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Big Elm Solar in Bell County, Texas, a 200 MW renewable energy facility, is now operational.
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Consortium led by MIT, Harvard University, and Mass General Brigham spurs development of 408 MW of renewable energy

Projects in Texas and North Dakota support clean energy transition as MIT moves closer to 2026 net-zero goal.

Prototypes of machines from Charge Robotics’ autonomously assemble sections of a solar farm as part of a pilot project in partnership with SOLV Energy.
Making solar projects cheaper and faster with portable factories

Charge Robotics, founded by MIT alumni, has created a system that automatically assembles and installs completed sections of large solar farms.

Captured by astronaut Don Pettit aboard the International Space Station (ISS), this long-exposure photograph showcases Earth's city lights, the upper atmosphere's airglow, and streaked stars. The bright flashes at the center are reflections of sunlight from SpaceX's Starlink satellites in low-Earth orbit.
Study: Climate change will reduce the number of satellites that can safely orbit in space

Increasing greenhouse gas emissions will reduce the atmosphere’s ability to burn up old space junk, MIT scientists report.

DiSTAP researchers developed sensors for rapid iron detection and monitoring in plants, enabling precision agriculture and sustainable crop management.
SMART researchers pioneer nanosensor for real-time iron detection in plants

The innovation enables nondestructive iron tracking within plant tissues, helping to optimize plant nutrient management, reduce fertilizer waste, and improve crop health.

An MIT-led study confirms the Antarctic ozone layer is healing as a direct result of global efforts to reduce ozone-depleting substances. Foreground image of the ozone layer is from Sept. 28, 2024.
Study: The ozone hole is healing, thanks to global reduction of CFCs

New results show with high statistical confidence that ozone recovery is going strong.

For her doctoral research, Zoe Fisher is extending her master’s work to explore defects in ceramics — specifically, in alumina.
Developing materials for stellar performance in fusion power plants

Zoe Fisher, a doctoral student in NSE, is researching how defects can alter the fundamental properties of ceramics upon radiation.

New experiments show that the immediate effect of atomic displacements, known as the “beam on effect,” should not be an issue during fusion power plant operations.
Will neutrons compromise the operation of superconducting magnets in a fusion plant?

Tests suggest these powerful magnets will not suffer immediate loss of performance during irradiation.

Rincon de la Vieja, an active volcano in Costa Rica, experiences elevated levels of carbon dioxide due to its volcanic activity, where CO2 naturally seeps from cracks in the volcano's foundation, creating a unique environment for studying the effects of how plants might respond to rising global CO2 levels.
3 Questions: Exploring the limits of carbon sequestration

Assistant Professor César Terrer discusses pioneering volcano research to track carbon dynamics in tropical forests.

An example of the different types of IoT devices, physical objects that contain sensors and software that connect to the internet, that are coordinated to increase power grid resilience.
Rooftop panels, EV chargers, and smart thermostats could chip in to boost power grid resilience

MIT engineers propose a new “local electricity market” to tap into the power potential of homeowners’ grid-edge devices.

A modeling study by an MIT team has shown that electrifying residential heating can be a substantial step toward reducing carbon emissions, as well as costs, over the combined electricity and natural gas sectors. Here, the team poses beside a high-efficiency electric heat pump system that provides heating to the home, replacing the natural gas-fired furnace. Left to right: Audun Botterud, Saurabh Amin, Rahman Khorramfar, Morgan Santoni-Colvin, and Leslie Norford. Not pictured: Dharik Mallapragada.
Reducing carbon emissions from residential heating: A pathway forward

A new MIT study identifies steps that can lower not only emissions, but also costs, across the combined electric power and natural gas industries that now supply heating fuels.