MIT designers Ilan Moyer and Nadya Peek have created a briefcase-sized 3D printer called Popfab that is much more than meets the eye. Like a hi-tech Swiss army knife, the printer is also a CNC milling
Two mechanical engineers at MIT are developing a new semiautonomous safety system that automatically steers a vehicle around obstacles in the event that the driver does not manually take control. Sterling
MIT scientists have developed a new electronic chip that could mark a critical first step towards battery-free systems. The potent chip is able to operate on extremely low levels of power, and it can
Currently 40% of the solar energy that reaches Earth lies in the near-infra-red region of the spectrum, and while most photovoltaic devices are unable to harness this energy, a team at MIT has created an
A team of researchers at MIT has developed a new type of textured solar surface that could bring down the cost of photovoltaic technology by reducing the thickness of silicon used by more than 90% while
Beads of water on glass photo via Shutterstock Glass is a fundamental building material with thousands of practical applications, and if you believe what the folks at Corning are selling, our use of
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) researchers combined gold and copper to create hybrid nano-particles that could vastly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Copper is already one of the few metals
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) will soon present a paper describing algorithms that could eventually enable “smart sand”; self-sculpting sand that can take on any
In an effort to harness strong high-altitude winds, the company Altaeros Energies has developed a floating wind turbine that's a cross between a traditional windmill and a blimp. After some successful
Light bulbs have always been pretty inefficient, even those that have a rep for using less juice, like LEDs. Because of the energy conversion process, they consume more energy than they actually need to
Just one project under the My Shelter Foundation's good deeds, A Liter of Light uses simple technology originally conceived by Alfredo Moser from Brazil and modified by MIT students for the Philippines to
Beginning in 1969, the Concorde - the world's first supersonic passenger jet - ferried travelers across the Atlantic in just over three hours. But there were several challenges associated with the
What if generating solar energy at home required little more than mixing some grass clippings with inexpensive chemicals? That's exactly what MIT researcher Andreas Mershin has found to be
If you live in the United States and value fuel efficiency, you might catch yourself looking longingly overseas at super efficient vehicle fleets and wondering, why not us? One MIT researcher looked into
Blind people have been long overlooked when it comes to social advancement and technological innovation, and Moallem's labeler offers a simple, affordable solution that will have its largest impact in the
MIT researchers just officially unveiled a device that uses sunlight to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. The device builds upon a breakthrough hydrogen producing technology developed in 2008, and
The labs at MIT are shaking things up - literally - as they just unveiled a tiny device that harvests energy from everyday, low-frequency vibrations. The breakthrough gizmo generates 100 times more power
Engineers at UCLA have developed technology that allows energy gobbling gadgets like smartphones and laptops to convert sunlight, ambient light, and their own backlight into energy. Equipping LCD-enhanced
Many of us will be firing up our grills this weekend for some well-deserved barbecue time. After all, barbecuing is one of America's greatest pastimes, but it certainly isn't one of our most
Currently, millions of Filipinos live without any kind of light source at all, but a band of resourceful MIT students have begun changing that. The students found that a one liter plastic bottle filled
MIT researchers, in collaboration with China’s Tsinghua University, have recently created a new set of tools to evaluate the energy performance of large-scale development projects. The tools are a
From energy-generating toilets to poop-powered vehicles, there's a wealth of innovative eco-friendly projects out there that transform human waste into a valuable resource. Read on for a look at some of
Here's an incredible story about upcycling and human ingenuity to brighten your weekend: the MIT Fab Lab is teaching people in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Kenya how to make their own DIY wireless internet
This incredible installation demonstrates what happens when art, science and technology merge on behalf of the planet. Most of the designs feature energy efficient technologies or materials and open
A new bicycle-powered latrine pump could redefine low-cost sanitation in developing countries. The pump makes work easier for latrine shovelers, who empty a latrine's sewage pit when it's full. The pump's
Back in January, Okamoto, with the help of Kian Yam, froze large blocks of ice embedded with flower seeds. The blocks were then stacked into a long, head-high spine in an open space on MIT's campus near
The Tata Group has signed a deal with the founder of SunCatalytix, MIT scientist Daniel Nocera, who has discovered how to generate energy water. Although the terms of their agreement have not yet been
This past week, we brought you the top green architecture, technology, art, energy, product and transportation Inhabitat stories from 2010, but now it's time for the main event - the top 6 most popular
Worried about over-spending this holiday season? If you’re the kind of person who easily gets sucked into all the sales - whether online or out in the real world - then this Proverbial Wallet just
Solar cells keep getting thinner and tinier, and thanks to MIT and their research sponsor Eni, we are already seeing cells that can be folded up into paper airplanes! Recently revealed, MIT's
