Earth Science

Can earthquakes be predicted? Do they happen more at night? Can you feel one on an airplane? Seismologist Ettore Biondi explains what the science says.

Stanford researchers are analyzing a rare, large fossil donated to the university, using carbon dating and 3D imaging to deepen understanding of Pleistocene species and Bay Area ecosystems.

The university’s half-million-specimen geoscience collection, featuring fossils, deep-sea finds, California minerals, and more, is being revitalized to support environmental studies.

Stanford scientists have directly linked the disappearance of once-dominant marine groups to intolerable heat and diminished oxygen in ancient oceans.

Climate change could make historically rare tropical cyclones more common in Southern California, significantly expanding landslide risk across the region by 2050.

A Stanford study finds that more than three quarters of plant species diversified primarily by thriving in their original environments, challenging previous assumptions on the role of migration.

Research on interactions among insect larvae, fungi, and nematodes under an oak tree uncovers insights into how species compete for resources and the factors that influence their survival.

New research shows protecting primary forests offers far greater climate benefits than previously estimated.

A new study reveals the extent of rare earthquakes occurring in a deep layer below the Earth’s crust. The findings could improve risk assessments for all seismic events.

A Stanford field course takes students into the Bay Area’s geological past, visiting ancient beaches, landslides, and earthquake sites to examine how people are shaped by Earth’s shifting landscape.