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Exploring the Environmental Impact of Generative AI

In a two-part series, MIT News explores the environmental implications of generative AI. In this article, we look at why this technology is so resource-intensive.

20 Jan 2025

Construction Materials as a Solution for Carbon Dioxide Storage

Transforming building materials into carbon sinks could sequester 16.6 billion tons of CO2 annually, driving sustainable practices in the construction industry.

20 Jan 2025

Massive EV Batteries Undermine Climate Goals

The growth of lithium-ion battery size in EVs poses environmental risks. Effective policies are needed to promote smaller, more sustainable electric vehicles.

20 Jan 2025

A Globally Significant Step Forward in Securing a Sustainable Future for Australia’s Aluminum Industry

The Australian Aluminium Council welcomes the Australian Government’s announcement of a production credit for the aluminum smelting sector as part of its Future Made in Australia plan.

From Australian Aluminium Council 20 Jan 2025

Ruthenium Nanoclusters Improve Hydrogen Production

Insights into ruthenium nanocluster evolution show enhanced hydrogen production from ammonia, crucial for developing effective catalysts in sustainable energy.

14 Jan 2025

Magnetocaloric Heat Pumps Offer a Greener Alternative to Traditional Refrigeration

A team of researchers from the U. S. Department of Energy Ames National Laboratory developed a magnetocaloric heat pump that matches current vapor-compression heat pumps for weight, cost, and performance.

11 Jan 2025

Using Topology Optimization to Reduce Carbon Footprint in Engineering

Awed as a young child by the majesty of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, civil engineer and MIT Morningside Academy for Design (MAD) Fellow Zane Schemmer has retained his fascination with bridges: what they look like, why they work, and how they're designed and built.

11 Jan 2025

The Future of Biobatteries: A Fungal Approach

This 3D-printed fungal battery from Empa offers a biodegradable alternative to traditional batteries, powering sensors with low-energy microbial fuel cells.

10 Jan 2025

MIT Engineers Develop Nanofiltration Technology to Reduce Aluminum Waste

Used in everything from soda cans and foil wrap to circuit boards and rocket boosters, aluminum is the second-most-produced metal in the world after steel. By the end of this decade, demand is projected to drive up aluminum production by 40 percent worldwide.

9 Jan 2025

DARPA Funds $7.8M Project to Harness Marine Microbes for Sustainable Energy

The PODPower system uses marine microbial fuel cells to generate eco-friendly energy, supporting oceanographic research and monitoring climate change impacts.

7 Jan 2025