A new hopping robot can leap over obstacles and traverse tough terrain, using a springy leg and flapping wings for control. EECS researchers say the insect-sized robot could aid in rescues, navigating through tight spaces such as collapsed buildings.

Via @onlyinbos on Instagram: “In 1958, MIT student Oliver Smoot became a unit of measurement when his fraternity used his body to measure the Mass Ave Bridge. Today, Google still lets you convert lengths to ‘smoots’ (5’7”)—a quirky Boston legacy.”

Dwai Banerjee uses anthropology and history as lenses to study the human impact of technology. His books examine topics from India’s computing history to the lives of its cancer patients. “I enjoy having the freedom to explore new topics,” he says.

U.S. News and World Report has rated MIT’s graduate program in engineering No. 1 in its annual rankings, continuing a 35-year streak. MIT Sloan also placed highly, occupying the No. 5 spot for the best graduate business programs.

Molecules that fight infection also act on the brain, inducing anxiety or sociability, neuroscientists have found. The new research, on a cytokine called IL-17, adds to growing evidence that immune molecules can influence behavior during illness.

Chemical engineers developed a way to mass manufacture nanoparticles that deliver cancer drugs directly to tumors. Scaling up production will help scientists test new cancer treatments that avoid many side effects of traditional chemotherapy.