A carbon-lite atmosphere could be a sign of water and life on other terrestrial planets, MIT study finds
A low carbon abundance in planetary atmospheres, which the James Webb Space Telescope can detect, could be a signature of habitability.
Department
Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences
MIT Generative AI Week fosters dialogue across disciplines
During the last week of November, MIT hosted symposia and events aimed at examining the implications and possibilities of generative AI.
Accelerated climate action needed to sharply reduce current risks to life and life-support systems
2023 Global Change Outlook from the MIT Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change quantifies benefits of policies that cap global warming at 1.5 C.
A mineral produced by plate tectonics has a global cooling effect, study finds
An accordion-textured clay called smectite efficiently traps organic carbon and could help buffer global warming over millions of years.
Rewarding excellence in open data
MIT researchers who share their data recognized at second annual awards celebration.
Robert van der Hilst to step down as head of the Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences
Professor led EAPS for more than a decade, cultivating a focus on Earth systems, planets, climate science, and the origins of life.
Forging climate connections across the Institute
Inaugural Fast Forward Faculty Fund grants aim to spur new work on climate change and deepen collaboration at MIT.
With Psyche, a journey to an ancient asteroid is set to begin
The NASA mission, a project with deep roots at MIT, is setting course for a metallic space rock that could be the remnant of a planetary core like our own.
Boom, crackle, pop: Sounds of Earth’s crust
MIT scientists find the sounds beneath our feet are fingerprints of rock stability.
Improving US air quality, equitably
Study finds climate policy alone cannot meaningfully reduce racial/economic disparities in air pollution exposure.
3 Questions: A new PhD program from the Center for Computational Science and Engineering
Co-directors Youssef Marzouk and Nicolas Hadjiconstantinou describe how the standalone degree aims to train students in cross-cutting aspects of computational science and engineering.
School of Science welcomes new faculty in 2023
Sixteen professors join the departments of Biology; Chemistry; Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences; Mathematics; and Physics.
3 Questions: The first asteroid sample returned to Earth
Richard Binzel describes how asteroid dirt and dust delivered by OSIRIS-Rex, with help from MIT, may reveal clues to the solar system’s origins.
Ancient Amazonians intentionally created fertile “dark earth”
The rich soil holds thousands of tons of carbon, sequestered over centuries by indigenous practices, a new study suggests.
Explained: The 1.5 C climate benchmark
After a summer of weather extremes, where does the world stand in its goal to stem rising temps?