The President wants to devote $2 billion to research that might wean America off of oil.

After a 4-year stretch as US Energy Secretary, during which he fought to fund research on clean energy technology, Steven Chu has announced his resignation.

A look at what the President achieved during his first term in the areas of health, space science, energy, environment, and science education

A solar-powered toilet that converts human waste into electricity snags first place—and $100,000—at the Reinvent the Toilet Challenge.

One way to increase biofuel production is to engineer plants that can withstand harsh environmental conditions, thereby expanding the range in which such crops can be grown. 

Of the many available no- or low-carbon methods to harvest energy, including wind, geothermal, hydroelectric, and solar approaches, conversion of plant biomass to liquid fuels is the most cost-effective strategy.

Research is underway to reduce the use of food crops for biofuels by shifting to dedicated energy crops and agricultural residues.

Doing science sustainably

The US government's energy research efforts may be hobbled by budget cuts.