In a unique research collaboration, students make the case for less e-waste
SERC Scholars from around the MIT community examine the electronic hardware waste life cycle and climate justice.
Aspiring to sustainable development
In parallel, MIT and Universidad del Valle de Guatemala students seek to advance local innovation by and for Guatemalan communities.
Study finds mercury pollution from human activities is declining
Models show that an unexpected reduction in human-driven emissions led to a 10 percent decline in atmospheric mercury concentrations.
3 Questions: The past, present, and future of sustainability science
Professor Ronald Prinn reflects on how far sustainability has come as a discipline, and where it all began at MIT.
New filtration material could remove long-lasting chemicals from water
Membranes based on natural silk and cellulose can remove many contaminants, including “forever chemicals” and heavy metals.
New substrate material for flexible electronics could help combat e-waste
Electronic waste is a rapidly growing problem, but this degradable material could allow the recycling of parts from many single-use and wearable devices.
Scientists find a human “fingerprint” in the upper troposphere’s increasing ozone
Knowing where to look for this signal will help researchers identify specific sources of the potent greenhouse gas.
Study tracks exposure to air pollution through the day
Data from the Bronx account for people’s daily mobility patterns, reveal demographic disparities in exposure levels.
China-based emissions of three potent climate-warming greenhouse gases spiked in past decade
Two studies pinpoint their likely industrial sources and mitigation opportunities.
Q&A: What past environmental success can teach us about solving the climate crisis
In a new book, Professor Susan Solomon uses previous environmental successes as a source of hope and guidance for mitigating climate change.
Study finds health risks in switching ships from diesel to ammonia fuel
Ammonia could be a nearly carbon-free maritime fuel, but without new emissions regulations, its impact on air quality could significantly impact human health.
How to increase the rate of plastics recycling
A national bottle deposit fee could make a dramatic difference in reducing plastic waste, MIT researchers report.
Reducing carbon emissions from long-haul trucks
MIT researchers show a promising plan for using clean-burning hydrogen in place of the diesel fuel now used in most freight-transport trucks.
Getting to systemic sustainability
At the 2024 Earth Day Colloquium, World Resource Institute President and CEO Ani Dasgupta says systemic changes in a handful of countries will be critical to meeting global emissions goals.