Hiroshi Ishii and the Tangible Media Group at the MIT Media Lab have pioneered new ways for people to interact with computers, with the invention of the “tangible user interface.”It began with a vision of "Tangible Bits," where users can manipulate ordinary physical objects to access digital information. It evolved into a bolder vision of "Radical Atoms," where materials can change form and reconfigure themselves just as pixels can on a screen. This experimental exhibit of three iconic works — SandScape, inFORM, and TRANSFORM — is part of the MIT Museum's ongoing efforts to collect the physical machines as well as preserve the user experience of, in Ishii's words, making atoms dance.Learn more about the exhibits here, or watch the YouTube video of Hiroshi Ishii's talk at the MIT Museum below.This is an ongoing exhibition in our MIT Collects exhibition.

Janet Echelman's Remembering the Future widens our perspective in time, giving sculptural form to the history of the Earth's climate from the last ice age to the present moment, and then branching out to visualize multiple potential futures.Constructed from colored twines and ropes that are braided, knotted and hand-spliced to create a three-dimensional form, the immersive artwork greets you with its grand scale presiding over the MIT Museum lobby.This large-scale installation by 2022-2024 MIT Distinguished Visiting Artist Janet Echelman, was developed during her residency at the MIT Center for Art, Science & Technology (CAST). Architect, engineer and MIT Associate Professor Caitlin Mueller collaborated on the development of the piece.The title, Remembering the Future was inspired by the writings commonly attributed to Søren Kierkegaard: "The most painful state of being is remembering the future, particularly the one you'll never have."As the culmination of three years of dedicated research and collaboration, this site-specific installation explores Earth's climate timeline, translating historical records and possible futures into sculptural form.Echelman's climate research for this project was guided by Professor Raffaele Ferrari and the MIT Lorenz Center, creators of En-ROADS simulator which uses current climate data and modeling to visualize the impact of environmental policies and actions on energy systems.Learn more about Janet Echelman and the MIT Museum x CAST Collaboration.Learn more about the exhibition at the MIT Museum.

What is holography? It's not just beautiful art – it's also a range of measurement techniques that let you record a 3D light field. Come learn the theory of wave optics, interference, and diffraction, and then make your own holograms in our hands-on lab! See what your favorite image looks like when turned into a computer-generated hologram. We'll also do demos and visit the newly renovated MIT Museum, home of the world's most comprehensive collection of holographic art. No prior background required. Must register by 12/20/2024Dates: Jan 7th, 9th, 12th, 14th, 16th (M, W, F) 10 AM–NoonTime: 10AM - 12PM ESTLocation: MIT Beaver Works - 300 Technology Square, Suite 200Registration Opens: October 27 1, 2025To register email: holography@ll.mit.edu. Limit 30 students. NOTE: All 6 class sessions are required.

In this IAP series, you will learn how to design, test, and iterate your own puzzle box while exploring what makes puzzles fun, challenging, frustrating, and/or rewarding. No previous experience with puzzles, engineering, or modeling is needed. We will provide supplies for prototyping and an introduction to digital prototyping.Registration will be capped at 15 participants. Please only RSVP if you plan on attending most of the sessions.Series Schedule (Subject to Modification)In-Person Sessions are 10am-11:30amOnline sessions are 10am-11amWeek 1Monday 1/5: In-PersonExplore a variety of puzzle boxes while exploring goals, challenge level, and design decisionsBegin to brainstorm and outline ideas for your own puzzle boxTuesday 1/6: VirtualShare and discuss initial design ideasExplore common mechanisms, signposting, and how to systematically add complexityWednesday 1/7: VirtualBegin prototyping puzzle boxes and experimenting with mechanismsExplore how to effectively user-testThursday 1/8: ZoomIntroduction to designing puzzles digitallyFriday 1/9: In-PersonBuild and feedback sessionWeek 2Wednesday 1/14: VirtualDesign check-in (Note time of this session may change)Week 3Wednesday 1/21: In-PersonTesting and iterationFriday 1/23Present and play test your puzzles

On Wednesday nights you are invited to come to The Table for peaceful Christian worship in the Chapel at 5:15 pm and dinner in the Main Dining Room of W11 at around 6:30 pm.We worship with beautiful songs, open conversation about the Scriptures, prayers and a simple sharing of communion around the altar. Then we enjoy dinner together and good company together. Whether you come every week or just drop by once in a while, there is a caring community for you at the Table.You are truly welcome to come as you are: undergrad, grad, or post-doc; sure of your faith or wondering what it is all about; gay, straight, bi, trans, questioning. Please join us for no-pressure worship and fellowship.Hosted by the Lutheran Epsicopal Ministry @ MIT. For more information, or to verify gathering times during holiday and vacation periods, please contact chaplains Andrew Heisen (heisen@mit.edu) and Kevin Vetiac (kvet246@mit.edu).Please note that we will not meet during the week of Thanksgiving nor between Christmas and New Year's Day. Please see our website (le-ministry.mit.edu) for updates on meeting times and locations as well as additional details.

Time: 5:00 PMLocation: Cambridge, MA