Best MIT Energy Initiative Podcasts (2023)

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TILclimate

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Energy storage: keeping the lights on with a clean electric grid 14:43

2h ago14:43

14:43

The large majority of new energy we’re building today comes from clean, renewable wind and solar projects. But to keep building wind and solar at this pace, we need energy storage: technologies that save energy when the weather is favorable, and use it when wind and sun are scarce. Prof. Asegun Henry joins TILclimate to explain how energy storage w…

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Energy Reads

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How are cities managing record-setting temperatures? 7:01

7d ago7:01

7:01

Following record heat levels in the summer of 2023, MIT Associate Professor David Hsu describes what cities are doing as climate change accelerates. Read the article: https://news.mit.edu/2023/3-questions-cities-managing-record-setting-temperatures-0905 Listen to more audio articles: https://energy.mit.edu/energyreads Join the mailing list or send …

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TILclimate

1
A public health expert’s guide to climate change 12:12

13d ago12:12

12:12

We all want to live full, healthy lives. But climate change is threatening a growing number of people’s lives and well-being. Amruta Nori-Sarma, assistant professor of environmental health at Boston University School of Public Health, joins the show to help us see climate change not in tons of carbon dioxide, but as a matter of health. For a deeper…

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TILclimate

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TILclimate presents: What the heck is El Niño, anyway? (from Outside/In) 21:28

22d ago21:28

21:28

We were going to produce an episode on El Niño, and its relationship to climate change. And then we found out that Outside/In, from New Hampshire Public Radio, already did that. And they did a really good job. So please enjoy this episode of Outside/In, where you'll learn what El Niño is, how to tell if extreme weather events are caused by climate …

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TILclimate

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Wildfires and how we're changing them 13:38

29d ago13:38

13:38

If you live in the U.S. Mountain West, the Pacific Coast of the Americas, or large parts of Australia or southern Europe, there’s a good chance a major wildfire has passed near you in the last five or six years—maybe one more intense than anything you’ve ever heard of in your area. But why exactly are wildfires getting worse? Is climate change enti…

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Energy Reads

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MIT design would harness 40 percent of the sun's heat to produce clean hydrogen fuel 7:36

28d ago7:36

7:36

MIT engineers have designed a new train-like system that harnesses the sun's heat to split water and generate hydrogen—a green, carbon-free fuel that can be used to power long-distance trucks, planes, and ships. Read the article: https://news.mit.edu/2023/mit-design-harness-suns-heat-produce-clean-hydrogen-fuel-1016 Listen to more audio articles: h…

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TILclimate

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Can desalination solve water scarcity? 14:24

1M ago14:24

14:24

Today we’re talking about desalination: turning saltwater into freshwater, so we can drink it or use it to grow crops. And we’re talking about this because, in many parts of the world, freshwater is getting harder to come by. So… is converting saltwater a good solution? Our guest Prof. John Leinhard has devoted his whole career to this question—and…

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TILclimate

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Don’t throw away your refrigerator 14:45

1M ago14:45

14:45

Refrigerants are in every refrigerator, freezer and air conditioner, and the world is on track to make a lot more of them in the years to come. They’re also powerful greenhouse gases: often thousands of times more warming than carbon dioxide. Prof. Ronald Prinn, an expert in the physics and chemistry of our climate system, joins TILclimate to discu…

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TILclimate

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How tackling methane cools the planet fast 12:30

2M ago12:30

12:30

Carbon dioxide—CO2—is the greenhouse gas you’ve probably heard most about, on this podcast and elsewhere. But it turns out, methane is an incredibly important greenhouse gas too. Stopping methane emissions today is a powerful way to dampen climate change in the very near term—to keep the Earth cooler in the next 10 or 20 years. So today, Prof. Desi…

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Energy Reads

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Explained: The 1.5 C climate benchmark 8:54

2M ago8:54

8:54

To prevent worsening and potentially irreversible effects of climate change, the world’s average temperature should not exceed that of preindustrial times by more than 1.5 degrees Celsius. But why 1.5 degrees C and how close are we to achieving this goal? Read the article: https://news.mit.edu/2023/explained-climate-benchmark-rising-temperatures-08…

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TILclimate

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Wait, how do greenhouse gases actually warm the planet? 14:35

2M ago14:35

14:35

You probably know that today’s climate change is caused by certain gases—what scientists call greenhouse gases—that human activity has been adding to our atmosphere. But—how do these gases actually keep heat from escaping into space? And why these gases in particular? To help answer these questions, we invited Desiree Plata, an associate professor …

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Energy Reads

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Making aviation fuel from biomass 13:50

2M ago13:50

13:50

A new processing technique developed by an MIT-led team may be the key to 100% sustainable aviation fuel. Read the article: https://energy.mit.edu/news/making-aviation-fuel-from-biomass Listen to more audio articles: https://energy.mit.edu/energyreads Join the mailing list or send us feedback: ⁠⁠https://energy.mit.edu/podcast/subscribe⁠⁠…

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TILclimate

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Coming Soon: TILclimate Season 5 2:14

2M ago2:14

2:14

This is MIT’s climate change podcast, Today I Learned: Climate. If you're looking to get smart quick on climate change – without the jargon and without the politicking – this podcast is for you! In each episode, we work with experts at MIT and beyond to explain climate change science and solutions in fifteen minutes or less. On October 5, TILclimat…

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Energy Reads

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Capturing methane before it warms the climate 7:48

3M ago7:48

7:48

Methane is the second most impactful human-generated greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide. Desirée Plata, an environmental engineer and professor at MIT, is developing tools to reduce methane with the goal of cutting emissions by 45% by 2030, which would save up to 0.5 degree Celsius of warming by 2100. Read the article: https://energy.mit.edu/news/…

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Energy Reads

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Footnote: How cities are reducing emissions by retrofitting buildings 36:07

3M ago36:07

36:07

40% of global carbon emissions come from buildings. MIT professor Christoph Reinhart joins us to discuss how cities are leveraging retrofits to increase building energy efficiency and reduce their carbon emissions. Dig deeper into our article "Cutting urban carbon emissions by retrofitting buildings" in this footnote edition of the podcast. Show no…

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TILclimate

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America’s Big Year of Climate Action 16:02

4M ago16:02

16:02

On August 16, 2022, President Joe Biden signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). It was the largest of three bills signed over the course of 10 months that together make up the United States’ largest investment in addressing climate change… well, ever. Dr. Liz Reynolds, lecturer in MIT's Department of Urban Studies and Planning and former…

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Energy Reads

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Power to the people: MIT startup Waya Energy helps deliver universal electricity access 9:10

4M ago9:10

9:10

Waya Energy, a MITEI spinoff, is helping governments determine the most cost-effective ways to provide electricity to all their citizens. Read the article: https://energy.mit.edu/news/power-to-the-people Listen to more audio articles: https://energy.mit.edu/energyreads Join the mailing list or send us feedback: ⁠⁠https://energy.mit.edu/podcast/subs…

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Energy Reads

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Cutting urban carbon emissions by retrofitting buildings 17:39

4M ago17:39

17:39

Cities around the world have been adopting policies and incentive programs to encourage building retrofits to reduce their energy use and carbon emissions. But analyses from an MIT team have revealed that cities’ retrofit plans often won’t achieve their goals—although decarbonizing the local grid could make the difference. This episode follows the …

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Energy Reads

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Footnote: Open SESAME, energy career paths, and the war in Ukraine 20:12

5M ago20:12

20:12

Energy researcher Ian Miller joins us to discuss modeling renewable energy, living in an active combat zone, energy and its connection to the war in Ukraine, and how he's helping to deliver aid to Ukrainians on the frontlines. Dig deeper into our article "Responding to Ukraine's 'ocean of suffering'" in this footnote edition of the podcast. Show no…

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Energy Reads

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Responding to Ukraine's "ocean of suffering" 8:27

5M ago8:27

8:27

Energy researcher Ian Miller is delivering medical aid, vehicles, and equipment to Ukrainians on the front lines through the nonprofit he co-founded, Zero Line. Read the article: https://energy.mit.edu/news/responding-to-ukraines-ocean-of-suffering Listen to more audio articles: https://energy.mit.edu/energyreads Join the mailing list or send us fe…

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Energy Reads

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Climate goals may take longer, but we’ll get there 8:07

6M ago8:07

8:07

Massachusetts has set ambitious goals for cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 2030. State Senator Mike Barrett discussed the challenges the state has faced in meeting those goals, focused particularly on obstacles to offshore wind development. Read the article: https://energy.mit.edu/news/climate-goals-may-take-longer-but-well-get-there Listen to m…

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Energy Reads

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Responsive design meets responsibility for the planet's future 8:44

6M ago8:44

8:44

MIT senior Sylas Horowitz is tackling engineering projects with a focus on challenges related to clean energy, climate justice, and sustainable development. Their personal mission is to create systems and technology that "serve the well-being and longevity of communities and the ecosystems we exist within." Read the article: https://energy.mit.edu/…

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Energy Reads

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Flow batteries for grid-scale energy storage 15:58

7M ago15:58

15:58

A modeling framework by MIT researchers can help speed the development of flow batteries for large-scale, long-duration electricity storage on the future grid. Read the article: https://energy.mit.edu/news/flow-batteries-for-grid-scale-energy-storage Listen to more audio articles: https://energy.mit.edu/energyreads Join the mailing list or send us …

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Energy Reads

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An education in climate change 9:27

7M ago9:27

9:27

Climate Action Through Education is a new multidisciplinary climate change curriculum for high schools that aims to engage and mobilize teachers and students in a range of disciplines—from science to language arts to math. Read the article: https://energy.mit.edu/news/new-multidisciplinary-climate-change-curriculum-for-high-schools-aims-to-engage-a…

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Energy Reads

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Using combustion to make lithium-ion batteries 15:05

8M ago15:05

15:05

Combustion experts at MIT have designed a system that uses flames to produce materials critical to lithium-ion batteries. Their combustion-based method promises to be simpler, much quicker, and far less energy-intensive than the conventional method now used to manufacture cathode materials. Read the article: https://energy.mit.edu/news/using-combus…

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TILclimate

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Announcing TILclimate's Live Event: "America’s big year of climate action" 1:48

8M ago1:48

1:48

On Wednesday, April 19, TILclimate will host its first live event at the MIT Museum in Cambridge, Massachusetts! Reserve your seat at tilclimate.org to watch a live recording and join the questions as your host Laur Hesse Fisher sits down with MIT lecturer and former Special Assistant to the President for Manufacturing and Economic Development Dr. …

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Energy Reads

1
Shrinky Dinks, nail polish, and smelly bacteria 8:31

8M ago8:31

8:31

With the help of a children’s toy called Shrinky Dinks, carbon-based materials, nail polish, and a certain smelly bacterium, high school students spent the summer in an MIT lab creating electrodes for low-cost microbial fuel cells. Read the article: https://energy.mit.edu/news/shrinky-dinks-nail-polish-and-smelly-bacteria Listen to more audio artic…

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Energy Reads

1
Michael Howland gives wind energy a lift 10:05

9M ago10:05

10:05

By studying how climate change is affecting wind of the future, MIT Assistant Professor Michael Howland is optimizing wind farms and finding ways to create more reliable energy production. Read the article: https://energy.mit.edu/news/michael-howland-gives-wind-energy-a-lift Listen to more audio articles: https://energy.mit.edu/energyreads Join the…

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Energy Reads

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To decarbonize the chemical industry, electrify it 7:52

9M ago7:52

7:52

The chemical industry is the world’s largest industrial energy consumer and the third largest source of industrial emissions; and yet, the chemical industry has been largely untouched when it comes to decarbonization. In a new paper, researchers from MIT and DC-MUSE urge industry and the research community to explore electrification pathways to red…

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TILclimate

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TIL about recycling 14:07

10M ago14:07

14:07

We often hear about recycling as a way to make an impact on climate change right in your own home. But how big a difference are we really making when we recycle? For this episode, Anders Damgaard, senior researcher at the Technical University of Denmark, joins the TILclimate podcast to help us understand the climate benefits of recycling—and why th…

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Energy Reads

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3 Questions: Antje Danielson on energy education and its role in climate action 10:33

10M ago10:33

10:33

As MITEI’s director of education, Antje Danielson manages a team devoted to training the next generation of energy innovators, entrepreneurs, and policy makers. She discusses new initiatives in MITEI’s education program and how they are preparing students to take an active role in climate action. Read the article: https://energy.mit.edu/news/3-ques…

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Energy Reads

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Paper-thin solar cell can turn any surface into a power source 7:17

10M ago7:17

7:17

A new development from MIT can quickly and easily turn any surface into a power source. These thin-film solar cells weigh about 100x less than conventional solar cells while generating about 18x more power-per-kg. Read the article: https://news.mit.edu/2022/ultrathin-solar-cells-1209 Listen to more audio articles: https://energy.mit.edu/energyreads…

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Energy Reads

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Coming soon in Energy Futures magazine 8:24

11M ago8:24

8:24

The next issue of the MIT Energy Initiative's Energy Futures magazine is releasing this month. In this episode, we are sharing a sneak peek of some of the engaging energy stories in our upcoming issue. Read the transcript: https://energy.mit.edu/news/coming-soon-in-energy-futures-magazine Listen to more audio articles: https://energy.mit.edu/energy…

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Energy Reads

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Decarbonization amid global crises 8:22

12M ago8:22

8:22

At MITEI's Fall Colloquium, Philip Sharp, the former president of Resources for the Future, highlighted dramatic steps the U.S. government has recently taken to combat climate change despite a seemingly unending series of once-in-a-generation crises. Read the article: https://energy.mit.edu/news/decarbonization-amid-global-crises Listen to more aud…

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TILclimate

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TIL about winter storms 11:07

12M ago11:07

11:07

Winters are warming faster than any other season here in the U.S. So why are some winter storms getting even more intense? Today, we’re going to explore the connections between climate change and extreme winter weather. For this episode, we sat down with atmospheric science expert Dr. Jennifer Francis of the Woodwell Climate Research Center. Dr. Je…

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Energy Reads

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Reversing the charge 9:16

12M ago9:16

9:16

Could battery power from electric vehicles dispatched to the grid open a fast lane to a net-zero future? A new MITEI study uncovers how electric vehicles could boost renewable energy growth by serving as "energy storage on wheels." Read the article: https://energy.mit.edu/news/reversing-the-charge Listen to more audio articles: https://energy.mit.e…

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Energy Reads

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Policies to cut carbon emissions 11:36

1y ago11:36

11:36

How do different carbon tax policies impact U.S. household budgets? MIT researchers have developed a method to determine which U.S. households win and lose financially under these policies and suggest corrections to avoid inequities. Read the article: https://energy.mit.edu/news/policies-to-cut-carbon-emissions Listen to more audio articles: https:…

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TILclimate

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TIL about carbon offsets 14:02

1y ago14:02

14:02

What if you could pay someone else to cancel out your carbon emissions? As countries, organizations, and even individuals around the world commit to lowering their impact on the climate, many have been doing just that. So today, we’re going to look at how “carbon offsets” work and whether they are an effective tool for slowing climate change. For t…

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Energy Reads

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Unpacking U.S. climate and infrastructure laws 11:07

1y ago11:07

11:07

The 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) is currently taking place in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, bringing together governments, experts, journalists, industry, and civil society to discuss climate action to enable countries to collectively sharply limit anthropogenic climate change. Before the conference, MITEI Deputy Director for Sci…

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Energy Reads

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Turning carbon dioxide into valuable products 12:22

1y ago12:22

12:22

MIT chemical engineers are speeding up a chemical reaction key to converting carbon dioxide emissions into useful, valuable products. The secret to their success? DNA. Read the article: https://energy.mit.edu/news/turning-carbon-dioxide-into-valuable-products Listen to more audio articles: https://energy.mit.edu/energyreads Join the mailing list or…

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Energy Reads

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New class explores paths to reducing transportation emissions 8:24

1y ago8:24

8:24

Cutting carbon emissions from transportation is essential to any strategy addressing climate change. Decarbonizing Urban Mobility, a first-of-its-kind course offered at MIT, introduces students to the many factors involved in addressing this complex challenge. Read the article: https://energy.mit.edu/news/new-class-explores-paths-to-reducing-transp…

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Energy Reads

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3 Questions: Emre Gençer on the role of blue hydrogen in decarbonizing the world’s energy systems 6:23

1y ago6:23

6:23

What role will blue hydrogen play in decarbonizing the world's energy systems? MITEI Research Scientist Emre Gençer discusses findings from research analyzing the climate impacts of blue hydrogen. Read the article: https://energy.mit.edu/news/3-questions-emre-gencer-on-the-role-of-blue-hydrogen-in-decarbonizing-the-worlds-energy-systems Listen to m…

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TILclimate

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TIL about everyday travel 14:03

1y ago14:03

14:03

Roughly ten percent of the world’s CO2 emissions come from passenger vehicles: cars, pickups, motorcycles, buses, and taxis. So today, we’re going to zoom in on how people get around every day and what to consider when thinking about reducing carbon emissions from everyday travel. For this episode, we sat down with our former MIT colleague and tran…

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Energy Reads

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Porous materials designed to trap molecules 14:38

1y ago14:38

14:38

MIT researchers have demonstrated a new approach to making porous materials called zeolites designed to capture molecules for specific uses, including cleaning up exhaust gases from trucks. Read the article: https://energy.mit.edu/news/porous-materials-designed-to-trap-molecules Listen to more audio articles: https://energy.mit.edu/energyreads Join…

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Energy Reads

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MIT spinoff Takachar processes waste biomass to reduce airborne emissions 9:52

1+ y ago9:52

9:52

MIT spinoff Takachar is transforming waste biomass—a major contributor to air pollution—into solid, clean-burning fuel. Winner of the 2021 Earthshot Prize in the clean air category, they estimate their technology could reduce carbon dioxide equivalent emissions by gigatons per year at scale. Read the article: https://energy.mit.edu/news/mit-spinoff…

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TILclimate

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TIL about electric cars 13:31

1+ y ago13:31

13:31

Electric vehicles (EVs) are being touted as a major solution to climate change. But why is that? How do they work and what kinds of changes are needed as more EVs hit the road? To dig into this, we brought in MIT Sloan Prof. David Keith, who studies transportation technology. For a deeper dive and additional resources related to this episode, visit…

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Energy Reads

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Lessons from energy leaders 9:09

1+ y ago9:09

9:09

MITEI's IAP course "Leading the Energy Transition" connects students with practitioners and experts to inspire new leadership in the clean energy transition. Read the article: https://energy.mit.edu/news/lessons-from-energy-leaders Listen to more audio articles: https://energy.mit.edu/energyreads Join the mailing list or send us feedback: ⁠⁠https:/…

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Energy Reads

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Bridging careers in aerospace manufacturing and fusion energy with a focus on intentional inclusion 8:23

1+ y ago8:23

8:23

MIT alum Joy Dunn '08 spent a decade working in aerospace manufacturing at SpaceX before joining Commonwealth Fusion Systems, where she plays a key role in developing a commercially viable fusion power plant. Read the article: https://energy.mit.edu/news/joy-dunn-08-bridging-careers-in-aerospace-manufacturing-and-fusion-energy-with-a-focus-on-inten…

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Energy Reads

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Making hydrogen power a reality 9:05

1+ y ago9:05

9:05

Hydrogen has long been seen as potentially game-changing in the quest for a clean energy future. At MITEI's 2022 Spring Symposium, four industry experts laid out their efforts to produce it at scale. Read the article: https://energy.mit.edu/news/making-hydrogen-power-a-reality Listen to more audio articles: https://energy.mit.edu/energyreads Join t…

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TILclimate

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TIL about hydrogen energy 14:06

1+ y ago14:06

14:06

Hydrogen gas acts like a fossil fuel, but with no carbon emissions. Is it the silver bullet we’ve been waiting for? Prof. Svetlana Ikonnikova of the Technical University of Munich joins us to bring light to how hydrogen works and its potential in the energy transition. For a deeper dive and additional resources related to this episode, visit: https…

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