Co-optimizing hydrogen and power supply chain infrastructure could help reduce emissions and overall infrastructure costs.
When combined with water, aluminum can provide a high-energy-density, easily transportable, and flexible source of hydrogen to serve as a carbon-free replacement for fossil fuels.
Using trucks for both energy transmission and storage in a new hydrogen supply chain planning model reveals cost reductions of 9%.
Hydrogen-generated electricity can be a cost-competitive candidate for backing up solar and wind.
Solar photovoltaic-powered electrolysis could produce cost-competitive green hydrogen by 2030.
Life might survive, and thrive, in a hydrogen world.
Hydrogen has the potential to help decarbonize the entire energy economy.
Water-splitting nanoscale hydrogen batteries waste less energy, have faster charges, and longer lives.
On the history and future of fusion, which involves the fusing of hydrogen.
Earliest evidence of hydrogen gas shown to be approximately 180 million years after the Big Bang, in one of Physics World’s 10 Breakthroughs of 2018.
Providing evidence of hydrogen’s “spillover effect”.
Bioengineered microorganisms produce hydrogen.
Progress in splitting water to produce hydrogen fuel as an alternative to fossil fuel.
Helium gas is used in a cryogenic system to keep high-temperature superconducting magnets cool to create fusion energy.
Findings have shown that when nucleons are close together, they will pair up the same way, regardless of whether they inhabit a small nucleus like helium or a more crowded one like calcium.
A new superconducting cable filled with supercritical helium as a cooling agent brings commercial fusion one step closer to fruition.
Colliding beams of helium and carbon could fuse their nuclei to produce oxygen.
On the history and future of fusion, which involves the fusing of hydrogen to produce helium.
First commercial airborne wind turbine using a helium-filled shell, from MIT spinout Altaeros Energies.
Superfluid helium research among professor’s recognized contributions.
An ode to former Building 20, home to Collins Cryostat, a device for producing liquid helium that led to a magnetic resonance imaging technique used in hospitals.
Richard Feynman, MIT alum and cultural icon, made major contributions to fluidity, the frictionless behavior of liquid helium.
In memory of a professor whose contributions included the two-fluid theory of liquid helium.
MIT visiting scholar Robert Gillard’s lab is pushing the boundaries of synthetic chemistry, focusing on elements on the edges of the periodic table, like boron and beryllium.
Produced naturally at high altitudes, beryllium provides insights into the effects of aviation emissions.
Scientists sleep easy after beryllium target generates neutrinos, validating the Standard Model of Particle Physics.
Again the target of friendly fire, beryllium faces off against protons to produce muons, elementary particles with the same charge as electrons and 200 times the mass.
Using specialized carbon nanotubes, MIT engineers have designed a novel sensor that can detect SARS-CoV-2 without any antibodies, giving a result within minutes.
A novel semisolid flow battery uses an electrically conductive additive called carbon black.
A problem and a solution discovered to overcome the struggle carbon dioxide conversion systems have when performing at scale.
New research finds natural carbon uptake in concrete could offset 5% of U.S. pavement cement production emissions.
Carbon nanotube transistors are a step closer to commercial reality thanks to a new manufacturing technique that paves the way for more energy efficient, 3D microprocessors.
A new technique using ultrathin film carbon nanotubes produces aerospace-grade composites more efficiently than before.
Carbon nanotubes could replace silicon chips in next-gen computers.
Using multimegawatt linear accelerators, scientists are working to determine the ratio of carbon to oxygen in the universe.
On negative carbon emissions and firm low-carbon energy resources.
Mildred Dresselhaus, celebrated and beloved MIT professor, helped unlock the mysteries of carbon, earning her the nickname “queen of carbon science”.
Carbon nanotubes: From making airplane frames lighter to turning spinach plants turned into explosive detectors to improving the performance of capacitors, batteries, and water desalination systems.
Professor awarded for work on the mathematics on Earth’s carbon cycle.
Professor creates a never-before-seen compound, known as an alkylidene, with a carbon and metal double bond.
A pencil draws carbon nanotube sensors onto sheets of paper.
A new tool combines fluorine, chlorine, and bromine to provide etching capabilities for a wide variety of novel materials and materials research.
A novel electrolyte of carbon and fluorine could allow for advanced metal electrodes and higher voltages in lithium batteries.
An advanced MRI using fluorine can track living cells.
Adding fluorine to pharmaceuticals offers flexibility and potential cost-savings for new drugs.
Fibers detect and produce sound by varying fluorine content.
Students discover high levels of fluorine in the soil surrounding the most active Hawaiian volcano.
Fluorine among the elements providing evidence of a possible mass extinction 250 million years ago.
Fluorine replaces hydrogen for a more simple method to make complex emulsions.
Attaching fluorine to drug compounds could make drugs more potent.
Study showing nearly three times more neon in the sun than previously believed provides the key to developing future theoretical models.
Basaltic rocks present good sites for carbon dioxide injection due to their widespread occurrence and high concentrations of magnesium that can form carbonate crystals.
Early version of a novel molten-metal battery includes magnesium.
Technology for cleaner magnesium production from Infinium Metals, co-founded by an MIT alum.
Insights into the role of magnesium in memory.
A molecular clock on a silicon chip that functions much like an atomic clock, yet has a simpler structure and greatly reduced cost and size.
A new silicon chip eliminates the need for specific decoding hardware and could boost the efficiency of gaming systems, 5G networks, the internet of things, and more.
A reusable N95 mask made of silicone rubber could significantly reduce the waste generated by mask usage.
A new fiber devised of hundreds of square silicon microscale digital chips contains memory, temperature sensors, and a trained neural network program for inferring physical activity.
New quantum micro-chiplets are being designed with a circuit platform made of aluminum nitride—rather than the traditional silicon of some integrated circuits—as they are transparent and can support photonic switches that are functional at cryogenic temperatures.
A new bright, efficient silicon LED can be integrated directly into computer chips which could reduce the cost and improve the performance of microelectronics that use LEDs.
A new fabrication capability, known as the 90-nanometer depleted silicon-on-insulator process, can produce a range of electronics capable of withstanding harsh radiation environments.
Engineers have designed a “brain-on-a-chip” made of thousands of artificial brain synapses that are composed of silver, copper, and silicon.
Silicon III-V chips have been successfully developed for commercial use in 5G mobile devices.
Silicon shows promise to be used as an on-chip photonic light source.
A crystal containing silicon undergoes a new type of magnetically driven electrical response.
On what’s coming in solar energy, which involves silicon.
Advances in mimicking the brain using a silicon chip.
Ongoing research into scaling up current silicon-based solar energy systems and developing high-efficiency silicon solar cells.
Silicon-based system processes optical signals from a wide light spectrum for the first time.
A new tool combines fluorine, chlorine, and bromine to provide etching capabilities for a wide variety of novel materials and materials research.
A new manufacturing process for graphene, that includes a chlorine-rich parylene as a buffer material, could lead to a new generation of solar cells.
Chlorine among the elements providing evidence of a possible mass extinction 250 million years ago.
MIT Legatum Center awards seed grant to social enterprise Zimba, with an automatic chlorine doser to be piloted in rural India.
Periwinkle plant uses bacterial genes to attach chlorine to compounds for creating more effective cancer drugs.
Making drugs more potent by binding molybdenum to chlorine.
A novel detector technology known as a liquid argon time projection chamber yields high-res pictures of particles that get created in neutrino reactions.
Argon gas sealed a 1957 time capsule unearthed in a 2015 excavation for MIT.nano.
Ratio of potassium to argon shows the moon’s molten core was likely sustained by an alternative power source.
Dark matter detector uses liquid argon.
Argon continues to build its space case, showing Mars has been in a 4-billion-year freeze and providing evidence of a once-active dynamo on one of the largest asteroids in the solar system.
When paired with a new microscopy technique, fluorescent calcium probes can be used to measure neuronal activity.
Findings have shown that when nucleons are close together, they will pair up the same way, regardless of whether they inhabit a small nucleus like helium or a more crowded one like calcium.
Using a new imaging technique, researchers identified two populations of neurons that respond to calcium signals in different ways.
Engineers have produced a fisheye lens that’s completely flat using a new metalens made out of a single transparent piece of calcium fluoride with a thin film of lead telluride deposited on one side.
Calcium ions play a key role in the regulation of cortex glial cell activity.
Calcium was found on a Dead Sea Scroll, showing how books can be preserved for millennia.
Calcium separates the strong from weak among connections in the brain.
Calcium-based MRI sensor for more sensitive brain imaging.
A new tool combines fluorine, chlorine, and bromine to provide etching capabilities for a wide variety of novel materials and materials research.
Low-cost, high-capacity, rechargeable bromine battery to enable widespread adoption of intermittent energy sources including solar and wind.
Periwinkle plant uses bacterial genes to attach bromine to compounds for creating more effective cancer drugs.
Metal organic frameworks are being used to capture krypton—a gaseous radioactive product of nuclear fission.
Artificial blubber infused with krypton protects divers in frigid water.
On why kypton detection is one of the challenges in finding clandestine nuclear sites.
Krypton gas used for energy-efficient windows in Solar7, an MIT solar house legacy dating back to 1938.
Researchers overcame barriers in solid oxide fuel cells by adding hafnium, which prevents strontium from reaching the surface—keeping the fuel cell functioning longer and more efficiently.
When embedded in plants, strontium aluminate allows plants to emit light.
The atomic structure of strontium cobalt oxide can be changed with the addition of oxygen and hydrogen.
Ratios of strontium to neodymium show India joined with Asia 10 million years later than previously thought.
“Self-healing” batteries powered by iodine.
MIT Radioactivity Center produces the first iodine isotope.
Artificial blubber infused with xenon protects divers in frigid water.
On why xenon detection is one of the challenges in finding clandestine nuclear sites.
Studying thermodynamic processes using xenon lamps.
Radiometric dating method uses xenon for insights into the magnetization of asteroids.
A new family of semiconductor materials composed of barium, zirconium, and sulfur has the potential to impact multiple fields of technology.
“Electronic nose” prototype uses barium-based layers.
Barium atoms in the first single-atom laser.
When hit with a burst of laser light, lanthanum tritelluride transforms from a wavelike pattern into an ordered, right angled pattern.
The first increases in computers’ clock speed since 2002 could be coming after experiments using a lanthanum-based composite.
A polymer that mimics mucus is based on tungsten.
Tungsten is semiconducting in its 2-D single layer form.
On the history and future of fusion, which involves uranium.
High-temperature tungsten crystal could power everything from smartphones to spacecraft.
Alloying tougher tungsten to replace depleted uranium in armor-piercing projectiles.
One-molecule-thick material using thungsten to create LEDs, photovoltaic cells, and light detectors.
Tungsten-based transistor combines two different electronic states of matter.
MIT science editor quilts a commemoration that includes discoverer of astatine, Berta Karlik.
Radon mapping system addresses degradation of New England’s coastal waters.
MIT Radioactivity Center uses radon needles to produce the first iodine isotope.
In elements like radium, atomic nuclei are strangely pear-shaped, containing an uneven distribution of neutrons and protons within.
Researchers have combined the power of a super collider with techniques of laser spectroscopy to precisely measure radium monofluoride for the first time.
In memory of a professor who pioneered studies in the effects of radium.
MIT science editor quilts a commemoration that includes discoverer of radium, Marie Curie.
No contributions have been recorded for this element yet. Know of one? Let us know.
No contributions have been recorded for this element yet. Know of one? Let us know.
No contributions have been recorded for this element yet. Know of one? Let us know.
The properties of a new type of magnetically-driven electrical response can be attributed to cerium atoms’ unique magnetic moments.
A crystal containing cerium undergoes a new type of magnetically driven electrical response.
Cerium oxide plays a key role in catalytic converters that convert carbon monoxide and nitric oxide into benign gases.
Cerium oxide, used in fuel cells, shown to expand because of an increase in charge localization.
Cerium nanoparticles powers bionic plants.
Characterizing the efficiency of a fuel cell electrode.
Praseodymium shows the greatest activity level in experiments to improve energy storage in fuel cells.
Theoretical, superconducting quasiparticle verified using a praseodymium-based material.
Scientists used neodymium nickelate to show how to switch antiferromagnetism on and off to improve memory storage devices.
A new 3D printed miniature pump uses neodymium magnet microparticles to create the pump’s magnetic core.
Acting as either an electrical insulator or conductor, depending on its temperature.
Ratios of strontium to neodymium show India joined with Asia 10 million years later than previously thought.
Study involving neodymium supports new theory about the development of Earth’s early continental crust.
Neodymium glass at the heart of the ambitious effort to measure nuclear fusion.
No contributions have been recorded for this element yet. Know of one? Let us know.
Study involving samarium supports new theory about the development of Earth’s early continental crust.
Majorana fermions, particles that are theorized to also be their own antiparticle, have been observed in a system consisting of nanowires of gold atop vanadium and europium.
Fluorescent polymer gels use europium to detect structural failure in energy-related equipment.
Optical technique to probe magnetism uses an europium-based thin film.
Student awarded outstanding senior thesis for work on europium spin-filter material.
A system consisting of gadolinium cobalt allows for the flipping of the magnetic orientation of particles with a small voltage.
Gadolinium overlays used in a device controlling microchip magnetism, opening the doors to computing that consumes drastically less power.
Gadolinium compound demonstrates paired topology and intrinsic magnetism.
Gadolinium emits visible colors when exposed to near-infrared light, in research of smartphone-readable microparticles.
Gadolinium a key ingredient for low-power data storage.
Magnetic layer of gadolinium demonstrates nanoscale quasi-particles known as skyrmions.
Fluorescent polymer gels use terbium to detect structural failure in energy-related equipment.
Study explains how rising demand for wind turbines and electric vehicles could strain supplies of rare earth metals including dysprosium.
Record-breaking magnet uses holmium, reaching a magnetic field of 37.2 tesla, about 700,000 times greater than the Earth’s magnetic field.
In research benefitting quantum computing, researchers show how a superlattice embedded with erbium nanodots may be immune from dissipating energy to the environment.
Erbium emits visible colors when exposed to near-infrared light, in research of smartphone-readable microparticles.
Professor’s breakthroughs include an on-chip erbium laser using standard silicon manufacturing techniques.
Thulium emits visible colors when exposed to near-infrared light, in research of smartphone-readable microparticles.
An atomic clock made out of ytterbium could help scientists detect dark matter and study gravity’s effect on time.
Ytterbium emits visible colors when exposed to near-infrared light, in research of smartphone-readable microparticles.
Ratios of lutetium to hafnium measured in research showing India joined with Asia 10 million years later than previously thought.
Insights into hafnium dioxide, a material compatible with silicon processing technology, paves the way for new data applications.
Hafnium for extending life and improving performance of fuel cell electrodes.
Using thorium and uranium dating techniques, researchers found a surprising shift in permafrost over the last 400,000 years.
Measuring thorium determines how quickly dust accumulates on the seafloor.
Graduate student awarded for research involving dissolved thorium in seawater.
Analysis of a rare thorium isotope shows the Sahara swung between green and desert conditions every 20,000 years.
Thorium analysis, this time in stalagmite aging, shows the widespread forest loss in Madagascar 1,000 years ago not due to climate change, but to humans making way for grazing cattle.
Phytoplankton shown to be extremely sensitive to changing levels of desert dust, thanks to an analysis of the removal rate of thorium on the ocean’s surface.
Professor investigates the use of thorium in nuclear reactors to enhance fuel efficiency.
MIT science editor quilts a commemoration that includes Lise Meitner, who identified an isotope of protactinium.
A new, compact affordable system was able to use neutrons to identify elements such as indium, silver, and uranium.
Using thorium and uranium dating techniques, researchers found a surprising shift in permafrost over the last 400,000 years.
Using the uranium-235 isotope allows next-gen nuclear reactors to run for longer periods of time without having to refuel.
Researchers use uranium-lead geochronology to determine that parts of the Sierra Nevada mountains formed more than twice as fast as previously thought.
A reactor system using uranium-based fuel could function for up to 12 years in space.
Uranium analysis shows the widespread forest loss in Madagascar 1,000 years ago not due to climate change, but to humans making way for grazing cattle.
Early nuclear device can be handled with bare hands, due to the naturally low radiation emissions of its uranium parts.
Student group wins an award for developing an inexpensive hydrogel to extract uranium from water to provide more fuel for nuclear power plants.
No contributions have been recorded for this element yet. Know of one? Let us know.
Professor recognized for pioneering work in plutonium research.
In memory of a professor and distinguished theoretical astrophysicist who assisted in transporting the plutonium core to the first test site of the Manhattan Project.
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MIT science editor quilts a commemoration that includes namesake of curium, Marie Curie.
No contributions have been recorded for this element yet. Know of one? Let us know.
No contributions have been recorded for this element yet. Know of one? Let us know.
No contributions have been recorded for this element yet. Know of one? Let us know.
Fermium’s namesake, Enrico Fermi, mentored MIT professor Mildred Dresselhaus during her graduate school days, providing an example that would inspire the future physicist throughout the rest of her life.
No contributions have been recorded for this element yet. Know of one? Let us know.
No contributions have been recorded for this element yet. Know of one? Let us know.
No contributions have been recorded for this element yet. Know of one? Let us know.