Scientists at Stanford University have discovered a plant protein called BASL that plays a key role in asymmetric cell division, a process vital for creating different types of cells in plants. The discovery sheds light on the unique mechanisms used by plants to control cell growth and development.
The Woods Institute has awarded grants to four Stanford faculty teams tackling environmental challenges globally. The recipients will focus on desert grasslands in Australia and mountain meadows in California, among other areas.
Researchers found that some corals can adapt to higher temperatures by hosting heat-resistant symbionts, potentially helping them survive global warming. The discovery suggests that with time, many corals may be able to match hotter environments.
A high-pressure form of ammonia borane has been discovered, which can store around 30 weight percent hydrogen by improving the hydrogen content of the material by roughly 50 percent. The new compound could potentially stabilize at or near ambient conditions with a large amount of hydrogen content.
A Stanford study found that California's high school exit exam has failed to meet its primary goal of improving student achievement, particularly among low-achieving minority and girls students. The exam was not a fair assessment of their basic skill levels due to stereotype threat, which prevents them from performing well on the test.
The Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) produces the world's brightest X-ray laser, allowing researchers to capture molecular details with unprecedented resolution. This technology has far-reaching implications for medicine, energy research, and other fields.
Researchers at Stanford University have developed a new method to produce mass quantities of graphene nanoribbons, which are essential for electronics applications. The technique uses plasma etching to slice open carbon nanotubes, creating uniform ribbons with smooth edges.
New research suggests Titan, Saturn's largest moon, has a subterranean ocean of hydrocarbons and unusual topography, including mountains with lower elevations than surrounding plains. The findings may help explain the presence of large lakes of hydrocarbons at both poles.
Researchers found that bacteria in the soil and sediment of river basins in Asia convert iron and arsenic into a form that readily dissolves in water, contaminating groundwater. This discovery has significant implications for policymakers trying to reverse the mass poisoning crisis.
Researchers have developed a synthetic wood substitute made from a new biodegradable plastic that could replace petrochemical plastics in building materials and disposable water bottles. The material is durable, recyclable and can be produced faster than wood or trees.
Researchers at Stanford University develop 'reverse ecology' technique to reconstruct bacterial environments millions of years in the past from genomic data. This allows for the analysis of complex evolutionary interplay between organisms like parasites and hosts.
A new study by Stanford University scientists updates IPCC findings, suggesting even smaller temperature increases could cause significant problems in unique ecosystems, extreme weather events, distribution of impacts, aggregate damages, and risks of large-scale discontinuities. The research highlights increased evidence of climate cha...
Researchers at Stanford University are using synchrotron X-ray technology to reveal previously unknown details about dinosaur fossils and ancient documents. By analyzing the chemical elements left behind in fossilized bones, scientists hope to gain new insights into the evolution of dinosaurs and their relationships with modern birds.
Stanford researchers developed a computer simulation to predict the movement of fish farm waste in the ocean. The model, called SUNTANS, reveals that wastes can travel greater distances and in higher concentrations than previously assumed.
Recent studies suggest that global warming could accelerate at a faster pace, leading to more environmental damage and releasing billions of tons of greenhouse gas. IPCC scientist Chris Field warns of the potential for catastrophic consequences, including devastating wildfires in tropical forests and permafrost thawing.
A new study by Holly Gibbs at Stanford's Woods Institute for the Environment suggests that biofuel crops may contribute to climate change by burning tropical forests. The research found that agricultural subsidies and policies favoring biofuel crop production can lead to deforestation, releasing stored carbon into the atmosphere.
Researchers have designed intelligent molecules that can recognize diseased cells, such as cancer cells, and trigger cell death only in their presence. This approach aims to reduce nonspecific side effects and improve therapeutic accuracy.
Research reveals that elephants rely on bone conduction to detect seismic signals in estrus calls, allowing them to triangulate the source with greater accuracy. This method is more effective than somatosensory reception, which involves vibration-sensitive cells in the foot.
Stephen Schneider, a climate researcher, emphasizes the need for accurate and comprehensive reporting on global warming. He stresses that developed nations must take control of their greenhouse gas emissions to make the problem solvable in developing countries.
The discovery of new mammalian species since 1993 reveals a significant reduction in biodiversity, with many species having small populations or limited geographic ranges. This loss can have severe consequences, including increased disease risk and reduced ecosystem services that support human life.
Researchers can now run complex molecular dynamics simulations on desktop computers at much faster speeds than before, with a speedup of up to 100 times. The new open-source software, OpenMM, leverages GPU acceleration to accelerate applications beyond graphics processing.
Researchers encoded letters 'S' and 'U' in interference patterns formed by quantum electron waves, creating a tiny hologram that can be viewed with a microscope. The achievement paves the way for storing more information in less space, challenging the assumption of atomic limits
Researchers at Stanford University have found evidence that adaptation is a major driver of human genomic evolution. The study, published online in Public Library of Science Genetics, reveals that genetic mutations beneficial to an organism's environment are more common than previously thought. This suggests that humans have undergone ...
A Stanford researcher has quantified the enormous size jumps of life on Earth, finding two major leaps: one 1.6 billion years ago and another 600 million years ago. These increases were triggered by significant boosts in atmospheric oxygen levels, which enabled eukaryotic cells to develop and multi-cellularity to emerge.
Researchers found increasing charcoal deposits indicating forest burning for agriculture until around 500 years ago, followed by a precipitous drop coinciding with human population decline. This suggests that post-pandemic reforestation in the Americas helped trigger a period of global cooling known as the Little Ice Age.
Stanford researchers predict more frequent heat waves, higher temperatures, and increased crop losses in California. Average temperatures are expected to rise 4-9 degrees Fahrenheit over the next 50-100 years, with potential impacts on crops like cherries, peaches, and grapes.
Stanford researcher Mark Z. Jacobson finds wind power to be the most promising clean energy source, offering a 99% reduction in carbon emissions and water consumption. In contrast, biofuels, nuclear power, and coal are significantly polluting, causing thousands of deaths per year.
The Natural Capital Project has received a $1.97 million grant to develop Marine InVEST, a software program for evaluating the economic benefits of temperate marine ecosystems. The tool will help policymakers balance competing interests and make informed decisions about ocean management.
A team of Stanford researchers has created a prototype blood scanner that can detect cancer biomarkers in the bloodstream at an early stage of the disease. The system uses magnetic nanotechnology to spot cancer proteins, which is tens to hundreds of times more sensitive than existing commercial devices. This technology holds promise fo...
Researchers found a specific signaling pathway controlling stomata development, allowing plants to adapt to changing climate conditions. The discovery provides insights into how plants regulate their water and carbon dioxide intake, crucial for survival.
Researchers at Stanford University have successfully flipped the spin of an electron and measured its new position, a key step towards faster quantum computing. The experiment achieved this in about 100 times less time than previous techniques, using ultrafast lasers.
The Precourt Institute has awarded seven Stanford faculty members $824,000 in seed grants to develop energy-efficient technologies and behaviors. The research projects will focus on promoting energy efficiency within buildings, transportation, and other areas.
Stanford researchers found a catastrophic decrease in frog and salamander populations in Yellowstone's ponds due to high temperatures and drought. The amphibians need ponds for their young to hatch, but drying water kills eggs that are unsuitable for gestation on land.
Stanford researchers found that a functioning circadian system is crucial to Siberian hamsters' ability to remember their environment. The study suggests that the circadian clock controls the daily cycle of sleep and wakefulness by inhibiting brain activity, which affects learning and memory.
The Woods Institute has awarded five faculty planning grants to develop long-term research programs at Stanford, focusing on solving the world's water demands. The grants aim to identify promising solutions to freshwater challenges and facilitate partnerships among academics, businesses, and policymakers.
Researchers at Stanford University have developed a method to get around one of the most common forms of resistance, thereby opening up some resistant diseases to the reinvigorated fury of medications. The method uses an arginine-rich transporter to deliver potent medication inside a resistant cell.
Researchers at Stanford University have developed a new method using single-walled carbon nanotubes as delivery vehicles for cancer chemotherapy drugs. They found that the nanotubes can deliver up to 10 times more medication into tumor cells than traditional formulations, reducing side effects and improving treatment outcomes.
According to Paul Ehrlich and Robert Pringle, a multi-pronged approach involving individual and small group efforts is crucial for preserving biodiversity. By making modest actions such as reducing meat consumption or maintaining living hedges, people can collectively have a significant impact on the environment.
A study tracking leatherback turtles in the eastern Pacific Ocean has revealed a narrow corridor they consistently follow, potentially leading to fishing suspension and improved management. The turtles' movements are correlated with environmental features and fishing activity, providing new opportunities for conservation efforts.
The Woods Institute has awarded grants to five faculty research teams to tackle global sustainability challenges. The projects include salmon farming in Chile and farmland irrigation in California, with a focus on developing solutions that can be applied beyond their immediate area of interest.
Researchers from Stanford's Bio-X program have devised a needle-thin probe to observe sarcomeres, the basic contracting engines of muscle, in live humans. This microendoscopy technique provides an alternative to painful muscle biopsy and could prove useful in understanding muscular diseases.
Scientists at Stanford University discovered that a hydrogen atom can transfer energy to a deuterium molecule through a glancing blow, changing the conventional wisdom on energy transfer. This finding has significant implications for understanding chemical reactions and interactions between molecules.
A Stanford study reveals that reviving abandoned agricultural land for biofuel production could ease the global energy crunch without exacerbating food shortages or climate change. The researchers estimate up to 1-1.2 billion acres of fallow cropland globally, with potential for biomass energy conversion.
The Woods Institute has awarded grants to 17 Stanford faculty members to develop a campus-wide research agenda on the sustainable built environment. The research will focus on enhancing sustainability in buildings, infrastructure, and cities.
Researchers at Stanford University have made significant progress in understanding how the TRiC molecule folds proteins, a crucial step for cellular health. The study reveals that the TRiC lid opens like an iris, transferring rotation to the interior of the chaperonin, where protein folding occurs.
Researchers at Stanford University have developed a new way to make transistors out of carbon nanoribbons, which can operate at room temperature and increase the speed of computer chips. The devices are smoother and narrower than previously made graphene nanoribbons, allowing them to work at higher temperatures.
Four Stanford researchers Mark Schnitzer, Kang Shen, Seung K. Kim, and Julie Theriot have been awarded the prestigious title of HHMI investigators for their groundbreaking work in biomedical science. They will now have the freedom to tackle ambitious and risky research projects without restriction.
The Precourt Institute for Energy Efficiency has awarded its first competitive research grants to Stanford faculty members, with a total of $358,000 in funding over the next 11-18 months. The grants support projects aimed at enhancing energy efficiency in transportation, building, and electricity sectors.
A Stanford study reveals that cars with AI voices can collect sensitive data on drivers' habits, preferences, and emotions, potentially used by insurance companies, advertisers, and governments to influence behavior
Researchers at Stanford University have synthesized a compound that can be tailored to flush HIV out of hiding and into the crosshairs for targeted destruction. By synthesizing prostratin and DPP, two compounds found in plants, scientists can now tackle the virus more effectively.