Stanford researchers introduce a cost-effective way to evaluate AI language models, accounting for question difficulty to ensure fair comparisons. The new approach reduces costs by half and enables rapid progress in the field of artificial intelligence.
A new study found that providing housing and supportive services without requiring drug treatment is a surprisingly cost-effective approach to helping unhoused people with opioid use disorder. The 'housing first' model output showed that people with stable housing are more likely to enter treatment for opioid use and have a higher like...
Researchers found that prescribed burns can reduce the severity of subsequent wildfires by an average of 16% and net smoke pollution by an average of 14%. The study highlights a key nuance: prescribed fires were significantly more effective outside of the wildland-urban interface (WUI) than within it, with benefits seen in non-WUI zones.
Stanford researchers measured biomass of ocean life over the past half-billion years, finding a generally increasing trend. The study aligns with evidence for a rise in marine biodiversity and suggests an evolutionary connection between biomass and biodiversity.
A new market-based approach to managing water in the Colorado River basin could provide more reliable supplies for farmers, communities, and industry amid ongoing drought and excess demand. Strategic water transactions that reduce water use would benefit over 380 miles of restorable river reaches.
Research from Stanford University estimates that climate change will reduce global crop yields by 24% by 2100, even after accounting for economic development and adaptation by farmers. The study finds that regions in the US, Canada, China, and Russia will be among the hardest hit, while others may benefit.
A new Stanford University report examines how US power utilities are confronting the escalating threat of wildfires. The research team found that while progress has been made in some Western states, utilities in high-risk areas remain underprepared.
A new study found that most Americans overrate the climate impact of actions like recycling and underrate high-impact choices like skipping long flights or eating less meat. Active learning interventions boost climate literacy and commitment to impactful lifestyle changes, but must be paired with strategies supporting collective action.
Researchers at Stanford University developed a new technique called the milli-spinner thrombectomy that significantly improves success rates in treating strokes and other clot-related diseases. The milli-spinner can reduce clots to as little as 5% of their original volume, making it a promising tool for improving patient outcomes.
Stanford researchers have developed a machine learning approach to design proteins that can target specific genomic sites without triggering immune responses. By combining three independent algorithms, the team created zinc finger DNA-binding domains with improved functionality and lowered immunogenicity.
A new white paper from Stanford University highlights gaps in US wildfire response workforce data, affecting support and reform. The report aims to improve data collection and provide targeted support for undercounted groups.
A Stanford University-led study found that modest patches of tree cover can reduce the presence of invasive mosquito species known to transmit diseases like dengue fever. This strategy has the upside of keeping out a disease-carrying invasive species and can inform land use decisions in rural areas.
Virtual reality can be used sparingly and thoughtfully for intense experiences like travel and learning surgery, but its value fades with mundane activities. The medium is not suitable for anonymity or precision movements.
Researchers at Stanford University have developed a modular biosensor called SENSBIT that can continuously track drug concentration profiles in real time. The device has remained functional for up to seven days when implanted directly into the blood vessels of live rats.
Researchers at Stanford University have developed a new CRISPR technology called CRISPR-TO that can transport RNA molecules to specific locations within neurons, enabling repair and regeneration. The technology has shown promising results in increasing neurite growth by up to 50% in mouse brain neurons.
Researchers discovered people from both income groups experience meaningful nature connections in community gardens, despite lacking nearby greenspace. Community gardens provide habitat, access to nature, and health benefits for people and biodiversity.
Researchers at Stanford University have discovered a way to reduce fluid pressure in the geothermal reservoir under Campi Flegrei, leading to earthquakes. By managing surface runoff and water flow, they aim to prevent cyclic unrest altogether.
Tropical cyclones significantly reduce school enrollment, especially for girls in areas unaccustomed to frequent storms. The study found that exposure to any cyclone at preschool age decreases the likelihood of starting primary school by 2.5%, with a maximum decrease of 8.8% after intense storms.
The Colombian government is implementing a new agenda including climate- and biodiversity-related programs to compensate landowners for restoring forests or following management practices that maintain nature's benefits. A natural capital account has been developed to quantify natural assets, benefits, and changes over time, providing ...
A study by Stanford University's PPML finds nearly 40 million people use free preventive health services under the Affordable Care Act. The Supreme Court will decide whether to uphold a ruling that makes these services no longer mandatory.
Researchers used electromagnetic data to identify areas suitable for recharge, finding that up to 13 million acres in the Central Valley may be ideal for refilling aquifers. The team developed a web application called fastpath to help groundwater agencies and landowners pinpoint optimal recharge pathways.
Scientists at Stanford University suggest reducing health implications of prescribed burns by fine-tuning three conditions: moisture content, heat intensity, and oxygen levels. This can slash PAH emissions by up to 77% and cut cancer risks from smoke exposure by over 50%.
Scientists at Stanford University have discovered a method to perform prescribed burns with drastically reduced health implications by adjusting burn conditions. By tweaking moisture, heat, and oxygen levels, PAH emissions can be slashed by up to 77%, cutting cancer risks from smoke exposure by over 50%.
A Stanford study finds that a pivot to clean energy technologies by 2060 would improve energy security and reduce trade risks for most nations. The study analyzed potential new vulnerabilities under decarbonization relative to those associated with continued reliance on fossil fuels.
The US power system lacks capacity to handle rising demand, meeting participants agreed. Six big ideas for federal and state energy policymakers consider expanding the grid, optimizing current capabilities, and controlling costs and system reliability.
Surface waters in the Southern Ocean have cooled by 60% since 1990, contrary to climate models. Freshwater inputs from melting ice sheets drive this phenomenon, limiting the exchange of cool surface waters with warmer waters below.
Researchers developed a model that predicts how creatures like clams and snails flourished in warmer, less-oxygenated waters after the end-Permian extinction. The findings suggest that climate change provided an environmental explanation for the global presence of surviving species.
A recent Stanford University study found that foreign aid sanctions can negate up to 64% of progress against maternal mortality, with similar impacts on infant and child mortality. The researchers estimate that sanctions lasting five years or more can lead to significant increases in death rates among mothers, children, and infants.
Researchers identify how a balance of innate structure and flexible learning produces our remarkably organized visual brains. They found that regions in the ventral temporal cortex have distinct cellular organization and white matter connections from birth.
Researchers propose that microlightning in water droplets, rather than lightning strikes, sparked the formation of organic molecules with carbon-nitrogen bonds. This new mechanism suggests a more plausible explanation for the origin of life on Earth, overcoming criticisms of the Miller-Urey hypothesis.
Researchers at Stanford University used machine learning to analyze high-resolution remote-sensing data of ice movements in Antarctica, gaining new insights into the fundamental physics governing the large-scale movements of the Antarctic ice sheet. The study reveals that most of the ice shelf is anisotropic, with different physical pr...
Researchers at Stanford University have discovered a method to use two antibodies to effectively combat the constantly evolving virus, which could lead to longer-lasting treatments for COVID-19. The antibodies were shown to be effective against all SARS-CoV-2 variants in laboratory testing.
Aging mice show significant changes in glycocalyx, the sugary armor on cells that form the blood-brain barrier. Restoring glycals improves cognitive function and reduces neuroinflammation. The study offers new avenues for treating brain aging and related diseases.
Researchers estimate that enhanced geothermal systems could make up a far greater share of humanity's energy needs, providing stability to a decarbonized power grid. By 2045, California could reach 40 gigawatts of geothermal capacity, replacing fossil fuels for baseload power.
Stanford researchers have developed a practical and low-cost method to remove atmospheric carbon dioxide from the air using common minerals. The new process, known as enhanced weathering, uses heat to transform silicates into materials that capture and store CO2, offering a potentially scalable solution to mitigate global warming.
Researchers at Stanford University have illuminated how enzymes speed up life-sustaining biochemical reactions so dramatically. By understanding the chemical and physical interactions responsible for enzyme's enormous reaction rates, scientists may be able to design new enzymes that rival those found in nature.
A recent study by Stanford University researchers found that deploying carbon capture technologies would be more expensive and harmful than transitioning to renewable energy sources. The authors compared two extreme scenarios: a complete switch to renewable energy versus maintaining current fossil fuel reliance with some renewables, nu...
A new analysis of seismic data shows that historic rainfall in 2023 nearly refilled surface reservoirs and shallow aquifers but failed to replenish deeper aquifers, leaving them 25% full. The study developed a new Seismic Drought Index to quantify water deficits at different depths, providing a potential tool for groundwater management.
The study found that widespread deployment of carbon capture technology would be more costly and harmful than a global switch to renewable energy. Researchers calculated that replacing fossil fuels with renewables could reduce energy needs by over 54% and avoid hundreds of millions of illnesses and 5 million deaths per year.
A Stanford-led study reveals significant variations in corn varieties' water-seeking abilities, with tropical and subtropical varieties outperforming temperate ones. This finding holds potential for developing more resilient corn varieties to tackle climate change-induced droughts.
A new study by Stanford University researchers found that coal-fired power stations drag down annual wheat and rice yields by 10% or more due to NO2 emissions. Eliminating these emissions could boost rice output by $420 million per year and wheat output by $400 million per year.
Recycling lithium-ion batteries recovers critical metals, emitting less greenhouse gases and using significantly less water and energy than conventional mining. The study's findings suggest that recycling can help relieve supply insecurity and mitigate climate change by utilizing existing battery sources.
The Tule River Tribe is facing mounting environmental hazards such as wildfire, drought, and flooding. A new study sheds light on how a range of strategies can address these compounding hazards and achieve the community's goals to strengthen its physical, mental, spiritual, and environmental health.
Researchers at Stanford University have developed a computational workflow that can design thousands of new enzymes, predict their behavior, and test their performance across multiple chemical reactions using machine learning. This breakthrough accelerates the process of creating new enzymes, which can enhance perfumes, clean laundry, ...
A study published in Environmental Microbiology sheds light on how microbial communities in coastal groundwater respond to changes in seawater. The research found that these microbes play a crucial role in maintaining coastal water quality, but their resilience is vulnerable to climate change.
Despite potential advantages, sodium-ion batteries struggle to match lithium-ion batteries in terms of energy density and cost. Researchers identify key areas for improvement, including increasing energy densities without critical minerals and developing new battery chemistries.
Researchers at Stanford University have discovered a new class of conductors made from niobium phosphide that can conduct electricity better than copper in films as thin as a few atoms. This breakthrough could lead to more powerful and efficient electronics, reducing energy consumption and heat loss.
Researchers at Stanford University have designed a comfortable, flexible knit sleeve that simulates realistic touch using pressure-based haptics. The Haptiknit sleeve provides more accurate tactile feedback than vibration-based devices, allowing for smoother navigation, military communication, and rehabilitation.
Researchers found that neural stem cells have a rejuvenating effect on nearby brain cells, while T cells promote stress and damage. The study opens new avenues for research into slowing or reversing brain aging.
Researchers at Stanford University have discovered a genetic twist in cyanobacteria, allowing them to produce two forms of the enzyme RuBisCo, which could enhance carbon storage. This adaptation may play a crucial role in ocean carbon sequestration and has potential implications for more efficient crop production.