The Earth has warmed by almost two degrees Fahrenheit since 1880. This seemingly small increase in global warming explains why much of the land ice on the planet is starting to melt, the oceans are rising at an accelerating pace, and weather extremes are becoming common. Climate researchers have vetted the overwhelming science-based evidence and conclude that human activities associated with the release of greenhouse gases are the primary culprit. Read more…

Solar energy holds the best potential for meeting humanity’s future long-term energy needs while cutting greenhouse gas emissions—but to realize this potential will require increased emphasis on developing lower-cost technologies and more effective deployment policy. This lecture presents results of a comprehensive study on The Future of Solar Energy by the MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI), which is part of a series of multidisciplinary reports that examine the role various energy sources could play in meeting future energy demand under carbon dioxide emission constraints. Read more…

Cancer is scary. We all know someone who has battled cancer. Cancer is the second most common cause of death in the United States, killing a half million people of all ages nationwide each year.  For many, simply being diagnosed with cancer can feel like a death sentence.

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Everything we see today, our precious atoms and molecules, got here by traveling on swaths of dark matter. From the oscillations of the hot plasma of the primordial universe, to the formation and dynamics of modern galaxies, dark matter plays a necessary role. The very construct in which we sit is defined by its abundance. Our universe’s evolution is controlled tightly by a cosmic tug-of-war between dark matter and dark energy. Read more…

The Rupununi region of Guyana is a mix of lowland savannas and tropical forests. The vast savannas include an expansive network of wetlands that connect the Guyana’s main river drainage, Essequibo River, to the Amazon River during the rainy season. This unique biogeographic feature influences fish communities of the area. One of the fish species found here is in dire need of protection. Read more…

There’s a treasure at the edge of the Solar System. It’s a data recorder, aboard the New Horizons spacecraft, slowly sending to Earth several gigabytes acquired during last summer’s flyby of Pluto.  That information is still coming down.  At the mission’s home base in Maryland, William S. Higgins witnessed the excitement during the encounter.  Now he reviews results, downlinked in recent months, that are illuminating the mysteries of Pluto, its five moons, and its neighborhood. Read more…