Energy

A collage of agricultural elements including a satellite, crop fields, tomatoes, and growth charts illustrating data, boosted breeding techniques, chemical formulas, and a seedling highlights efforts to combat hunger.

Boosted Breeding and beyond: 3 tech trends that could end world hunger

A world without hunger is possible, and the development and deployment of new farming technologies could be one key to manifesting it.

Kristin Houser

Aerial view of solar panels arranged in rows on green grass, partially obscured by a yellowish haze.

Clean Energy

US hits 180 GW of solar power. Here’s how we get to 1,000 by 2035.

A quick look at the history of solar power in the US and the trends that could lead us into our sun-powered future.

Kristin Houser

Clean Energy

Which technologies will enable a cleaner steel industry?

Technologies like hydrogen-based direct reduction of ore, electrolysis, and advanced furnace technologies could reduce steel emissions.

Daniel Boero Vargas and Mandy Chan | World Economic Forum

Lava flowing through cooled volcanic rock, creating a striking contrast in texture and color with deposits of stone wool.

Engineering

“Stone wool”: lava-based material is more efficient, lasts longer than most insulation materials

Stone wool, a lava-based material, is more efficient and lasts longer than today's most common insulation materials.

Gaana Krishnendu and Vinay Pratap Singh

Abstract split image taken from the surface of the ocean

Climate Crisis

How one startup is using the ocean to fight climate change

California startup Ebb Carbon wants to build the world’s largest marine CDR plant to capture CO2 in Port Angeles, Washington.

Kristin Houser

Clean Energy

Here’s what it’ll take to power Africa’s clean energy future

The renewable electricity revolution is well underway in Africa, but needs to be shared across borders, this research found.

Rebecca Peters and Christiane Zarfl

3d illustration of a stylized electric toaster with slices of bread inside, powered by a sand battery.

Clean Energy

Startup is building a giant sand battery in Finland

A massive sand battery will help a Finnish town end its reliance on oil for heating, aiding the transition to a clean energy future.

Kristin Houser

A stylized illustration of a shower head spraying water

Sustainability

More water pressure means shorter showers, UK study finds

University students used less water during their showers when they had more water pressure — and they could see a clock.

Ross Pomeroy

A black and yellow image of a tokamak during nuclear fusion reactions

Clean Energy

AI solves huge problem holding back fusion power

Princeton researchers have trained an AI to predict and prevent a common problem during nuclear fusion reactions.

Kristin Houser

a collage of a satellite above earth and pollution

Climate Crisis

Google AI is searching the world for methane leaks from space

Google will provide computing resources to MethaneSAT, a project to identify climate-harming methane leaks from space.

Kristin Houser

electron beam welding being employed on a metal tube

Clean Energy

How electron beams could jumpstart the nuclear industry

Electron beam welding could accelerate manufacturing of small modular reactors, helping make nuclear power a part of our clean energy future.

Kristin Houser

A vibrant red sand dune in the desert with a blue sky

Climate Crisis

Mega solar farms could make it rain in deserts

A new study suggests that gigantic solar farms could be used to create “heat islands” that make rain locally.

Kristin Houser

A person is putting a battery into the back of a bike.

Cars

Cobalt-free batteries could power cars of the future

A new lithium-ion battery that includes a cathode based on organic materials could offer a more sustainable way to power electric cars.

Anne Trafton | MIT News Office

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