Environment

Science school for judgesMIT and the Broad Institute open their doors to the judicial community for a workshop at the intersection of science and the law.

Said and Done for September 2011The humanities, arts and social sciences monthly digest

Shake, rattle and … power up?A new MEMS device generates energy from small vibrations.

Boston Harbor Islands environmental monitoring effort aided by MIT Sea Grant internsElledge and Matthews collect and contribute to larger effort to observe and define changes on the islands' shores.

Improved buildings could make a big dent in climate changeNew MIT report on concrete buildings shows many areas for major reductions in their lifetime carbon footprint.

Paving the way to greenhouse gas reductionsNew MIT report on concrete roadways shows opportunities for significant carbon-footprint cuts.

On thin iceThe most recent global climate report fails to capture the reality of the changing Arctic seascape, according to MIT researchers.

Research update: Improving batteries’ energy storageNew method allows a dramatic boost in capacity for a given weight.

How to choose a catalystMIT researchers provide a simple principle to predict which materials will perform best in fuel cells and metal air batteries.

Coal-to-liquid fuels poised for a comebackWith rising energy prices, could coal-to-liquid conversion become an economical fuel option?

Report: Natural gas can play major role in greenhouse gas reductionThe cleanest of fossil fuels, it is far more abundant than previously thought and can have significant impact at little cost, MIT study finds.

The price of fresh airHow costly are the health damages from air pollution in China?

MIT signs international charter, deepening commitment to campus sustainability

When is it worth remanufacturing?MIT study shows sometimes it saves energy, sometimes it doesn’t — and sometimes it makes things worse.

In the World: New water-filter factory in GhanaAfter years of development, production of ceramic-pot water filters should soar with opening of new facility.

Hood appointed first Taylor FellowVisiting professor is an award-winning landscape architect and urban designer

A life filled with firstsEllen Swallow Richards, MIT’s first female graduate and faculty member, opened the door for women in science, and founded ecology and home economics along the way.

What's the price of environmental policies?Joint Program report examines discrepancies in climate-change cost estimates

Food and WaterResearchers model the effects of competition for global water resources on agriculture.

A greener way to grow carbon nanotubesStudy suggests new way for manufacturers to minimize environmental impact of carbon nanotube production

The 6-percent solutionHow corporations can reduce greenhouse-gas emissions through better planning.

Tracing Earth’s historyGeologists aim to improve the accuracy of their process for dating ancient rocks.

Laws of attractionOcean micro-organisms are shown to behave like larger animals in the presence of sulfur. Might this offer clues about the roles they play in regulating Earth’s climate?

Dr. Andrew Cook: The Engineer as Executive

Holdren sees opportunities in energy challengesPresidential science adviser calls for increased energy R&D to create jobs and boost business; supports conclusions of MIT nuclear study.

Study sees changing intensity of storms from warmingHemispheres will respond to climate change differently, with weaker summer storms in the North, study suggests.