Latest research
Site news
-
Emmanuel Codillo recreates geologic processes hundreds of miles beneath Earth’s surface to understand the inner workings of planets, shedding light on magma generation and volcanic activity, earthquakes, and critical mineral deposits.
-
Stanford scientists have developed a new method for identifying rare earthquakes in the Earth’s upper mantle, under the continents. The research enhances understanding of how continental mantle earthquakes relate to broader seismic activity, which may lead to improved earthquake risk assessment and preparedness.
-
Ripples of air known as atmospheric gravity waves can influence the polar vortex, severe winter weather, and long-term climate patterns. Using AI and machine learning, researchers have developed a way to realistically represent their effects in global climate models.
-
Schistosomiasis infects millions of people each year. Researchers at Stanford and in Senegal are working to reduce disease transmission in rice paddies, make food systems more productive and sustainable, and boost local economies – with the help of fish.
-
The 2026 Stanford Global and Planetary Health Research Convening brought scholars together to discuss solutions and strategies to address health challenges and build resilience.
-
Stanford study shows advanced geothermal technology reduces land and infrastructure needs while maintaining low costs.
-
For Earth Systems master’s student Tom Ramsay, an internship focused on assessing the natural capital of wetlands in Uruguay inspired new interests and career ambitions.
-
One of the most effective ways to move individuals to act together on climate involves showing them how past collective actions have delivered structural change, a new study finds. What doesn’t work? Inducing guilt, or emphasizing co-benefits for health and economic growth.
-
An ambitious initiative is tackling the pervasive issue of lead contamination, which exerts a heavy toll on global health. Researchers aim to identify major sources of lead exposure and develop affordable detection methods in communities worldwide.
-
Researchers have created an ultrathin silver coating for solid electrolytes that increases resistance to cracking, promising breakthroughs in the safety and longevity of lithium metal batteries.
-
As climate impacts intensify while political progress remains stalled, new Stanford research examines which messages can shift public beliefs across partisan divides and strengthen climate communication.
-
Companies undercount emissions from their supply chains by billions of tons, a new study reveals. A new model could help them find and shrink the biggest contributors to their carbon footprints.
-
The vision of a U.S. nuclear power renaissance has a blind spot – uranium fuel – in the near term and long, according to a Stanford University-led industry meeting that explored the vulnerabilities and some possible solutions.
-
With support from a grant from the TomKat Center for Sustainable Energy, Earth system science master's student Mustafa Sultan is building an efficient HVAC system for the modern electricity grid.
-
Close out the year with a look back at the strides our community has made toward better understanding and supporting life on Earth.
-
A microbiologist discusses her research into the robust lipid membranes of ancient microbes to reveal secrets about Earth’s environmental past and future.
-
Our list includes a mix of favorites, high-impact stories, and some of our most-read research coverage from the past year.
-
David Lobell discusses how satellite data and artificial intelligence can provide insights on food security, poverty, and sustainability in this episode of the Stanford Ecopreneurship podcast.
-
Tribal nations face persistent barriers in accessing state clean-energy programs. Alumna Kelsey Freeman’s new role with Stanford and the California Energy Commission aims to change that.
-
What drives atmospheric rivers? Da Yang explains how these "rivers in the sky" gain and lose momentum, and how researchers are studying their physical properties to improve forecasts and reduce risks.
-
Scientists have discovered wintertime seismic activity in the ocean around Antarctica controls summer growth of phytoplankton, tiny organisms that fuel the marine food web and sequester huge amounts of carbon from Earth’s atmosphere.
-
New research shows rising hydrogen emissions since 1990 have indirectly intensified climate change and amplified the impact of methane. Limiting leaks from future hydrogen fuel projects and cutting methane emissions will be key to securing benefits from hydrogen as a clean-burning alternative to oil and gas.
-
Significant areas of North America’s western electricity grid are underutilized and good places to build data centers and new generators, a new study finds. Also, targeting replacement, refurbishment, and added flexibility of transmission assets shouild be prioritiezed while waiting for new transmission lines to be built.
-
Gretchen Daily, professor of biology and faculty director of the Stanford Natural Capital Project, discusses valuing nature’s benefits to people and scaling an initiative to 75 countries in this episode of the Stanford Ecopreneurship podcast.