Energy

Growing population will increase global climate challengesMIT report shows China and developing nations will come to dominate emissions that promote climate change

Fuel for thoughtEconomist Christopher Knittel uncovers surprising facts about the cars we drive — and about the price of gas.

Sustainable approaches to reducing food waste in India

Mysterious electron acceleration explainedComputer simulation identifies source of aurora-causing high-speed electrons in space

Knight Fellows offer tips on tackling the energy and climate science beatScience journalists discuss the current state of their profession and its future.

Making droplets drop fasterNew nanopatterned surfaces could improve the efficiency of powerplants and desalination systems.

Toying with biological systemsBy swapping microbial genes, Chris Voigt designs cells with novel functions.

Ashley Finan: Developing better policy for energy innovation

Liquid batteries could level the loadMIT team makes progress toward goal of inexpensive grid-scale batteries that could help make intermittent renewable energy sources viable.

Revealing how a battery material worksMIT team uncovers a reason why the hottest new material for rechargeable batteries works so well.

New tool for analyzing solar-cell materialsWebsite offers a way of optimizing solar cell materials and production.

Turning heat into powerA new kind of high-temperature photonic crystal could someday power everything from smartphones to spacecraft.

Harnessing nature’s solar cellsPhotovoltaic panels made from plant material could become a cheap, easy alternative to traditional solar cells.

Driving the greenNew study suggests that electric-powered trucks will save money for businesses.

Jake Whitcomb, SDM '12: Sustainability Requires Systems Engineering

For businesses, going green brings in greenbacksStudy finds manufacturers leading the drive to make sustainability a mainstream — and profitable — business practice.

Solving energy problems, one molecule at a timeMaterials scientist explores new possibilities in topics from molecules to rooftop solar panels.

Emilio Baglietto: Better reactors grow from better simulations

Seminar challenges with systems approach to climate changeEnergy Systems and Climate Change Mitigation tackles the multidimensional challenges of climate change.

Here comes the sunA new sunflower-inspired pattern increases concentrated solar efficiency.

Designing policies to curb fuel use, GHG emissions

Knittel named first energy faculty chair at MIT

The case of the missing gas mileageAutomakers have made great strides in fuel efficiency in recent decades — but the mileage numbers of individual vehicles have barely increased. An MIT economist explains the conundrum.

Microbe metabolismFor the smallest organisms, size determines how microbes spend energy.

How to kick-start new energy technologiesThree-year study produces proposals for boosting energy innovation to meet growing demand, curb global warming.

Five-year effort by Campus Energy Task Force saves MIT millions of dollars, kilowatt-hours

Need a new material? New tool can helpExhaustive reference system and interactive toolkit could revolutionize materials research, potentially enabling new types of manufacturing.