Keeping the lights on during storms, blackouts, or equipment failures is a growing challenge as we shift toward renewable energy. A new study published in Computers & Industrial Engineering explores how advanced artificial intelligence (AI) can help design microgrids—localized energy systems that combine solar, wind, batteries, and other sources—to be both cost-effective and highly reliable. […]
Smarter Transportation Systems Could Cut Wait Times for Drivers
Finding a parking spot at a busy shopping mall or waiting to charge an electric vehicle can be frustrating. A new study published in IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems explores how to make these everyday challenges easier. The authors developed a computer framework called ‘Multi-Personality Multi-Agent Meta-Reinforcement Learning’, which helps transportation systems adapt faster […]
New Way to Keep the Power On: Smarter Use of Local Energy
As we use more electricity for things like cars and heating, power distribution systems are becoming more stressed—especially as our electric grids get older—and power outages are becoming more impactful. But what if the local solar panels, batteries, or even electric cars and heaters themselves could help keep the lights on? That’s the big idea […]
Can Saving Fish and Whales Help Fight Climate Change?
A new study in Global Biogeochemical Cycles explores whether protecting ocean animals like fish, whales, and other marine life could help slow climate change. The authors reviewed current science to see how these animals store and move carbon in the ocean—a process that could help keep carbon out of the atmosphere. Grace Saba, an affiliate […]
Cook Community Alumni Association Celebrates its Annual Fish Fry, Supporting Rutgers Gardens and Embracing Lasting Friendships
Summer months on the George H. Cook campus are quieter than most, with many students on break, completing internships, and traveling before the start of the fall semester. There is one day each July, however, when decades worth of stories and favorite songs are heard wafting across Ryders Lane from Rutgers Gardens. It’s the Cook […]
Are Superfund Cleanups Keeping Up with Climate Change?
Over a thousand contaminated sites across the U.S. are so dangerous to people and the environment that they’ve been put on the federal Superfund list. These sites often sit near rivers, coasts, or in wildfire-prone areas. As climate change brings more flooding, stronger hurricanes, and more frequent wildfires, these old industrial sites could pose even […]
Teaching Climate Change in Spanish Helps Reach More Students
Derek Shendell, an affiliate of the Rutgers Climate and Energy Institute and professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Justice at Rutgers School of Public Health, is co-author of a new study published in the Journal of Environmental Health. You can read the full study here1. Many students in New Jersey and across the […]
Mississippi River Disruptions Could Raise Food and Fertilizer Costs, Study Finds
When drought and extreme weather lower water levels on the Mississippi River, it doesn’t just slow boats—it can ripple through the whole economy. A new study in Risk Analysis shows how climate change–related disruptions to fertilizer shipments along the river can shrink GDP and raise prices, especially in states like Illinois and Minnesota. Fred Roberts, an […]
How Puerto Rican Communities Stepped Up After Hurricane María
When Hurricane María hit Puerto Rico in 2017, it left behind widespread destruction—no power, destroyed homes, and thousands dead. Many people felt abandoned by the government. But some local groups stepped up to take care of their neighbors when official help never came. In a new study published in Geoforum, the authors explore how two […]
Flying High to Find Drought-Resistant Grass
Zoysiagrass is a popular lawn choice because it looks great and handles heat fairly well—but it still struggles in dry conditions. A new study is using drones and advanced imaging technology to find out which types of zoysiagrass do best when water is scarce. Bingru Huang, Distinguished Professor in the Department of Plant Biology and […]
