video, [created for the MIT Admissions blogs]( by second-year student Daniel Ajayi. Welcome to MIT! [Watch the video→]( Digit 800 Approximate number of companies that work with MIT faculty and students in Institute-wide programs [Learn more via MIT Facts→]( [“] No academic institution can be thought of — or can think of itself – in isolation. We benefit from, and we depend on, a network of institutions with whom we exchange knowledge and ideas. —Richard Lester, associate provost and the Japan Steel Industry Professor, reflecting on the secrets to MIT’s continued success as a global leader of higher education — and its 11th consecutive No. 1 rank in the QS World University Rankings [Full story via QS.com→]( This edition of the MIT Weekly was brought to you by [new public art](. 🚨 Have feedback to share? Email mitdailyeditor@mit.edu. Thanks for reading, and have a great week! —MIT News Office [Forward This Email]( [Subscribe]( [MIT Logo] Massachusetts Institute of Technology 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