Researchers at Rice University have found a way to modify blood-glucose sensors to detect the anticancer drug afimoxifene. The breakthrough technology could enable the creation of universally applicable automated dosing systems for virtually any drug.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a custom-built miniaturized chemical vapor deposition (CVD) system that can observe and record the growth of 2D MoS2 crystals in real-time. Through advanced image processing and machine learning algorithms, they were able to extract valuable insights into the growth processes of these mater...
Rice University researchers have developed a transformative approach to harnessing the catalytic power of aluminum nanoparticles by annealing them in various gas atmospheres at high temperatures. This allows for modifying the structure of the oxide layer, making the nanoparticles versatile tools for different applications.
Nai-Hui Chia, an assistant professor of computer science at Rice University, has received a National Science Foundation CAREER Award to develop a new theoretical framework for efficient quantum algorithms. The grant aims to enhance the security of quantum cryptography and tackle complex problems in physics and machine learning.
Yonglong Xie, a Rice University assistant professor, has received an $888,555 NSF CAREER Award to explore magnon-based quantum technology. He aims to create synthetic matter and next-generation devices with unprecedented functionalities.
Rice researchers developed a rapid and accurate point-of-care malaria test that is 12 times faster and easier to use than traditional tests. The device can detect asymptomatic infections and predict disease outcomes, leading to early identification and treatment of severe cases.
Rice University researchers have developed a new, energy-efficient process to upcycle glass fiber-reinforced plastic (GFRP) into silicon carbide, widely used in semiconductors and sandpaper. The method involves heating the mixture of GFRP and carbon to extremely high temperatures, transforming it into conductive silicon carbide.
A team of Rice University researchers has developed a platform for integrating DNA and RNA data from single-cell sequencing with greater speed and precision. The method, MaCroDNA, relies on a classical algorithm to identify matching pairs of data and outperformed state-of-the-art technologies in accuracy measurements.
A new study by Rice University researchers found that mainstream Americans are feeling increasingly polarized, despite a decline in survey response rates. The study used the General Social Survey to gauge polarization and found that people's negative feelings toward the other party have increased over time.
Researchers found that widely used machine learning tools produce biased results for immunotherapy research, as they rely heavily on datasets from higher-income communities. This can lead to ineffective treatments for lower-income populations. The study highlights the need for accurate and unbiased data in machine learning models.
A study published in Nature tracked neural activity of freely moving macaques using wireless eye tracking and neural monitoring. The research found that the visual cortex plays an active role in social behavior by providing signals to the prefrontal cortex, enabling the decision to cooperate.
Assistant Professor Santiago Segarra at Rice University has won the NSF CAREER Award to develop a new approach for AI-powered climate prediction by leveraging structural properties in real-world data. The research aims to create more effective learning algorithms for structured domains.
Researchers at Rice University have mapped the diffusion of graphene and hexagonal boron nitride in an aqueous solution, a crucial step towards larger-scale production of these 2D materials. The study found that the size of the material affects its movement speed, with hexagonal boron nitride moving faster than graphene.
A new study from Rice University reveals that white students who acknowledge discriminatory behavior in STEM settings are more likely to intervene when their psychological standing is enhanced. Allyship plays a critical role in combating prejudice, particularly in STEM fields where minorities face significant barriers.
Researchers at Rice University have discovered a new material that exhibits both quantum correlations and geometric frustration, resulting in a unique flat band structure. This finding provides empirical evidence of the effect in a 3D material and has implications for understanding exotic features in materials science.
Researchers at Rice University have discovered a graphene-derived material that can serve as a substitute for sand in concrete, offering a potential solution to the looming 'sand crisis.' The study found that the graphene-based concrete is 25% lighter but just as tough as conventional concrete.
Researchers at Rice University have discovered a promising new immunological pathway to treat stubborn bone tumors in breast cancer patients. The glyco-immune checkpoint axis, involving protein Siglec-15, plays a crucial role in hiding bone tumors from the immune system.
The NEST360 alliance is launching Phase 2 with a focus on five sub-Saharan countries to reduce newborn deaths by 75% through improved medical care and systems-change approach. The initiative aims to limit newborn deaths to no more than 12 per 1000 live births by 2030, aligning with the U.N.'s SDG 3.2 goal.
Amanda Marciel, assistant professor at Rice University, receives a $670,406 NSF CAREER Award to develop synthetic networks with gel-like softness and high elasticity. Her research aims to create new elastomers with controlled structure-function relationships.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a new experimental technique that preserves quantum coherence in ultracold molecules for a significantly longer time. By using a specific wavelength of light, the 'magic trap' delays the onset of decoherence, allowing scientists to study fundamental questions about interacting quantum matter.
Rice University engineers have developed a hybrid urban water supply system that combines conventional, centralized water sources with reclaimed wastewater to save energy and reduce freshwater use. The system is also more resilient against disruptions such as hurricanes and flooding.
Rice chemists find a way to remove impurities from boron nitride nanotubes using phosphoric acid and fine-tuning the reaction. The new method produces high-purity tubes that are stronger than steel by weight, making them suitable for various industries, including aerospace and biomedical imaging.
The project aims to address the need for advanced testing methods in software-centric 5G architectures by considering communication and computing dimensions. The researchers will conduct extensive testing on their innovative framework, ETHOS, and implement novel machine learning algorithms for 5G RANs.
Rice bioengineer Jerzy Szablowski and colleagues have engineered a synthetic serum marker that enables non-invasive neural monitoring by tracking gene expression dynamics in the brain. This breakthrough allows researchers to investigate brain development, cognitive function and neurological diseases more effectively.
Ashok Veeraraghavan, a Rice University professor, has won the Edith and Peter O'Donnell Award in Engineering from the Texas Academy of Medicine, Engineering, Science and Technology. His research focuses on making invisible objects visible through imaging technology that tackles challenges beyond current technologies.
Researchers develop molecular jackhammers that use aminocyanine molecules to create plasmons, which rupture melanoma cell membranes with high efficiency. The method showed a 99% success rate against lab cultures of human melanoma cells and cured half of the mice with melanoma tumors.
Rice University researchers have developed a new method for making covalent organic frameworks (COFs) that could revolutionize various fields such as energy applications, semiconductor devices, and drug delivery. The fast and low-cost approach uses vapor deposition to produce ordered 2D crystalline COFs.
Researchers discovered that chiral phonons, which exhibit circular motion, interact differently than linear phonons and have a larger magnetic moment in topological materials. This finding enhances thermal conductivity and opens new possibilities for advanced devices and applications.
A recent study published in Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences found that AI technology can accurately identify prehistoric and modern African antelopes, with an accuracy rate of over 90% compared to humans. This breakthrough sheds light on ancient ecosystems and their impact on human evolution.
A new study from Rice University's Boniuk Institute found that working Christian women feel unsupported by their clergy and churches, regardless of congregation type. They struggle with lack of spiritual support and feel undervalued in religious spaces.
Researchers develop methods to introduce chirality into materials, enabling tunable properties in thin films. The discovery has potential applications in pharmaceuticals, biomedicine, communication and energy.
A new study by Rice University researchers examines how scientists' social identities and national context shape their explanations for gender inequality in science. The study finds that viewing women's decisions to pursue careers in physics as individual choices may diminish efforts to promote gender equality in STEM fields.
Researchers have developed a new technique to understand the relationship between atomic structure and electric polarization in 2D van der Waals ferroelectric materials. This discovery is expected to revolutionize domain engineering in these materials, positioning them as fundamental building blocks for advanced devices.
Researchers from Rice University and Durham University discovered a rotating disc of material circling a massive young star outside the Milky Way. The finding provides strong evidence for the formation process of high-mass stars, which are several times bigger than the Sun.
A multidisciplinary research project aims to improve carbon nanotube synthesis efficiency, enabling more sustainable alternatives to heavy industry materials. The project, led by Rice University's Matteo Pasquali, has received a $4.1 million grant from the Kavli Foundation.
Rice physicists find that a 'strange metal' quantum material exhibits greatly suppressed shot noise, suggesting unconventional charge transport mechanisms. The study provides direct empirical evidence for the idea that electricity may flow through strange metals in an unusual liquidlike form.
Rice University has been awarded a $2.5 million grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute to develop accessible and inclusive math courses for all students, regardless of background or ability. The grant aims to promote equity in STEM education and support underrepresented groups.
Researchers at Rice University are developing a machine learning framework to improve decision-making processes in military communication networks. The goal is to enable rapid, adaptive action across a broad range of scenarios by combining local data in the most effective manner.
Researchers use rhenium as a proxy for carbon to quantify the rate of fossil carbon dioxide release into the atmosphere. The study found that high rates of carbon breakdown persist from mountaintop to floodplain, offering valuable insights into the planet's history and response to climate challenges.
Researchers have created a reliable and efficient method to add fluorine to molecules, increasing pharmaceutical drug efficiency. The iron and sulfur-based reaction enables the release of fluorine from carboxylic acids and its incorporation into alkenes, common building blocks for drugs.
Researchers at Rice University have discovered a way to transform a rare-earth crystal into a magnet by using chirality in phonons. Chirality, or the twisting of atoms' motion, breaks time-reversal symmetry and aligns electron spins, creating a magnetic effect.
The Center for Innovation and Translation of POC Technologies for Equitable Cancer Care will prioritize development of POC tests for oral, cervical and gastrointestinal cancers. CITEC's goal is to identify needed technologies, accelerate their development, evaluate their performance in diverse settings.
Researchers have developed a new synthesis method that controls the temperature and duration of the crystallization process to produce 2D halide perovskite layers with ideal thickness and purity. This breakthrough improves the stability and reduces the cost of solar cells, making them a viable option for emerging technologies.
A Rice University scientist used a mixed-reality headset with custom-designed software to measure and analyze forest floor vegetation in Tanzania's Udzungwa Mountains National Park. The study found that mammal diversity increases with forest floor habitat surface area, leading to a greater variety of ecological characteristics.
A new method developed by Rice University scientists uses a high-temperature electrothermal process to remove multiple pollutants simultaneously, including heavy metals and organic contaminants. The process leaves soil particle size and mineral composition unchanged, while improving water infiltration rate and nutrient availability.
Researchers have created a magnetoelectric material that can directly stimulate neural tissue, potentially treating neurological disorders and nerve damage. The material generates an electric signal that neurons can detect, overcoming previous limitations.
Researchers created a new CRISPR-based gene therapy tool using locally sourced, human-derived proteins that can activate silent or insufficiently expressed genes. The DREAM tool mimics the natural ability of human cells to turn on specific genes in response to mechanical cues.
In the wake of Hurricane Harvey's record flooding, researchers discovered a unique form of evolutionary change called spatial sorting that dominated the evolution of Jadera haematoloma bugs. This rapid adaptation allowed them to access seeds on goldenrain trees, outcompeting native species with longer beaks.
The interdisciplinary team, led by Kaiyuan Yang, will focus on leveraging the spin and charge of electrons in multiferroics to process and store information. The goal is to improve energy efficiency for computing devices, potentially reducing energy consumption by three orders of magnitude.
Rice University bioengineers Jerzy Szablowski and Julea Vlassakis have received the National Institutes of Health Director’s New Innovator Award for their creative research projects on gene expression and cancer interactions. Szablowski is developing noninvasive methods to map gene expression, while Vlassakis is studying complex single...