Floods affect plant photosynthesis nearly as often as droughts, with extreme wet events impacting soil carbon storage. The study emphasizes the need to rethink flood impacts on vegetation dynamics and soil carbon storage in a warming world.
Researchers discovered that fungus creates an underappreciated express lane for carbon, diverting up to 20% of fixed carbon from the microbial loop. This finding has implications for climate change mitigation and management of industrial and recreational settings dealing with harmful algal blooms.
Researchers found that small-scale fisheries employ diverse approaches to adapt to climate change, emphasizing flexibility and knowledge. The study highlights the importance of community-level responses and non-asset-based adaptive mechanisms.
A study by Stanford researchers recommends clear guidelines on mask use during wildfires and COVID-19 crises. They suggest reconciling evidence-based messaging, clarifying mask types, and providing culturally sensitive formats to reach vulnerable groups.
A national biofuel policy encouraging sugarcane juice production may make India's water and energy resources more sustainable. Sugarcane cultivation has expanded due to policies that incentivize production, reducing resources for micronutrient-rich foods.
Methane levels have surged globally, primarily driven by coal mining, oil and gas production, and cattle farming. The potent greenhouse gas poses a significant threat, with potential consequences including wildfires, droughts, and social disruptions.
Phytoplankton blooms have drastically altered the Arctic's ability to transform atmospheric carbon into living matter, with net primary production increasing by 57% between 1998 and 2018. The surge in phytoplankton biomass may represent a significant 'regime shift' for the Arctic ecosystem, with implications for food supply and carbon ...
A new study found that women living within six miles of oil and gas wells in California were 8-14% more likely to experience spontaneous preterm births. The study analyzed 225,000 births from 1998 to 2011 and focused on how exposure to wells may affect health outcomes.
Researchers found that dry air drives changes in how plants drink and breathe, with global warming predicted to shift this process more than previously thought. Plants will use less water than expected during hot droughts, but plant growth and carbon uptake may suffer.
Researchers develop a deep-learning model to estimate fine detail of fuel moisture levels across 12 western states, improving fire studies. The new dataset could help reveal areas at greatest risk and chart candidate locations for prescribed burns.
A new study by Stanford researchers suggests that park-like tsunami defenses, featuring strategically arranged green hills along coastlines, can provide an effective alternative to towering seawalls. These designs prioritize coastal access, ecological function, and community well-being while offering improved risk mitigation benefits.
Researchers have discovered a new ancient plant species that provides a unique glimpse into the evolutionary process of reproductive biology in seed plants. The 400 million-year-old fossilized specimen reveals a spectrum of spore sizes, a precursor to specialized strategies in land plants.
The Stanford study develops a calculation of the risk that shaking triggered by a given project will be felt in surrounding communities. The authors propose setting yellow-light thresholds approximately two magnitude units below the red light to reduce nuisance-level shaking.
The study presents a comprehensive view of tectonic stresses acting on North America, offering regional clues about subsurface behavior. The findings have implications for understanding and mitigating induced seismicity, particularly in areas targeted for energy exploration.
Researchers analyzed satellite imagery and found river delta deposits in Jezero crater that formed over time scales promoting habitability and preservation of evidence. The study suggests ancient life could have existed near the Martian surface, with potential implications for understanding life evolution on Earth.
A new study by Stanford researchers links the Late Ordovician Mass Extinction to ocean deoxygenation, revealing severe and prolonged anoxic conditions. The findings suggest that low oxygen levels in modern oceans will put strain on many organism types, potentially leading to extinction.
A new method has been proposed to swiftly and accurately detect underground water leaks in transmission mains. By assimilating data from pressure sensors into a mathematical model, the researchers claim faster results with higher accuracy than current methods, reducing computational costs and improving speed.
Researchers at Stanford University have discovered a method for synthesizing pure diamonds from hydrogen and carbon molecules found in crude oil and natural gas. The process uses high pressure and surprisingly little heat, producing tiny specks of diamond in the lab.
New Stanford research finds that winter floods driven by rainfall can be 2.5 times larger than those driven by snowmelt. As global warming increases precipitation falling as rain, flood sizes increase exponentially, posing a significant threat to infrastructure in Western US.
Researchers suggest four strategies to change the minds of climate deniers: reframing solutions as social system stabilizers, reducing ideological divide by emphasizing Earth's purity, having conversations with trusted individuals, and discussing values before engaging climate info. Self-affirmation is challenged when facing climate ch...
Climate change is projected to cause a dramatic decline in rice yields, potentially devastating global food supplies. The crop's sensitivity to soil arsenic, exacerbated by increased temperatures and irrigation with high-arsenic water, will lead to twice the normal amount of toxic arsenic in rice.
A new study reveals that using average emissions intensities can lead to errors in estimating the benefits of interventions, potentially compromising their implementation. By analyzing electricity from PJM, researchers found that ignoring marginal emissions can underestimate damages avoided by 50%. The study highlights the importance o...
Researchers analyzed global images of submarine canyons to find fundamental differences in their shapes and profiles compared to land-based canyons. The study suggests that processes forming submarine canyons are periodic landslides, seismic activity, or large winter storms, leading to new insights into Martian landscapes.
Scientists have identified proteins that allow archaea to adapt to extreme water temperatures, providing a new method for estimating historic ocean temperatures. The discovery resolves uncertainties in the use of archaeal lipids as paleotemperature proxies.
Scientists analyzed mountain landscapes worldwide and found that after a certain elevation, channels become sensitive to subtle changes in inclines, limiting mountain height. This discovery has implications for understanding ancient climate, forecasting future patterns, and exploring geophysical links of mountain formation.
Researchers used satellite data to measure soil moisture and predict fire risk in Asian peatlands. The study found that drier soils up to 30 days before a fire correlated with larger burned areas.
Researchers have digitized vintage film showing Thwaites Glacier's ice shelf is being thawed by a warming ocean more quickly than expected. This finding contributes to predictions for sea-level rise that would impact coastal communities worldwide.
A new study found a previously unknown mass extinction event involving minuscule microorganisms, which shaped the Earth's atmosphere approximately 2.05 billion years ago. This die-off is estimated to be even greater than the dinosaur extinction, revealing significant changes in the planet's biosphere.
Researchers discovered that slow slip events can arise with rate-strengthening friction, which produces stable sliding. The team found that changes in poroelastic pressure reduce friction, leading to a slow slip event.
Researchers developed a synthetic catalyst that produces chemicals like methanol using less energy, a cheaper alternative to gasoline. The catalyst mimics the function of natural enzymes in the laboratory, showing promise for industrial applications.
The 2015 Gorkha earthquake filled a significant knowledge gap in understanding Himalayan seismicity, revealing that the Main Himalayan Thrust fault changes geometry along-strike. This finding improves understanding of earthquake hazards in India and Nepal by identifying potential locations for future earthquakes.
Researchers at Stanford University discovered an aquatic highway that lets nutrients from Earth's belly reach surface waters off Antarctica, stimulating explosive growth of microscopic ocean algae. Hydrothermal vents may affect life near the ocean's surface and global carbon cycle more than previously thought.
A Stanford geophysicist discusses how a geothermal energy project in Pohang, South Korea, caused a magnitude 5.5 earthquake that injured dozens and forced residents into emergency housing. The study highlights flaws in common methods for minimizing earthquake risk when harnessing Earth's heat for energy.
Research suggests that US schools can harness the power of solar panels to reduce their energy bills and carbon footprint. The study found that schools in sunny states like Texas, California, and Florida have the greatest potential for generating electricity from solar panels on school rooftops.
A new Stanford University study reveals that global warming has increased economic inequality globally. The study shows that most poor countries are poorer without climate change, while rich countries are richer. Economic growth in tropical countries is decreased by 17-30% due to warming.
A new study from Stanford University suggests a way to map precisely where and how to use groundwater recharge to refill aquifers and stop sinking in California's Central Valley. The model, based on remote sensing data, indicates areas of high subsidence risk and optimal recharge locations.
A new study from Stanford University finds that droughts cause a 10% increase in carbon dioxide emissions from power generation in California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington between 2001 and 2015. Drought-induced shifts in energy sources led to an additional 100 million tons of carbon dioxide across 11 western states.
A new study from Stanford University suggests that the deep ocean's stable temperatures enabled the emergence of complex life forms during the Ediacaran period. The research proposes that animals needed a haven from temperature fluctuations, which were less severe in the deep ocean, allowing them to thrive with limited oxygen supplies.
Global fossil fuel emissions are projected to reach a record high of over 37 billion tons in 2018, driven by growing energy demand and non-fossil source emissions. Renewables have largely come online as add-ons to fossil fuels, but more needs to be done for them to displace fossil fuels.
Stanford researchers discovered a protective lipid-linked cellular membrane in archaea, allowing them to thrive in highly acidic habitats. The discovery could provide new evidence about the evolution of life on Earth and shed light on molecular fossils.
A new study from Stanford University suggests that climate change is doubling the odds of regions experiencing both warm and dry conditions in a given year. This trend poses significant challenges for agriculture, as hot-dry conditions can lead to reduced crop yields and exacerbate fire risk.
Researchers found that the Peace-Athabasca Delta has been drying since the 1970s, significantly reducing muskrat habitat and leading to a decline in the species. The study used satellite imagery to track changes in water levels and revealed a 32% loss of suitable muskrat habitat over 46 years.
The Himalayan gold fungus, valued at $11 billion, is facing extinction due to intensive harvesting and climate change. The fungus's decline may have severe consequences for communities that rely on it for their livelihood.
Researchers found evidence of liquid water stored within solid ice in Store Glacier, which may explain complex flow behavior and improve predictions of sea-level rise. The discovery uses new data analysis techniques to reveal the presence of meltwater from surface melting that gets trapped in glacier ice.
Researchers developed a model to forecast man-made earthquake activity in Oklahoma and Kansas, incorporating earthquake physics and wastewater injection data. The model predicts a 32% probability of potentially damaging earthquakes in 2018, decreasing to 19% by 2020.
A Stanford study suggests using government payments to incentivize the oil industry to capture more carbon dioxide from human-related sources. This could lead to a 9.5% reduction in climate emissions, even with increased oil extraction. The proposal involves a reverse Dutch auction system to pilot-test the concept.
A Stanford study reveals that Native American tribes are increasingly asserting their rights to groundwater, with potential implications for Western US water management. The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians' victory in federal court sets a precedent for tribal groundwater claims, which could lead to more tribes seeking resolution...
Researchers found that natural sources of hexavalent chromium affect a larger area and more wells in California than industrial sources, highlighting the need for new groundwater management strategies.
Stanford researchers found that aquatic mammal size is bounded by the need to retain heat and difficulties getting enough food. The group analyzed body masses for over 3,800 species and found a convergent evolution toward around 1,000 pounds.
Researchers analyzed infrasound from Villarrica volcano to predict eruptions, finding a connection between sound waves and lava lake changes. The study suggests that infrasound could aid in forecasting volcanic eruptions hours or days ahead.