Hazards
The science behind earthquakes, extreme weather, pollution, and other hazards, and how communities and governments can prepare.
Contaminants Drought Earthquakes Extreme weather Flooding Heat waves Hurricanes Pollution Severe storms Tsunamis Volcanoes Wildfires
Site news
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In a new study comparing gas, propane, and all-electric commercial kitchens, researchers documented temperatures as high as 122 degrees Fahrenheit and nitrogen dioxide above the EPA’s one-hour outdoor air standard in 70% of gas and propane kitchens.
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The Stanford Sustainability Accelerator has launched a Fire Innovation Initiative to accelerate the development and adoption of technologies, policies, and other solutions that reduce wildfire risk and strengthen the resilience of communities and ecosystems.
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California provides a case study for other states and governmental bodies looking for ways to stem the tide of microplastic pollution. Stanford experts in medicine and policy explain what can be learned from the state's decade-long regulatory experiment.
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Using artificial intelligence, climate models, and weather observations, researchers find strong evidence that greenhouse gases emitted since the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement have intensified Europe’s recent heat waves.
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Wildfires can turn natural metals in soil into toxic, airborne particles. Stanford researchers are working to predict where these metals travel and warn people in harm’s way.
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Stanford experts Sharon Chinthrajah and Marshall Burke explain what happens when we breathe smoky air and share steps to reduce exposure.
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Stanford researchers are working to help cities adapt to extreme weather and keep people and buildings cool during severe heat waves.
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Recent graduate Edward Apraku, PhD ’26, combined environmental engineering with a commitment to community impact during his time at Stanford.
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Environmental chemist Nina Zhao seeks to understand the chemicals in our lives, and why people respond so differently to the same drug, pesticide, or pollutant.
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A new way to measure hurricanes using earthquake-monitoring equipment could improve storm forecasting, support public safety, and enhance understanding of Earth’s atmosphere.
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Some wildfire smoke plumes are more toxic than others, depending on the geology where a fire burns. Stanford scientist Scott Fendorf explains why.
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Stanford-led research shows how wildfire risks are changing, illuminates connections to climate and health, and offers promising solutions.
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Hotter, drier conditions could leave millions of Americans struggling to afford tap water. The cost of drought resilience measures, such as desalination plants, will likely fall on ratepayers, with the greatest impact on low-income and minority communities, according to the research.
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Environmental microbiologist Yaochun Yu studies how microbes break down pesticides, plastic additives, and other chemicals in the environment. His goal is to enable new ways to clean up pollution and design safer chemicals for the future.
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New Stanford research finds California homeowners insurance premiums up 84% since 2020, with FAIR Plan enrollment nearly tripling — from under 2% to 5% of homes — as the insurance crisis spreads beyond fire country into the broader housing market.
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A Stanford-led study based on two decades of satellite data finds California could cut deadly pollution from wildfire smoke by 20% in active fire years by expanding use of prescribed fire in conifer forests each year.
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Climate change could make historically rare tropical cyclones more common in Southern California, significantly expanding landslide risk across the region by 2050.
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Why is the cost of electricity going up in U.S. western states? Stanford experts explain how wildfires, AI data centers, extreme weather, and deferred grid maintenance are affecting utility bills, along with strategies that could help lower costs.
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Researchers presented new methods for tracking wildfire pollution and recovering bleached corals while former government officials and leaders from business and civil society called for urgent responses to food security, climate risks, and AI energy demand.
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New analysis shows 85% of carbon emissions from the 2025 Dava Moor Fire in Scotland came from peat combustion, signaling a dangerous shift in how wildfires behave in historically boggy landscapes.
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From studying the economic aftermath of cyclones to understanding innovative approaches to crop planting schedules, five researchers represent a new wave of climate progress.
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As part of the Stanford Impact Labs Design Fellowship, Marshall Burke and Gabrielle Wong-Parodi each conducted research intended to equip governments, institutions, and communities with evidence and approaches to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of a changing climate.
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Researchers discovered high levels of benzene in domestic gas in multiple Western European cities. Exposure through commonplace gas leaks reaches levels that breach safe limits for many residents, new measurement and modeling suggests.
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Stanford researchers partnered with neighborhoods hit hard by flooding to understand their experiences and explore potential solutions. When given resources to plan infrastructure, residents consistently chose configurations that would benefit neighbors and shared spaces over maximizing protection for their own properties.
