Researchers detected a magnitude 5.7 quake on Kilauea's southern flank in November 2000 using GPS data, which caused the volcano's southern flank to slide nearly 3.5 inches into the sea. The event could become a model for predicting catastrophic tsunamis in the Pacific.
Researchers at Stanford University used biomechanics to estimate T. rex's running speed, concluding it was unlikely to reach high speeds. The team found that large animals face limitations when trying to support their weight with muscle, making fast running impossible.
Researchers used x-ray absorption spectroscopy to analyze the chemistry of wood decay in the Vasa, finding evidence of sulfur accumulation and oxidation. They recommend regulating environmental conditions and replacing iron bolts with inert materials to slow damage.
The proposed program aims to increase the number of university math, science, and engineering majors, with a focus on undergraduate education. The $25 million pilot program could grow to $200 million annually if successful, and would provide portable fellowships for graduate students to shift towards innovation in the business sector.
Gretchen Daily proposes assigning economic value to ecosystems and incorporating those values into public policy. She argues that making conservation profitable is crucial for saving the planet from natural resource depletion.
Researchers propose a 30% set-aside rule to ensure long-term profitability and prevent extinction of marine resources. This model, developed by Stanford Professor Joan Roughgarden, computes the best strategy for small-scale sustainable fisheries to optimize profit and social welfare.
A new study on Neurospora crassa reveals a gene silencing mechanism called MSUD, which could have implications for human reproduction and speciation. The process involves the scanning of paired chromosomes before they separate, and can eliminate deleterious genes in organisms.
Researchers analyzed carbon and hydrogen isotopes in black-throated blue warbler feathers to link northern breeding populations with southern wintering grounds. The study found a significant correlation between isotopic composition and geographical location.
Researchers at Stanford University have developed nanocircles that can shut down specific genes in living bacteria, paving the way for potential use in genetic therapy. The study demonstrates that nanocircles can act as a Trojan horse to target and inhibit disease-causing genes.
A new study reveals that white sharks can range across vast stretches of the open ocean, with some migrating thousands of miles from California to Hawaii. The researchers used electronic tagging technology to track the movement and behavior of six adult white sharks, finding that they were not coastal animals as previously thought.
A geophysicist proposes that life on Earth may have originated from microorganisms that could survive in high-temperature environments, such as deep beneath the surface. This theory is supported by evidence of ancient organisms thriving in extreme conditions and laboratory experiments showing that microbes can survive in space.
New geologic evidence from Antarctic mud deposits suggests that the continent experienced periods of extreme warming and cooling long before the invention of cars. These findings indicate a more complex climate history than previously thought, with cycles of warming and cooling caused by variations in solar activity.
New research suggests earthquakes destroyed fortified buildings, changed river courses and made elite rulers vulnerable to attack in ancient civilizations. Scientists at Stanford University are painting a picture of an ancient world where earthquakes played a crucial role in shaping history.
A study published in Nature magazine found that ignoring leap year can lead to a 10% statistical bias in predicting the arrival of spring, with trends being overestimated. The researcher emphasizes the importance of using accurate data to predict climate change and highlights the need for corrections.
The WTC's design had several vulnerabilities that made it susceptible to collapse, including flimsy floor trusses and weak connections in the tube frame system. The impact of the jetliners shattered support columns, causing partial collapse and triggering a fire that exacerbated the damage
Researchers at Stanford University studied the Caribbean spiny lobster's ability to track odors using its antennules, finding that rapid downstroke allows high-resolution information capture while slow upstroke provides time for analysis. The findings could help develop robots for plume tracing underwater.
Researchers at Stanford and Caltech have made a breakthrough in neural prosthetics, demonstrating that electrical signals from the parietal reach region can control movement and planning. The study enabled a monkey to control a cursor with its thoughts, paving the way for potential applications in helping severely paralyzed patients.
A Stanford research team aims to understand how C. crescentus's genes communicate with one another, exploring its potential as a bioremediation agent. The goal is to create a comprehensive 'owner's manual' for the bacterium, which can help DOE meet its challenges in toxic waste cleanup and energy production.
Researchers analyzed sound waves from the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory to map the temperature and flow structure beneath sunspots. The study revealed fast-moving streams of hot plasma converging into a gigantic vortex that penetrates the solar surface.
The Nenana Ice Classic provides a consistent and accurate dataset on river ice breakup timing, showing spring is coming earlier due to climate change. Researchers can use this historical record to analyze the effects of global warming on natural systems.
Chyba, a renowned astrobiologist, has been awarded a 2001 MacArthur Fellowship for his groundbreaking work on understanding life on Earth. He will receive a $500,000 stipend to support his research on the origins of life and potential threats to human civilization.
Researchers have discovered a bacterial protein called anti-TRAP (AT) that participates in regulating tryptophan production. The newly discovered protein helps Bacillus bacteria control the production of tryptophan, one of the building blocks of most proteins in humans.
Wind power has dropped in cost to 3-4 cents per kilowatt-hour, making it less expensive than coal energy. Shifting from coal to wind could address health, environmental, and energy problems, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Researchers analyzed data from electronic tags on Atlantic bluefin tuna, revealing significant insights into their migrations, diving patterns, and environmental preferences. The study found that Atlantic bluefin tuna often travel throughout the North Atlantic, with some individuals migrating between two distinct breeding populations.
Researchers have decoded the genome of Sinorhizobium meliloti, a bacterium that fixes atmospheric nitrogen for plants. The complete genome map could improve crop yields while reducing fertilizer use, contributing to more sustainable agriculture.
Paul Ehrlich was named Eminent Ecologist by the Ecological Society of America (ESA) in 2001. The award recognizes his groundbreaking work on population biology and coevolution. Ehrlich is a leader in developing conservation biology as a discipline.
Kinesin proteins use a unique 'head-over-head' mechanism to propel themselves forward, allowing them to transport vital cargo through the cell. Researchers have discovered that this process is controlled by the breakdown of ATP and involves a rocking motion that allows kinesin to complete long-distance walks in a few seconds.
A new study on Lake Titicaca reveals dramatic changes in the lake's water level and precipitation patterns over the past 25,000 years. The research suggests that natural climate variability, including changes in Earth's orbit around the sun, may be influencing global climate change.
The article highlights the risk of biological warfare, citing the existence of frozen stocks of smallpox virus and conventional biological agents. Genetic engineering also poses a threat, as microbiologists' knowledge could be used to create novel, deadly pathogens.
Scientists study seismic waves to understand tectonic plate dynamics, aiming to resolve the long-standing 'great plate debate'. They use data from seismometers worldwide to characterize wave origins and time delays, creating a X-ray image of the planet's internal structure.
High-tech entrepreneur Michael J. Fitzpatrick and his wife, Patty, are donating $25 million each to establish new centers for advanced photonics at Stanford and Duke universities. The centers will attract top students and faculty, and facilitate industry partnerships to develop cutting-edge photonics technologies.
Phosphorus is essential for life as a building block of nucleic acids and energy transfer molecules. New technologies help scientists study phosphorus cycling in soil, sea, and living organisms to better understand its role in the Earth system.
Researchers use geophysical surveys and underwater explorers to discover two long-lost cities off the Egyptian coast. The cities are believed to have sunk due to earthquakes, with some evidence suggesting land subsidence or tsunamis as contributing factors.
Researchers at Stanford University are working on a permanent worldwide volcano early-warning network, utilizing advances in technology and communication to revolutionize volcanology. Tiny movements on the surface of a volcano often indicate magma build-up below, which can be detected by radar satellites orbiting the Earth.
Distributed computing is revolutionizing the way scientists solve complex computational problems, enabling breakthroughs in astronomy and biology. The Stanford-led project Folding@home has taken off, with over 10,000 volunteers contributing their home computers to protein folding research.
A group of scientists, lawyers, conservationists, economists, and policymakers came together at Stanford to discuss novel ways to market ecosystem services. The workshop aimed to protect the ecosystem by putting an economic value on its less tangible services, such as water purification and flood control.
An international research team aims to fill knowledge gaps on whale, seal, bird, turtle, fish and squid behaviors. The Census of Marine Life project tracks animals using sophisticated electronic sensors.
A study by Stanford researchers reveals that global warming is causing a significant shift in marine species distribution, with many vulnerable intertidal creatures already struggling to cope. Rising temperatures are pushing species over their thermal tolerance range, leading to declines and potential extinctions.
Sidney Drell, 74, has been honored with the Enrico Fermi Award for his work on arms control and particle physics. The award recognizes his pioneering research in quantum electrodynamics and his technical contributions to national security issues.
Researchers have developed diode-laser-based sensors to measure the properties of gases in industrial processes, such as monitoring combustion, propulsion, and air quality. The technology has shown promising results in detecting carbon monoxide emissions from cars and measuring ammonia densities with high accuracy.
Researchers at Stanford University have developed a system to produce single photons 86% of the time, making it easier to detect intruders and ensure secure communications. This achievement takes cyberspace closer to quantum-secured information transfer.
A team of Stanford geophysicists used satellite radar images to detect rising volcanoes in the Galápagos Islands, a sign that they may erupt soon. The study found four out of six volcanoes on Isabela Island had risen in size over a seven-year period.
The Bio-X program awarded nearly $3 million in grants to Stanford faculty for innovative biological projects, including a method to rapidly synthesize patient-specific vaccines and an interdisciplinary course on human pathophysiology. The grants aim to promote interdepartmental bioscience research and education in biology, medicine, co...
A new study by geophysicists Shelley J. Kenner and Paul Segall suggests that devastating earthquakes could strike the New Madrid seismic zone along the Mississippi River within this century, potentially causing widespread destruction from Arkansas to Iowa.
The Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory will use its powerful X-ray crystallography instruments to determine the three-dimensional structure of 2,000 proteins encoded by human DNA. This grant is part of a nationwide research effort to understand protein structures and functions.
Researchers aim to unlock cellular communication secrets using air traffic control principles and develop new instrumentation for analyzing complex biological systems. The goal is to understand how genes function and design intricate electronic circuits, applying insights from computation and engineering.
Researchers have discovered a virus with an armored coat made of interlocking rings of protein, similar to medieval chain mail suits. The discovery could lead to new designs for nanotechnology, as the unique structure allows for stability while maintaining mobility.
Despite technological advancements, earthquake prediction remains elusive due to the Heat-Flow Paradox and debates on fault strength. Research efforts have shed light on variations along the San Andreas fault, with some areas experiencing locked stresses while others creep slowly.
The Stanford researchers received $2,200,000 to transform the World Wide Web into a Global InfoBase, creating a universal information model and query language. Additionally, they aim to personalize information management and analyze semantics to reveal new knowledge.
Researchers at Stanford University discovered that nitric oxide gas plays a crucial role in triggering fertilization, which could lead to new treatments for infertility. The study focused on sea urchins, but the findings also have implications for human reproduction and genetic engineering.