Department of Energy (DoE)

Researchers have discovered how moss and green algae can protect themselves from too much sun.

Harnessing the right amount of sunshine

Study reveals the mechanisms of a protein that helps moss and green algae defend against too much light.

July 17, 2017

“In the Southwest, water availability for irrigation is already a concern,” says Elodie Blanc, a research scientist at MIT’s Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change. “If we mitigate, this could prevent added stress associated with climate change and a severe decrease in runoff in the western United States. But it will be even worse in the future if we don’t do anything a...

Climate change to deplete some US water basins, reduce irrigated crop yields

By 2050, the Southwest will produce significantly less cotton and forage, researchers report.

July 11, 2017

Researchers have observed a novel phenomenon in sheets of tantalum arsenide that mimics the behavior of theorized (but never observed) particles called Weyl fermions.

Exploring elusive high-energy particles in an unusual metal

Exotic metal displays behavior that could lead to new infrared detectors.

May 30, 2017

“Our whole goal was to monitor how materials evolve when exposed to radiation,” associate professor Michael Short explains, “but do it in a way that’s online,” without requiring samples to be extracted from that environment and tested in outside devices.

New method enables real-time monitoring of materials during irradiation

Technique will enable continuous measurement of damage to materials in high-radiation environments.

May 30, 2017

MIT students and postdocs with the Science Policy Initiative participated in Congressional Visits Day for the 11th consecutive year.

MIT students and postdocs advocate for science and engineering funding on Capitol Hill

Members of MIT's Science Policy Initiative meet with members of Congress on Science-Engineering-Technology Congressional Visits Day.

May 11, 2017

MIT physicists have found that a flake of graphene, when brought in close proximity with two superconducting materials, can inherit some of those materials’ superconducting qualities. As graphene is sandwiched between superconductors, its electronic state changes dramatically, even at its center. Pictured is the experimental concept and device schematic.

Sandwiched between superconductors, graphene adopts exotic electronic states

Platform may be used to explore avenues for quantum computing.

May 4, 2017

On the left, an atomic-force microscopy image shows a nanoporous graphene membrane after a burst test at 100 bars. The image shows that failed micromembranes (the dark black areas) are aligned with wrinkles in the graphene. On the right, two zoomed-in scanning electron microscopy images of graphene membranes show the before (top) and after of a burst test at pressure difference of 30 bars. The i...

Graphene holds up under high pressure

Used in filtration membranes, ultrathin material could help make desalination more productive.

April 24, 2017

Clean power planning

A new study details why it’s prudent to invest in carbon-free electricity now.

April 20, 2017

Researchers may have determined why fairly brittle electrode materials in batteries don’t crack under the strain of expansion and contraction cycles when they are used and recharged.

How some battery materials expand without cracking

Brittle electrodes handle expansion by going glassy, study shows.

April 12, 2017

Nuclear physicist Ernest J. Moniz has returned to MIT following more than three and a half years of service as the 13th U.S. Secretary of Energy. During his time in Washington he led the implementation of President Obama’s commitment to an “all of the above” energy strategy, including the establishment of new programs to foster research on clean, renewable forms of energy and next-generation...

Celebrating the homecoming of Ernest Moniz

Fresh from nearly four years as U.S. Energy Secretary, Moniz returns to his roots at MIT.

March 17, 2017

Mapping the effects of crystal defects

Study sheds light on interactions that change the way heat and electricity move through microchips.

March 14, 2017

Researchers at MIT have discovered new way of using laser light to tune electronic energy levels in two-dimensional films of crystal. The discovery could ultimately pave the way for the development of so-called “valleytronic” devices, which harness the way electrons gather around two equal energy states, known as valleys.

Toward “valleytronic” devices for data storage or computer logic systems

Researchers have discovered a new way to tune electronic energy levels in some 2-D materials.

March 9, 2017

Founded at the MIT Sloan School of Management, Sistine Solar creates custom solar panels designed to mimic home facades and other environments, as well as display custom designs, with aims of enticing more homeowners to install photovoltaic systems.

Solar panels get a face-lift with custom designs

Startup aims for wider U.S. solar adoption with photovoltaic panels that can display any image.

February 22, 2017

Using specialized equipment, the MIT team did tests in which they used a pyramidal-tipped probe to indent the surface of a piece of the sulfide-based material. Surrounding the resulting indentation (seen at center), cracks were seen forming in the material (indicated by arrows), revealing details of its mechanical properties.

Toward all-solid lithium batteries

Researchers investigate mechanics of lithium sulfides, which show promise as solid electrolytes.

February 2, 2017

“Diesel is the preferred fuel because of its high energy density and the high efficiency of the engines that run on diesel,” professor Gregory Stephanopoulos says. “The problem with diesel is that so far it is entirely made from fossil fuels.”

A step toward renewable diesel

Chemical engineers program yeast to convert plant sugars into oils.

January 16, 2017

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