Latest research

New research shows the diversity of plant and animal life in 14 tropical reserves in Mesoamerica has plummeted since 1990 as roads and cattle ranches have expanded into protected areas. Large mammals, birds, and reptiles are disappearing, while disease-carrying insects and rodents are on the rise.

Analysis reveals imported earthworm species have colonized large swaths of North America, and represent a largely overlooked threat to native ecosystems. The researchers warn of the need to better understand and manage the invaders in our midst.

Daniel Swain, PhD ’16, studies extreme floods. And droughts. And wildfires. Then he explains them to the rest of us.

Researchers found almost no agreement among four widely used poverty measurement approaches.

Stanford researchers have found large thawed or close-to-thawed areas under coastal portions of the ice sheet that holds back glaciers in the Wilkes Subglacial Basin.

The stakes in California’s clean energy experiment are almost unimaginable, as are the costs, but the state has successfully led the country and the world on energy before.

A recent workshop made progress toward centralized tracking of how ecosystem protection and restoration are linked with climate and socio-economic progress in Belize.

A new white paper from Planet, Microsoft, the Natural Capital Project, and the Gund Institute shares approaches for companies to meet environmental reporting requirements.

Stanford experts share their favorite tips for incorporating sustainability into your life at home, at work, and in your community.

Professor Barton “Buzz” Thompson discusses his most recent book where he proposes various strategies for solving the United States’ freshwater crisis and argues that government and water authorities can’t do it alone.

When multiple atmospheric rivers hit California back-to-back, the economic damage from resulting rain and snowfall is three to four times higher than predicted from individual storms, a Stanford study finds. The insight could help water managers and disaster planners better prepare for future impacts of climate change.

From a single footfall to catastrophic tremors, waves of impact are all around us. The researchers at the John A. Blume Earthquake Engineering Center study the world’s vibrations – big and small.

A new model taps into the power of cooperation to promote sustainable palm oil production in Indonesia.

Stanford study on microbes in extremely salty water suggests life may survive conditions previously thought to be uninhabitable. The research widens the possibilities for where life may be found throughout our solar system and shows how changes in salinity may affect life in aquatic habitats on Earth.

Analysis of 15 years of data from 55 institutions shows mixed success for recruitment and retention of racially underrepresented groups and women.

The four new projects aim for decarbonized cement, large-scale hydrogen storage, a reliable electric grid, and more natural ventilation in buildings.