The latest research from Stanford University highlights innovative approaches to combat disease and understand geological phenomena. This week’s findings include the use of African catfish to curb disease transmission in Senegal, the development of a comprehensive map detailing earthquake activity in the Earth’s mantle, and insights into how students with math learning disabilities approach problem-solving differently.
Catfish Selected to Reduce Disease Spread in Senegal
Giulio De Leo, a professor at Stanford’s Department of Earth System Science and senior fellow at the Woods Institute for the Environment, is exploring the use of African catfish as a biological control method to combat the spread of schistosomiasis. This debilitating disease is particularly prevalent among rice farmers in Senegal, where the freshwater snails that host the parasite thrive in rice paddies.
Schistosomiasis is transmitted when individuals come into contact with contaminated water, leading to a range of symptoms from rashes and flu-like illnesses to severe digestive or neurological complications. The research team aims to reduce the population of these snails by introducing catfish into the rice fields, which naturally prey on the snails.
Funded by the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, early findings suggest that the introduction of catfish not only decreases snail populations but also increases rice yields and farmers’ incomes. Local partnerships are being established to enhance agricultural practices and improve rice paddy management. De Leo remarked, “With the guidance of our partners in Senegal, we’re demonstrating a proof of concept to scale adoption.”
Innovative Earthquake Mapping Reveals New Insights
Researchers at Stanford’s Doerr School of Sustainability have developed the first global map of earthquakes occurring in the Earth’s mantle. This project, spearheaded by Shiqi “Axel” Wang, a former Ph.D. student in geophysics, aims to shed light on the infrequent earthquakes that occur beneath the Earth’s surface.
The study analyzed over 46,000 earthquakes recorded since 1990, identifying only 459 as mantle earthquakes, a figure that researchers deem conservative due to sensor limitations in remote areas. Wang noted, “Continental mantle earthquakes might be part of an inherently interconnected earthquake cycle, both from the crust and also the upper mantle.” The findings could enhance understanding of the risks associated with more frequent earthquakes occurring along the Earth’s crust.
Insights into Math Learning Disabilities
In a separate study published in the Journal of Neuroscience on February 9, 2024, researchers from the Stanford School of Medicine examined how children with math learning disabilities approach problem-solving. The study, which involved 87 second and third graders, found that 34 of these students fell within the bottom quarter of scores on standardized math tests.
The researchers discovered distinct differences in brain activity among students with math learning disabilities, particularly in areas responsible for focused attention and error-checking. Senior author Vinod Menon, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, stated, “Our findings suggest that interventions should target not only basic number sense, but also metacognitive processes, like performance monitoring.”
This research highlights the importance of tailored educational strategies that can help improve cognitive skills and maintain motivation in students struggling with math, ultimately aiming to reduce anxiety surrounding their performance.
These studies represent a significant contribution to their respective fields, providing innovative solutions and insights that could have far-reaching impacts on public health, education, and geological understanding.
