Environment

Recent news:

photo of Messersmith

Messersmith named AAAS Fellow

March 27, 2025

Bioengineering Chair Phillip Messersmith has been named to the 2024 class of fellows elected to the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), one of the world’s largest general scientific societies and publisher of the Science family of journals.

aerial photo of modern farm with silos

Pivot Bio is using microbial nitrogen to make agriculture more sustainable

February 20, 2025

Co-founded by BioE alumnus Karsten Temme, Pivot is bringing cleaner nitrogen to American farmland.

Illustration of alpha-lipoic acid molecular structure, as clear bubbles on a light blue background

New recyclable adhesives can be easily adapted for medical, consumer and industrial applications

August 23, 2024

Messersmith Lab has created a family of polymers from a stabilized alpha-lipoic acid which could lead to versatile, high-performance and environmentally friendly recyclable adhesives.

computer graphic showing towers of red and blue DNA and flames

Putting on the heat

June 11, 2024

Professor Seung-Wuk Lee discusses pyroelectricity: the finding that viruses can generate electricity when exposed to heat, and how this may pave the way for next-generation biosensors and diagnostic tools.

Tony Consiglio, Alan Maida and Boris Rubinsky in their Etcheverry Hall lab. (Photo by Adam Lau/Berkeley Engineering)

Cool it down

June 11, 2024

How isochoric preservation can protect food, organs — and even the planet. Professor Boris Rubinsky discusses the state of the art in cryogenics and preservation.

computer graphic showing towers of red and blue DNA and flames

Viral Pyroelectricity with Seung-Wuk Lee

June 10, 2024

Professor Seung-Wuk Lee discusses pyroelectricity: the finding that viruses can generate electricity when exposed to heat, and how this may pave the way for next-generation biosensors and diagnostic tools.

digital photo mockup of new climate hub building

Bakar ClimatEnginuity Hub: Berkeley’s new home for climate innovation

May 20, 2024

Professor David Schaffer will lead the new Bakar ClimatEnginuity Hub, an incubator that will provide resources and support to entrepreneurs in renewable energy and clean technology.

photo of Dueber in lab coat working at lab bench

Berkeley’s ecosystem of innovation, entrepreneurship combats climate change

May 17, 2024

Professors John Dueber and David Schaffer are featured in this article highlighting campus research and entrepreneurship in sustainability.

photograph of coral in the ocean, from the Smithsonian Institute

Rubinsky’s coral preservation work featured on PBS News

February 8, 2024

Professor Emeritus Boris Rubinsky’s isochoric vitrification method of preserving coral samples in suspended animation is part of recent emergency efforts to save dying coral reefs. The method is being used by the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.