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Stanford University


How diseases and history are intertwined

A Stanford University seminar discovered that vector-borne diseases had a profound impact on historical societies, with some populations developing immunity while others were decimated. The researchers found that diseases often preyed on inequities in society, leaving marginalized groups most at risk.

SourceStanford University·JournalEcology Letters·DateFeb 9, 2021

Gender and spatial behavior

A Stanford study suggests that the increasingly gendered division of labor in human societies dramatically shaped how our species uses space and thinks about it. The research, published in Nature Human Behaviour, examines travel data from the Hadza people of Tanzania and finds that men and women occupy different worlds from a young age.

SourceStanford University·JournalNature Human Behaviour·DateJan 28, 2021

Stanford: forecasting coastal water quality

The study presents a modeling framework that accurately predicts water quality at beaches after only a day or two of frequent water sampling. This approach could be used to monitor unmonitored coastal areas, protecting the well-being of beachgoers and thriving ocean economies worldwide.

SourceStanford University·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateJan 21, 2021

Controlling chemical catalysts with sculpted light

Scientists have developed a method to control the activity of chemical catalysts using sculpted light, which can lead to faster or more efficient reactions. By manipulating the location of reactive sites on the catalyst, researchers can optimize the performance of single catalysts and avoid unwanted reactions.

SourceStanford University·JournalScience·DateJan 15, 2021

Lead poisoning of children

A new study by Stanford researchers and others finds that a relatively affordable remediation process can almost entirely remove lead from contaminated soil, but challenges persist due to ongoing sources of exposure. The study's results raise troubling questions about how to effectively eliminate the poison from children's bodies.

SourceStanford University·JournalEnvironmental Research·DateJan 14, 2021

New state of matter in one-dimensional quantum gas

Researchers at Stanford University have developed a quantum Archimedes' screw that hails fragile gas atoms to higher energy states without collapsing. The discovery reveals the existence of scar states, rare trajectories in chaotic quantum systems offering protected refuge for information encoded in quantum systems.

SourceStanford University·JournalScience·DateJan 14, 2021

Water and gender equality

A Stanford study reveals that installing piped water closer to remote households in Zambia improves the lives of women and girls by reducing fetching time, increasing economic opportunities, and enhancing well-being. Households with piped water spend up to 80% less time fetching water, allowing for more time on productive activities li...

SourceStanford University·JournalSocial Science & Medicine·DateJan 14, 2021

Nanoparticle vaccine for COVID-19

Researchers at Stanford University have created a nanoparticle vaccine candidate for COVID-19 that shows promise in inducing immunity after just one dose. The vaccine uses nanoparticles studded with the virus's surface spikes to trigger an immune response, offering a potential alternative to traditional viral-based vaccines.

SourceStanford University·JournalACS Central Science·DateJan 8, 2021

How soil fungi respond to wildfire

Researchers analyzed soil samples from burned and unburned areas in California parks, finding that the oak woodland fungal community was less affected by wildfires than those in evergreen forests. This aligns with the fact that oak woodlands depend on regular fire to thrive.

SourceStanford University·JournalMolecular Ecology·DateDec 9, 2020

New study allows regional prediction of uranium in groundwater

A new regional model predicts uranium contamination in California's Central Valley aquifers based on calcium concentrations and soil alkalinity. The study suggests that water managers can forecast solutions by including data about soil properties when generating aquifer vulnerability maps for naturally occurring contaminants like uranium.

SourceStanford University·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateDec 8, 2020

Studying trust in autonomous products

A Stanford University study reveals that users' moods play a significant role in shaping their trust in smart technologies. The research found that participants trusted devices more when they were in a positive mood, regardless of the experiment's intent. However, user trust also differed by age group, gender, and education level, with...

SourceStanford University·JournalJournal of Mechanical Design·DateDec 8, 2020

Wastewater testing for COVID-19

A new study identifies a method that detects COVID-19 in wastewater samples and tracks infection trends. The test uses genetic material from SARS-COV-2 RNA, which correlates with community COVID-19 infections.

SourceStanford University·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateDec 7, 2020

Could kelp help relieve ocean acidification?

A new study published in JGR Oceans suggests that giant kelp forests may help mitigate ocean acidification by reducing acidity near the surface, but has no impact on the ocean floor where sensitive species dwell. The research found an overall less acidic environment within the kelp forest compared to outside of it.

Predicting urban water needs

A Stanford University study uses Zillow and census data to identify residential water use patterns and trends in different community groupings. The research found that income levels do not always correlate with water usage, and that changing community development can impact water consumption patterns.

SourceStanford University·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateNov 18, 2020

Love waves from the ocean floor

Researchers decoded the origin of love waves, generated by ocean storms, which travel through the solid Earth. Stanford University geophysicist Lucia Gualtieri's study suggests that Love waves originate within the Earth itself, not on the seafloor.

SourceStanford University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 13, 2020

In a warming world, Cape Town's 'Day Zero' drought won't be an anomaly

Researchers warn that extreme events like the 'Day Zero' drought could become common by the end of the century due to climate change. The study used high-resolution simulations to conclude that human-caused climate change made the drought five to six times more likely, and such events could impact regions with similar climates.

SourceStanford University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 9, 2020

AI detects hidden earthquakes

A new AI-based method has been developed to detect small, imperceptibly tiny earthquakes that occur on the same faults as bigger earthquakes. This technology could provide insights into how earthquakes interact and spread out along the fault, allowing for a clearer view of earthquake patterns.

SourceStanford University·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 22, 2020

Pattern in whale songs predicts migration

Researchers at Stanford University have identified patterns in blue whale songs that indicate migration from feeding grounds to breeding grounds. The study uses advanced recording technologies to analyze whale song wavelengths, revealing a distinct change over several months.

SourceStanford University·JournalCurrent Biology·DateOct 1, 2020

How earthquake swarms arise

A Stanford-developed model shows that fluids ascending by fits and starts weaken the fault, propelling the boundary or locking depth upward. This process can trigger earthquake swarms, strings of quakes clustered in a local area, often too subtle to notice but sometimes strong enough to rattle cities.

SourceStanford University·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 24, 2020

Seismic data explains continental collision beneath Tibet

New seismic data gathered by Stanford University researchers provides the first west-to-east view of the subsurface where India and Asia collide. The study suggests two competing processes are operating beneath the collision zone: movement of one tectonic plate under another, as well as thinning and collapse of the crust.

SourceStanford University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 22, 2020

Stanford researchers combine CAT scans and advanced computing to fight wildfires

Using advanced X-ray Computed Tomography (XCT) to study smoldering, Stanford researchers developed a new analysis method that provides three-dimensional images of wood structures. Their computer model can predict where wildfires might strike next and allocate resources more efficiently, saving lives and reducing property loss.

SourceStanford University·JournalProceedings of the Combustion Institute·DateSep 22, 2020

Predicting the slow death of lithium-ion batteries

A new algorithm developed by Stanford University scientists can accurately predict the remaining storage capacity and charge level of lithium-ion batteries in real-time. This innovation has the potential to enable smaller battery packs and greater driving ranges in electric vehicles, reducing costs and environmental impact.

SourceStanford University·JournalIEEE Transactions on Control Systems Technology·DateSep 14, 2020

Seeing objects through clouds and fog

Researchers at Stanford University have developed a system that can reconstruct three-dimensional hidden scenes based on the movement of individual particles of light. This technique complements other vision systems and is more focused on large-scale situations, such as navigating self-driving cars in fog or heavy rain.

SourceStanford University·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 9, 2020

Evolutionary theory of economic decisions

A new study from Stanford University proposes that the brain was constructed over evolutionary history to make high-stakes decisions with a bias towards pessimism. This perspective challenges traditional economic models, which assume humans act rationally and weigh probabilities to maximize personal gain.

SourceStanford University·JournalEvolutionary Human Sciences·DateAug 11, 2020