Engineers produce smallest 3-D transistor yet
Process that modifies semiconductor material atom by atom could enable higher-performance electronics.
“Sun in a box” would store renewable energy for the grid
Design for system that provides solar- or wind-generated power on demand should be cheaper than other leading options.
Understanding how plants use sunlight
Studies of how photoprotection works at the molecular level may provide a pathway to more biomass and crops.
Accelerating 3-D printing
Researchers have designed a novel printhead that works with unprecedented speed and pioneered ways to melt and extrude renewable materials.
What happens when materials take tiny hits
High-speed camera shows incoming particles cause damage by briefly melting surfaces as they strike.
MIT continues progress toward greenhouse gas reductions
New generating plant, building retrofits, and progress in metering energy use represent ongoing gains.
René García Franceschini: Engineering energy solutions for all
“The human impact that I have is equally, if not more, important to me than the technical rigor of the work I’m doing,” says the senior.
MIT engineers fly first-ever plane with no moving parts
The silent, lightweight aircraft doesn’t depend on fossil fuels.
Explaining the plummeting cost of solar power
Researchers uncover the factors that have caused photovoltaic module costs to drop by 99 percent.
Structure of fossil-fuel source rocks is finally decoded
Detailed 3-D imaging of kerogen, a source of petroleum and natural gas, could improve estimates of recoverable amounts.
Extending the life of low-cost, compact, lightweight batteries
New design could greatly extend the shelf life of single-use metal-air batteries for electric vehicles, off-grid storage, and other applications.
See-through film rejects 70 percent of incoming solar heat
Material could be used to coat windows, save on air-conditioning costs.
A novel way to advance a better battery design
Led by “Queen of Batteries” Christina Lampe-Onnerud, Cadenza Innovation is licensing its lithium ion battery cell architecture to manufacturers around the world.
Heat-seeking studies
Graduate student Artyom Kossolapov takes precision measurements of critical heat flux in nuclear reactors — and rocks out on electric guitar.