Ten Years of Research Through the Resnick Sustainability Institute

WATER RESOURCES

Gathering data to prepare California for droughts: California’s extensive reservoir system needs to adapt to precipitation levels that are growing less predictable. Data can help, says a Resnick-supported fellow who has created the first empirical statewide model of the California reservoir network.

Mapping how groundwater "breathes": Satellites have allowed researchers to see how groundwater levels in Southern California fluctuate with the seasons. ELECTRICAL STORAGE AND DISTRIBUTION

Helping batteries pack more punch and last longer: Production and demand for electricity are often mismatched, so batteries that store electricity until it is needed will be an important part of future electrical grids. Technological advancements are leading toward batteries that can store more electricity for longer periods.

Developing smarter, more resilient electrical grids: Researchers are reimagining ways for electrical grids to be smarter and more flexible by analyzing the distribution systems and training artificial intelligence to manage them effectively. SOLAR POWER

Making solar panels more efficient: A Caltech-based startup has found a way to coax more electricity out of solar panels. CLIMATE SCIENCE

Making fossil fuels cleaner burning: Sulfur, a contaminant in many fossil fuels, is a source of pollution. Caltech researchers have developed a process for eliminating it.

Discovering that cement plays a role in reducing climate change: Concrete, the ubiquitous building material, can and does pull carbon dioxide directly out of the atmosphere, Caltech scientists have found.

Spotting leaks of greenhouse gases: A Resnick fellow has placed a sensor atop a mountain near Los Angeles that scans the cityscape in search of methane leaks. SOIL NUTRIENTS

Solving a mystery behind fertilizer production: The nitrogen cycle ensures that soils can support the agriculture necessary for human populations, but part of how it worked remained a mystery until Caltech researchers made a breakthrough discovery.

Synthesizing a catalyst for nitrogen fixation: Producing agricultural fertilizers in sustainable ways is of ever-increasing importance as the human population continues to rise. Caltech researchers have now synthesized the first iron-based catalyst for the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia, research that may lead to more environmentally friendly methods of ammonia production. SOLAR FUELS

Advancing solar-fuel technology: A new catalyst converts water into hydrogen fuel using only sunlight, and adds no carbon pollution to the atmosphere.

Converting carbon dioxide into carbon-based fuels: Two Caltech researchers find a way to turn carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, into energy-dense carbon-containing fuels.