Get free monthly e-alerts to the latest Stanford Earth Matters stories
Warmer climate will dramatically increase the volatility of global corn crops
A new study co-authored by Earth System Science professor Rosamond Naylor looks at what climate change will mean for global yields of corn, or maize, the most widely grown crop in the world. The study shows dramatic increases in the variability of annual corn yields, which could lead to price hikes and global shortages.
Nectar research reveals how species coexist
Different species almost always coexist – whether it’s big animals on the plains, bugs in a jungle or yeasts in flower nectar – but how that works is complicated. Now, Stanford researchers have teased apart competing theories of how species live together.
Can utilities afford electric vehicle commitments?
Energy policy expert Michael Wara comments on the decision to approve $768 million in transportation electrification projects and how it could affect utilities, the environment and California ratepayers.
Height matters for tree survival in the Amazon
A new study shows that tall and older Amazonian forests are more resilient to drought than shorter and younger forests, but more vulnerable to the effects of a dry atmosphere and heat.
Nipah: A little-known virus that could become the next global pandemic
An outbreak of Nipah in South India has renewed interest in the deadly virus. Stanford epidemiologist Stephen Luby explains risk factors, potential interventions and how land conversion connects to the emergence of this kind of infection.
Climate mitigation could yield trillions in economic benefits
Stanford scientists found that the global economy is likely to benefit from ambitious global warming limits agreed to in the United Nations Paris Agreement.
Editing coral DNA in search for keys to survival
Stanford scientists and their colleagues have used the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing system to modify genes in coral, a key step toward pinpointing natural gene variants that may help corals survive in warmer waters.
Influence of early humans on mammal biodiversity occurred earlier than previously thought
Fossil study finds early human activity — not climate shifts — led to the systematic decline of large animals around the globe that predated human migration out of Africa. The findings add to concerns about continued biodiversity loss and the impact on ecosystems.
A way for carbon capture at biorefineries to pay off
A new paper maps out how tax credits and possible incentives from state fuel standards could allow ethanol producers to profit from removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Swarms of tiny organisms churn ocean waters
Zooplankton may have an outsize influence on their environment, creating enough turbulence to influence global nutrient cycles and climate models.
EPA's proposed rollbacks of mileage standards are a terrible idea
Rob Jackson argues in Scientific American that proposed EPA mileage rollbacks are shortsighted and a matter of human health as well as economics.
Potential impacts of emissions rule rollback
An economist and climate policy expert discuss the possible consequences to fuel efficiency regulation changes.
A precedent for climate change litigation?
A trial takes surprising turns and could reshape the legal landscape around climate-change related damages.
Negative-emissions systems to protect climate
New study examines the potential for biomass growing sites, CO2 storage sites, and co-location. In the near term, the technology could remove up to 110 million tons of CO2, or 1.5% of total U.S. emissions annually.
Learning through fieldwork in Palau
Undergraduates study links between human and natural systems in a program that puts them up close with corals. Stanford Earth professor Rob Dunbar is a lead instructor.
Soil holds potential to slow global warming
The land under our feet and the plant matter it contains could offset a significant amount of carbon emissions if managed properly.
Paying Farmers Not to Cut Down Trees in Uganda Helps Fight Climate Change
A new study demonstrates a cost-effective strategy to combat climate change by paying farmers in Uganda to conserve and plant trees.
Poor outlook for biodiversity in Antarctica
A comparison of Antarctic biodiversity and its management with global trends finds that it is more similar to the rest of the world than previously believed.
Society needs to better understand the economics of climate change
Gaps in social science knowledge of climate change constrain the policy impact of natural science research, a Stanford team argues.