A new study by Stanford bioengineers and physicians finds that measuring the rigidity of an hour-old fertilized egg can predict its viability more accurately than current methods. The technique, published in Nature Communications, could improve the success rate of single-egg IVF and ultimately benefit both mothers and babies.
Stanford Professor Rob Jackson found high levels of natural gas in tap water near active wells, often caused by poorly constructed wells or lack of cementing. Shallow fracking operations can contaminate freshwater aquifers, posing a risk to drinking water quality.
GCEP has awarded over $177 million since its launch in 2002 to support global climate change efforts through innovative energy technologies. Researchers will focus on developing lightweight materials, high-efficiency solar devices and microbial production of biofuels.
Stanford researchers developed a lithium-ion battery that can be shut down by heating and restarted when the temperature cools. The new technology uses nanospikes to prevent overheating and reduce the risk of fires in batteries powered by devices like hoverboards and computers.
Researchers found that DNA methylation plays a key role in regulating social dominance in cichlid fish. By altering gene expression, these fish can change their social status, which is linked to better health and quality of life.
A study by Stanford University researchers discovered that activity in two brain regions - the anterior insula and nucleus accumbens - affects an individual's likelihood of taking risks in financial matters. Those with a stronger connection between these regions tend to be more cautious in their gambling decisions.
A Stanford-led study predicts global carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels will drop slightly in 2015 due to a decrease in coal use in China. This slowdown contrasts with rapid growth in emissions before 2014 and highlights the need for action to stabilize CO2 emissions.
Researchers at Stanford University have developed a novel way to make metal contacts on solar cells nearly invisible to incoming light. This breakthrough uses nanotechnology to create silicon nanopillars that redirect sunlight, increasing the cell's efficiency and reducing reflection loss.
The Precourt Institute for Energy at Stanford University has awarded $2.1 million in seed grants to support promising clean energy research. The projects focus on developing new technologies for solar energy, nuclear waste management, and biofuels, with the goal of reducing our reliance on fossil fuels.
A new study by Stanford researcher Mark Z. Jacobson suggests storing solar energy underground to meet electricity demand on cloudy days. The proposed system uses heat, cold, and electricity storage to provide a stable grid, with potential benefits including reduced air pollution and lower costs.
Researchers at Stanford University have created an artificial skin that can mimic the human sense of touch, detecting pressure and transmitting signals to brain cells. The breakthrough, reported in Science, uses a two-ply plastic construct with sensors that can detect pressure over a range similar to human skin.
Researchers at Stanford University used thermal data and electronic tagging to identify the bluefin's favorite dining spots along the North American coastline. The study revealed that temperature changes impact energy intake, with tunas consuming prey on 90% of days observed.
A Stanford team re-engineered a virus to create a smart particle that can deliver therapeutic payloads to specific cells. By adding molecular tags, the particles can target diseased areas while leaving healthy tissue alone.
Researchers isolated machinery for producing cancer-fighting drug etoposide from endangered Himalayan plant and applied it to a common laboratory plant, producing the chemical. The technique could lead to less expensive and more stable sources of drugs.
Researchers created a miniature device combining optogenetics with wireless power delivery, enabling experiments involving free-moving mice. The breakthrough expands the scope of optogenetics research and offers new possibilities for studying social behavior and complex movements.
Scientists have discovered a Jupiter-like planet, 51 Eridani b, in a young star system that could help understand how planets formed around our sun. The exoplanet features the strongest methane signature ever detected and is roughly twice the mass of Jupiter.
GCEP has awarded funding to six new projects, including a device that harnesses nighttime radiation and a charcoal-like soil amendment that removes carbon dioxide from the air. These promising technologies have the potential to transform our global energy system in the future, with the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Student teams at Stanford University have won grants to develop and commercialize innovative energy technologies, including a miniature ultrasound sensor for windmill blades that can detect potential failures. The projects aim to reduce costs and improve efficiency in clean energy sectors, with the goal of creating sustainable entrepre...
Freshwater prawns can help control schistosomiasis by preying on parasite-infected snails, providing a source of protein-rich food and reducing the disease burden. The study suggests that stocking prawns in rivers could be an effective natural solution for controlling the disease.
Researchers developed a low-voltage, single-catalyst water splitter that produces hydrogen and oxygen continuously for over 200 hours. The device uses a single, inexpensive nickel-iron oxide catalyst, reducing cost and increasing efficiency.
A new study confirms that humans are causing a rapid pace of species loss, with extinction rates up to 100 times faster than normal, threatening ecosystem services and human survival. The researchers warn that inaction will lead to irreversible damage, but call for urgent conservation efforts to avoid a sixth mass extinction event.
The Stanford University's Natural Gas Initiative aims to minimize greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, and boost economies through the responsible development of natural gas. The program will fund interdisciplinary research in six key areas, including resource development, environmental impacts, and policy reform.
Researchers found that subjects could obscure real memories or create false ones on brain scans by focusing on novel features or associating new faces with existing memories. The study highlights the need for more research before applying fMRI technology to high-stakes situations.
Researchers at Stanford University have created a computer that uses water droplets to process information, demonstrating universal logic gates and feedback. The system consists of tiny iron bars on glass slides that manipulate magnetic nanoparticles in water droplets, enabling precise control over physical matter.
Researchers found that teaching students to sound out words sparks more optimal brain circuitry than instructing them to memorize whole words. This study provides evidence of a specific teaching strategy for reading having direct neural impact.
The new material has exceptional energy-storage capacity, enabling unprecedented performance in lithium-sulfur batteries and supercapacitors. Designer carbon can be fine-tuned for various applications by adjusting the type of polymers and organic linkers used during fabrication.
Researchers have identified the mechanism by which methanogens obtain electrons from solid surfaces, paving the way for more efficient microbial factories that produce methane gas. The discovery also sheds light on microbially influenced corrosion, a significant global problem with estimated annual economic losses of $1 billion.
Researchers at Stanford University have developed a rechargeable aluminum battery that offers a safe alternative to commercial batteries. The new technology boasts ultra-fast charging times of just one minute and can withstand over 7,500 charge-discharge cycles without losing capacity.
Scientists say low-carbon technologies alone may not be enough to reduce atmospheric CO2 by 80%. Instead, negative-emissions technologies that remove CO2 from the atmosphere are being developed. BECCS (bioenergy with carbon capture and storage) is a promising technology that can be used in power plants or factories.
Researchers have created a new method to observe subsurface structures using ambient ocean waves, offering real-time monitoring of offshore oil and gas fields with less disruption to marine life. This technique reduces costs and environmental concerns associated with traditional seismic surveys.
The US Dept. of Energy will discuss its plan to accelerate geothermal energy development, which could increase global resources by harnessing hydraulic fracturing techniques. Researchers present results on controlling injection-triggered seismicity and improving injectivity rates in enhanced geothermal systems.
Researchers at Stanford University have developed a novel perovskite-silicon tandem device that dramatically improves the overall efficiency of conventional silicon solar cells. The device achieves an efficiency boost of nearly 50% with relatively low cost, making it a promising solution for the renewable energy sector.
A new study suggests that the social cost of carbon is not $37 per ton as previously estimated, but $220 per ton. This higher estimate justifies rapid and early mitigation efforts to limit global temperature rise to 2 degrees Celsius. The research also explores the impact on developing countries, suggesting that delaying emissions redu...
China's enormous aquaculture sector is under scrutiny for its impact on global seafood supplies. The Stanford-led study suggests a more sustainable alternative using processing waste to reduce pressure on wild fisheries.
A new massive open online course (MOOC) will be launched to disseminate the curricula to Girl Scout troop leaders, providing videos, discussion forums, and feedback mechanisms. The MOOC aims to simulate in-person train-the-trainers technologies and advance behavior change among 10-13 year olds.
Researchers aim to quantify global warming's influence on extreme climate and weather events, focusing on unprecedented events. Advanced statistical techniques and long-term climate observations are used to analyze the relationship between human influence and extreme event probabilities.
A Stanford scientist is developing a flexible model to manage stormwater runoff in big cities, with the goal of determining its ecosystem and financial benefits. The research aims to study the value of stormwater retention services for large cities in developing countries and compare their benefits to other services.
Forest carbon projects offer benefits beyond carbon storage, including cooling effects and biophysical feedbacks. Deciduous broadleaf trees provide stronger cooling benefits than evergreen needleleaf trees in temperate ecosystems.
According to Robert Jackson, minimizing water and air impacts of fracking requires best practices, with surface spills, wastewater disposal, and drinking-water contamination posing primary threats. Natural gas power plants emit less CO2 than coal-fired plants but methane leakage is a significant problem in the US natural gas industry.
Eight seed grants support promising new research in clean technology and energy efficiency, focusing on photovoltaics, nanoscale heat transmission, power electronics, and sustainable energy systems. The projects aim to improve energy efficiency and reduce waste heat.
Researchers found sections of the Tohoku fault were relieving seismic stress at an accelerating rate for years before the 9.0 magnitude quake, potentially shortening its occurrence time. The study used GPS measurements from a dense Japanese network to analyze decoupling and stress transfer along the fault line.
The four-part iBooks Textbook series explores climate change, its impacts on ecosystems, and strategies for adaptation. The books align with Next Generation Science Standards and Climate Literacy, offering a real-life experience for students to engage in discussion.
Three studies published in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society Biological Science hold promise for resource managers to predict and avoid ecosystem collapse. Successful management depends on consistent monitoring, incorporation of tipping points data into actions, and local-scale management.
A new integrated coastal zone management plan has been developed for Belize using novel tools to calculate risk of habitat degradation. The plan reduces high-risk areas by 20% and triples space for coastal development, while allowing for sustainable aquaculture and oil exploration limits.
Researchers at Stanford University have identified a brain structure that plays a crucial role in learning and memory, which becomes disrupted when the circadian clock is out of sync. The study found that surgically removing the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) from Siberian hamsters restored their memory abilities.
Researchers created a 'smart' separator with a nanolayer of copper that detects shorting and provides early warning before overheating and bursting into flames. The technology aims to reduce battery fires, which have caused concerns in the aviation and electronics industries.
The Global Climate and Energy Project (GCEP) at Stanford University has awarded $10.5 million to seven research projects focused on advancing renewable energy technologies. These projects include the development of high-energy batteries, solar cells, and sustainable fuels.
A Stanford University study links California's ongoing drought to human-caused climate change, finding that a persistent high atmospheric pressure region over the Pacific Ocean is three times more likely to form in the present climate. This blocking ridge prevented winter storms from reaching California during the 2013 and 2014 rainy s...
The Stanford-led study synthesizes 165 academic studies and government databases to assess the environmental costs and benefits of fracking. Fracking's influence on local air pollution, earthquakes, and supplies of clean water is also examined. The study finds that oil and gas extraction can reduce water consumption compared to coal po...
A new study finds that diversified farming systems retain more evolutionary history than intensive agriculture, suggesting a strategy for conserving biodiversity. This is encouraging news as human activities drive half of known life to extinction.