Prof. Francesco Stellacci and other researchers have created a membrane that can absorb up to 20 times its weight in oil, and can be recycled many times for future use. The oil itself can also be recovered. Some 200,000 tons of oil have already been spilled at sea since the start of the decade. See the MIT News Office for the full story.
In May, Prof. Irvine was selected as a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator. This five-year appointment provides researchers with the resources and flexibility to pursue new ideas. To learn more about this honor, see the MIT News Office.
Professors Rubner and Van Vliet, grad student Jenny Lichter, and senior Maricela Delgadillo are part of a team of MIT researchers who have developed bacteria-resistant films with the potential for medical-industry use in order to prevent the spread of hospital-acquired infections. See the MIT News Office for further details.
