Decarbonizing steel is as tough as steel

But a new study shows how advanced steelmaking technologies could substantially reduce carbon emissions.

Mark Dwortzan | Center for Sustainability Science and Strategy • mit
June 11, 2025 ~4 min

Study shows making hydrogen with soda cans and seawater is scalable and sustainable

The method’s overall carbon emissions are on par with those of other green hydrogen technologies.

Jennifer Chu | MIT News • mit
June 3, 2025 ~8 min


‘Heavy metals’ contaminate 17% of the world’s croplands, say scientists

Heavy metals are a silent threat to our food – here’s what we can do about it.

Jagannath Biswakarma, Senior Research Associate, School of Earth Sciences and Cabot Institute for the Environment, University of Bristol • conversation
April 17, 2025 ~6 min

Parents can soon use QR codes to reveal heavy metal content in baby food

A quick scan with a smartphone or an online search can identify foods with lower levels of these toxic substances.

C. Michael White, Distinguished Professor of Pharmacy Practice, University of Connecticut • conversation
Feb. 14, 2025 ~10 min

Cleaning up critical minerals and materials production, using microwave plasma

With technology developed at MIT, 6K is helping to bring critical materials production back to the U.S. without toxic byproducts.

Zach Winn | MIT News • mit
Feb. 7, 2025 ~8 min

Better ways to recover metals needed for technology from electronic waste could benefit the environment and human health

Recycling metals from e-waste will be critical as demand for raw materials is likely to outstrip supply in the near future.

Christopher E. Elgar, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Centre for Sustainable Materials Processing, University of Leicester • conversation
Dec. 3, 2024 ~6 min

Cinnamon, spice and ‘everything nice’ – why lead-tainted cinnamon products have turned up on shelves, and what questions consumers should ask

Lead can end up in cinnamon in a number of ways, but how much it contributes to blood lead levels in consumers depends on the amount of lead, as well as the frequency and amount of spice consumption.

Katarzyna Kordas, Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, University at Buffalo • conversation
Nov. 27, 2024 ~10 min

China-based emissions of three potent climate-warming greenhouse gases spiked in past decade

Two studies pinpoint their likely industrial sources and mitigation opportunities.

Mark Dwortzan | MIT Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change • mit
July 18, 2024 ~5 min


Machine learning unlocks secrets to advanced alloys

An MIT team uses computer models to measure atomic patterns in metals, essential for designing custom materials for use in aerospace, biomedicine, electronics, and more.

Poornima Apte | Department of Materials Science and Engineering • mit
July 18, 2024 ~9 min

Method recovers rare earth metal from old lightbulbs

"There is an urgent need for sustainable and uncomplicated methods for separating and recovering these strategic raw materials..."

ETH Zurich • futurity
July 18, 2024 ~7 min

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