Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences

This artist’s rendering shows an imagined view of the three planets orbiting an ultracool dwarf star just 40 light-years from Earth that were discovered using the TRAPPIST telescope at ESO’s La Silla Observatory. In this view, one of the inner planets is seen in transit across the disc of its tiny and dim parent star.

Scientists discover potentially habitable planets

Just 40 light years from Earth, planets are best targets so far for search for extraterrestrial life.

May 2, 2016

Higher coal use in Asia could increase water stress

Aerosol emissions would slow warming but suppress rainfall.

April 28, 2016

Colette Heald describes her current work as “trying to understand the sources, transformation, and impact of gases and particles in the atmosphere, which is very dynamic with a lot of chemical compounds that interact.”

There’s something in the air

Colette Heald studies atmospheric gases and particles, and how they affect air quality and climate.

April 28, 2016

MIT Energy Initiative awards nine seed fund grants for early-stage energy research

Winning teams will use grants to advance research in areas including fuel cells, solar-powered desalination, and impacts of electric vehicle charging on the power grid.

April 25, 2016

“Everybody agrees that on geological timescales over hundreds of millions of years, tectonics control the climate, but we didn’t know how to connect this,” says Oliver Jagoutz.

Study: Ancient tectonic activity was trigger for ice ages

Continental shifting may have acted as a natural mechanism for extreme carbon sequestration.

April 18, 2016

QS World University Rankings rates MIT No. 1 in 12 subjects for 2016

MIT ranked within the top 5 globally for 19 of 42 subject areas.

April 8, 2016

“For China, it looks like industrial growth [has the greatest impact on water shortages] as people get wealthier,” Charles Fant says. “In India, population growth has a huge effect. It varies by region.”

Water problems in Asia’s future?

Study finds high risk of severe water stress in Asia by 2050.

March 30, 2016

This artist’s rendering shows the super-Earth 55 Cancri e in front of its parent star. The planet is essentially a heat-seeking fireball, orbiting extremely close to its star. It circles in just 18 hours, compared to Earth’s leisurely 365-day journey around the sun.

First temperature map of a “super-Earth” reveals lava world

Exoplanet lacks atmosphere, is covered in rivers of magma.

March 30, 2016

School of Science honors staff with 2016 Infinite Mile Awards

March 28, 2016

HD 80606 b (rendered here) stands out amid the hundreds of exoplanets discovered recently because of its highly eccentric orbit. Researchers have studied how the planet’s temperature changes as it approaches, sweeps by, and moves away from its star.

A highly eccentric exoplanet

Observations of an extreme-weather planet raise questions about hot Jupiters’ origins.

March 28, 2016

Title for ‘Earth’s first animal’ likely goes to simple sea creature

Sponges may be source of molecular fossils that significantly predate Cambrian explosion.

February 22, 2016

Terrascope students Nikita Consul (left) and Jaclyn Wilson building a pressure vessel to simulate a possible underground facility for sequestering atmospheric carbon dioxide.

Terrascope recognized by National Academy of Engineering

Freshman learning community recognized as an Exemplar in Engineering Ethics Education.

February 19, 2016

Humans settled, set fire to Madagascar’s forests 1,000 years ago

Stalagmites reveal huge shift in ancient Madagascar’s plant life, unrelated to climate change.

February 17, 2016

“If (mixotrophs) weren’t in the oceans, we’re suggesting atmospheric carbon dioxide might be higher, because there would less of the large, carbon rich particles formed which efficiently transfer carbon to depth,” Mick Follows says.

Living a “mixotrophic” lifestyle

Some tiny plankton may have big effect on ocean’s carbon storage.

February 1, 2016

MIT on Climate = Science + Action

MIT will host a daylong symposium to address the nexus of science and action on climate change.

January 22, 2016

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