Viruses harnessed to split water
MIT team’s biologically based system taps the power of sunlight directly, with the aim of turning water into hydrogen fuel.
Using plants to purify canal water
Researchers outline a natural way to clean Italy's polluted Pontine Marshes
3 Questions: David MacKay on renewable energy
Science advisor to the British government talks about Climategate, the Copenhagen conference, and emission-free energy technology
Slideshow: A Terrascope spring break
Students visit Abu Dhabi to learn about plans for the world’s first carbon-neutral city
A system that’s worth its salt
New approach to water desalination could lead to small, portable units that could be sent to disaster sites or remote locations.
Explained: Climate sensitivity
If we double the Earth’s greenhouse gases, how much will the temperature change? That’s what this number tells you.
In the World: Nanotech on the farm
MIT chemical engineer Paula Hammond lends her nanotechnology expertise to farmers in Africa.
Wind resistance
MIT analysis suggests generating electricity from large-scale wind farms could influence climate — and not necessarily in the desired way.
Explained: Radiative forcing
When there’s more energy radiating down on the planet than there is radiating back out to space, something’s going to have to heat up
Action needed to save climate, create jobs
MIT Energy Conference speakers see need to boost clean-energy businesses through a price on carbon and incentives for manufacturing
3 Questions: Hunt Allcott on behavioral economics and the energy crisis
Can understanding human irrationality help solve our energy problems? An MIT researcher explains
Ecological balancing act
Phytoplankton diversity depends on balance between competition and the ocean’s physical dynamics, new research suggests
Ancient hurricanes
Intense hurricane activity millions of years ago may have caused and sustained warmer climate conditions, new research suggests