E-bikes are becoming e-waste – here’s how to reduce the environmental cost

Electric bike batteries can be particularly dangerous and tricky to dispose of.

Yvonne Ryan, Associate Professor in Environmental Science, University of Limerick • conversation
June 11, 2025 ~6 min

How the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ positions US energy to be more costly for consumers and the climate

Some technologies could rapidly cut emissions, while others do little to fight climate change. The House bill favors the latter while nixing support for the former.

Daniel Cohan, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rice University • conversation
June 10, 2025 ~10 min


Robots run out of energy long before they run out of work to do − feeding them could change that

Even the best batteries fall far short of animal metabolism for energy storage. Fueling robots with ‘food’ could narrow the gap.

James Pikul, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison • conversation
June 2, 2025 ~9 min

How can India decarbonize its coal-dependent electric power system?

A detailed MIT analysis identifies some promising options but also raises unexpected concerns.

Nancy W. Stauffer | MIT Energy Initiative • mit
May 6, 2025 ~16 min

Is the UK’s energy storage growing fast enough?

Consumers in Britain are paying for clean power that was never actually generated or used.

Victor Becerra, Professor of Power Systems Engineering, University of Portsmouth • conversation
May 1, 2025 ~8 min

Why predicting battery performance is like forecasting traffic − and how researchers are making progress

Battery management systems now blend physics and machine learning, delivering real‑time insights to boost safety, efficiency and lifespan even under heavy use.

Emmanuel Olugbade, Ph.D. Candidate in Mechanical Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology • conversation
April 25, 2025 ~9 min

Utilities choosing coal, solar, nuclear or other power sources have a lot to consider, beyond just cost

To really compare different electricity sources, you also have to look at the roles they play in keeping the lights on and their drawbacks.

Paola Pimentel Furlanetto, Ph.D. candidate in power systems, UMass Amherst • conversation
April 14, 2025 ~8 min

Using liquid air for grid-scale energy storage

New research finds liquid air energy storage could be the lowest-cost option for ensuring a continuous power supply on a future grid dominated by carbon-free but intermittent sources of electricity.

Nancy W. Stauffer | MIT Energy Initiative • mit
April 10, 2025 ~13 min


New approach could speed up electric car charging in the cold

Electric car charging becomes less efficient in colder weather, but a new strategy for manufacturing battery electrodes could speed things up.

U. Michigan • futurity
April 3, 2025 ~6 min

Radioisotope generators − inside the ‘nuclear batteries’ that power faraway spacecraft

When a spacecraft is too far from the Sun to use solar panels, it needs a different reliable source of power.

Benjamin Roulston, Assistant Professor of Physics, Clarkson University • conversation
March 14, 2025 ~9 min

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