Yiannis Levendis - Northeastern Global News

Yiannis Levendis in the Press

Scientific American

VW scandal causes small but irreversible environmental damage

Still, experts agree that nitrogen oxide (pdf) is a nasty pollutant. Once released into the air it quickly converts into nitrogen dioxide—a reddish-brown gas with a pungent odor—and then absorbs sunlight to transform into the yellow-brown haze that blankets cities. It is this smog that can exacerbate dozens of health problems, including asthma, bronchitis and […]

VW diesel scam bugs drivers

One expert said years of cars running with ineffective emissions controls is enough to make an environmental impact. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates the cars emitted up to 40 times the legal pollution limit. “The impact is we had more pollutants from those cars emitting all the time,” said Yiannis Levendis, an engineering professor at […]

Northeastern Professor Yiannis Levendis in his lab.

Northeastern’s Yiannis Levendis wins 2025 ASEE Robert G. Quinn Award

The award which highlights one scientist’s commitment to excellence in “experimentation and laboratory instruction.”

Could corn stalks or old plastic be the new coal?

Yiannis Levendis, Distinguished Professor of mechanical and industrial engineering at Northeastern, who was recently elected as a fellow to the National Academy of Inventors, has spent his career creating reusable products, cleverly repurposing our waste, and lighting a remarkable number of things on fire.

Faculty experts weigh in on Volkswagen scandal

VW’s admitted installation of software in diesel cars to cheat emissions tests raises questions in fields ranging from law and business to the environment, public health, and technology. We asked Northeastern faculty experts to discuss these issues.

Are plastics the new natural gas?

Researchers in the College of Engineering have developed a combustion system that burns plastics as cleanly as natural gas—and has the added capability of producing carbon nanotubes.

Journey to a cleaner future

Engineering professor Yiannis Levendis was awarded the 2013 George Westinghouse Gold Medal in recognition of his contributions to the power field of mechanical engineering.