David Chandler

3 weeks ago | phys.org | David Chandler

The process of catalysis—in which a material speeds up a chemical reaction—is crucial to the production of many of the chemicals used in our everyday lives. But even though these catalytic processes are widespread, researchers often lack a clear understanding of exactly how they work.

3 weeks ago | chemicalonline.com | David Chandler

By David L. Chandler, MIT News Upending a long-held supposition, MIT researchers find a common catalyst works by cycling between two different forms. The process of catalysis — in which a material speeds up a chemical reaction — is crucial to the production of many of the chemicals used in our everyday lives. But even though these catalytic processes are widespread, researchers often lack a clear understanding of exactly how they work.

3 weeks ago | news.mit.edu | David Chandler

It’s tricky to predict precisely what the impacts of climate change will be, given the many variables involved. To predict the impacts of a warmer world on plant life, some researchers look at urban “heat islands,” where, because of the effects of urban structures, temperatures consistently run a few degrees higher than those of the surrounding rural areas. This enables side-by-side comparisons of plant responses.

1 month ago | news.mit.edu | David Chandler

Reducing the amount of agricultural sprays used by farmers — including fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides — could cut down the amount of polluting runoff that ends up in the environment while at the same time reducing farmers’ costs and perhaps even enhancing their productivity. A classic win-win-win. A team of researchers at MIT and a spinoff company they launched has developed a system to do just that.

1 month ago | foodonline.com | David Chandler

By David L. Chandler, With the new system, farmers could significantly cut their use of pesticides and fertilizers, saving money and reducing runoff. Reducing the amount of agricultural sprays used by farmers — including fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides — could cut down the amount of polluting runoff that ends up in the environment while at the same time reducing farmers’ costs and perhaps even enhancing their productivity. A classic win-win-win.