Mechanical engineering

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

‘I speak MISTI’MIT program sends students abroad for experiences tailor-made for their academic and professional interests.

Undergraduate energy research ‘fueled’ by team approach

Stopping arthritis before it startsA commonly used drug may prevent osteoarthritis in people who suffer severe joint injuries.

In the World: Design summit’s inventions find willing buyersDevices to improve lives in developing countries are so appealing that even the initial prototypes attract buyers.

Disease-causing tangle could spawn new materialsAmyloids, associated with Alzheimer’s and other diseases, could be inspiration for tough synthetic polymers.

How to make solar power 24/7MIT team designs concentrated solar thermal system that could store heat in vats of molten salts, supplying constant power.

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

Inside the innards of a nuclear reactorTiny robots may monitor underground pipes for radioactive leaks.

Pedro Reis, of CEE and MechE, attends NAE's Japan-America Frontiers of Engineering Symposium

A new way to build nanostructuresCombining top-down and bottom-up approaches, new low-cost method could be a boon to research with a variety of applications.

Moving inventions to the marketplaceMIT/Harvard symposium seeks commercial opportunities for emerging technologies.

‘Smart cars’ that are actually, well, smartMechanical engineers work to develop intelligent onboard transportation systems that can prevent car crashes.

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

Extreme electric racingMIT’s eSuperbike charges up for an eco-friendly edition of the Isle of Man motorcycle race.

‘Artificial leaf’ moves closer to realityMIT researchers develop a device that combines a solar cell with a catalyst to split water molecules and generate energy.

Doroski wins 2011 Dean A. Horn AwardGiven for undergraduate study in marine research

Making materials to orderNew method of forming composites allows fine-tuning of mechanical, electrical, thermal and other properties.

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

How to control complex networksNew algorithm offers ability to influence systems such as living cells or social networks.

A competition full of hacksAnnual 2.007 finale pits robots against MIT history.

Tess Saxton-Fox claims Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year honor

Solar power, with a side of hot running waterNew system for flat-panel solar power could be combined with hot water systems for greater performance.

New method found for controlling conductivityReversible control of electrical and thermal properties could find uses in storage systems.

Out of thick airMIT graduate student is working to make water available for the world’s poor by refining the tools and techniques of fog harvesting.

Energy Initiative announces new seed grant awardsMore than $2 million awarded to 14 projects

Two current students, three alumni win Soros fellowships

MechE's Kripa Varanasi chosen for Doherty ProfessorshipFunding to support research on nanoengineered surfaces for hydrate mitigation in subsea oil and gas operations

Seeing below the surfaceEngineers devise a new way to inspect advanced materials used to build airplanes