Researchers at Rice University have developed a method to pattern chips with nanoscale structures at room temperature, opening up new possibilities for integrating light-based technologies into future devices. The technique uses anisotropic crystals to create patterns in hard materials like silica.
Scientists confirm decades-long prediction by measuring the color-changing effect of light in chiral carbon nanotubes. The material converts light at a rate two to three orders of magnitude greater than conventional materials.
A team of Rice University bioengineers has developed a new way to create highly realistic mock patient samples that could help accelerate the development of faster and more accessible cervical cancer screening tests. The approach combines multiple factors, including viral DNA levels and cell counts, to mimic real clinical specimens.
The PrecisionView device enables clinicians to visualize both subcellular structures and underlying blood vessels across large tissue areas without invasive biopsies. It generates detailed maps of tissue areas spanning several square centimeters and displays results in real-time.
A first-in-human trial demonstrates the potential of implantable cytokine factories for treating ovarian cancer, showing a favorable safety profile and encouraging disease stabilization in patients. The therapy successfully activated key immune cells without expanding regulatory T cells, revealing a promising mechanism of action.
A new Rice University study links climate variability to civil conflict and war risk, revealing nuanced relationships between climate patterns and local conflict risk. The research identifies regions susceptible to climate-driven political instability and provides evidence for a 'threat multiplier' effect.
The study introduces an architectural approach to improve carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites' strength and resistance to catastrophic failure. The design features custom-designed thermoplastic lattice interlayers that preserve load-bearing pathways while allowing damage to spread gradually.
A new study from Rice University finds that using GLP-1 medications can lead to social judgment, even among those who have lost significant weight. Participants rated individuals who used GLP-1 more negatively than those who lost weight through diet and exercise or did not lose weight at all.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a method to make perovskite-based photovoltaics more durable by adding two key ingredients, skipping the yellow phase and degrading slower. The films retain 98% of their initial efficiency even after 1,200 hours of exposure.
Researchers at Rice University have engineered a new multiferroic material that exhibits orders of magnitude higher performance at room temperature than its parent material. The new material shows a 10-fold increase in magnetization and a 100-fold increase in magnetoelectric coupling, making it promising for low-energy computing.
Motif Neurotech has received FDA approval to begin the first clinical trial of its therapeutic BCI device, DOT, for treatment-resistant depression. The study will test the device's effectiveness in delivering electrical stimulation to brain circuits linked to depression.
Researchers at Rice Biotech Launch Pad are developing an encapsulation platform to protect transplanted pancreatic islet cells from immune attack. The approach aims to reduce scarring and inflammation, making it possible for people with Type 1 diabetes to manage their condition without long-term immunosuppression.
A team of Rice University researchers has developed a faster and more energy-efficient way to recover critical minerals from spent lithium-ion batteries. The new method uses aqueous solutions of amino chlorides, which can extract valuable metals in minutes rather than hours.
Plant cells rely on fatty acids during seed to seedling stage; PEX11 protein helps regulate peroxisome size changes. Researchers create mutants with altered PEX11 genes, observing massive peroxisomes that don't shrink back down, revealing the protein's critical role in plant growth.
A new study from Rice University transforms lunar regolith simulant into a valuable building resource, strengthening advanced composite materials by up to 30-40%. The innovative approach reduces dependence on Earth-supplied materials, increasing the feasibility of longer missions and infrastructure development.
A new model predicts that the selection of a single follicle for maturation during human pregnancy is entirely random, contrary to prior theories. The model suggests that once one follicle is selected, estradiol levels start rising, causing FSH levels to fall below the threshold, and unselected follicles die off.
A study from Rice University reveals that caregivers' relationships play a crucial role in their mental and physical health. Caregivers who are more self-reliant or emotionally distant experience worse health outcomes, but those with higher relationship satisfaction have stronger buffering effects.
Duracyte's technology uses an implantable device to produce therapeutic proteins continuously inside the human body, replacing injections and infusions with a single device. The device can sense biological signals, monitor tumor environments and adjust therapeutic output in real time.
Researchers at Rice University create a new 3D-printing process using focused microwaves that enables spatially programming functional properties of printed electronic inks. This technology allows for the creation of multifunctional circuitry with diverse material classes, expanding device possibilities.
A custom-built AI system helped uncover how bacterial communities organize themselves, showing that early moments of a biological transition carry more information than previously considered. The findings bring new insight into the relationship between genotype and phenotype in Myxococcus xanthus.
Researchers at Rice University have solved a long-standing puzzle in organic semiconductors by finding that tiny structural imperfections can improve light conversion efficiency. The study reveals how defects act as energy localization sites that behave differently from the rest of the material, enhancing processes like triplet-triplet...
Researchers at Rice University have created a new approach called Sequence Display that generates large-scale sequence-activity datasets for rapid protein evolution. This method enables the creation of accurate machine learning models to predict protein function optimization, overcoming the bottleneck of insufficient experimental data.
Researchers use a meteorite resembling Mercury's chemical makeup to recreate the planet's conditions, finding that sulfur lowers the temperature at which magma begins to crystallize. This process reveals how Mercury's low iron content and high sulfur levels shape its interior evolution and crust formation.
Researchers at Rice University have discovered a new way to enable pi interactions between dioxygen and f-block metals like neodymium, creating lanthanide-oxos. This breakthrough could lead to the development of highly reactive molecules as synthetic replacements for iron-oxo.
A study published in Ecology Letters found that similarity in environmental conditions predicts local food web similarity across a continent. The researchers used satellite images and network analysis to identify habitat fragmentation and vegetation amount as major factors in shaping food webs.
Rice University scientists have created a new type of two-dimensional semiconductor that exhibits no distortions, allowing for efficient energy transfer. The material's performance is an order of magnitude better than previously reported perovskites, making it suitable for applications such as solar cells and tandem devices.
A Rice University study explores the diversity of Black perspectives on race relations, identifying racial realism as one of several distinct outlooks documented in survey data. Roughly a third of surveyed Black adults maintained negative views of race relations before and after Obama's election, linking it to awareness of stereotypes ...
The Hybrid Oxygenation Bioelectronics system, or HOBIT, shields cells from the immune system while providing access to oxygen and nutrients. The compact device supports higher cell densities in a smaller space, enabling the production of multiple biologic molecules simultaneously.
Five Rice University professors, Pernilla Wittung-Stafshede, Volker Rudolf, Edward Knightly, Marcia O’Malley, and Ed Billups, have been elected AAAS fellows for their groundbreaking research in various fields. Their work has led to significant breakthroughs in human health, technology, and environmental understanding.
A new platform called ATLAS enables researchers to generate large quantities of cancer cell clusters that accurately model metastasis. Using ATLAS, the Rice team gained insights into the mechanisms that enable cancer clusters to survive in the bloodstream during the metastatic process.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a synthetic origin of replication for plasmids, allowing for precise control over copy numbers and eliminating incompatibility issues. This innovation enables scientists to modify plasmids instead of workarounds, simplifying experimental workflows and expanding possibilities.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a new method to recover nearly all critical minerals from spent lithium-ion batteries, including metals like lithium and graphite. The process uses microwave-induced plasma treatment with room-temperature solvents, resulting in high recovery rates and minimal environmental impact.
Researchers Jing Chen and Simon Fischer-Baum at Rice University have made significant contributions to psychological science, focusing on human-AI interaction and literacy. Their work explores trust in automation, human performance limitations, and how people interpret risk, aiming to improve safety and efficiency across industries.
Rice scientists develop simple method to study pyroglutamate, unlocking new insights into how proteins function and form. The technique uses blueish light to initiate chemistry that allows researchers to find out the roles of this ubiquitous modification.
Rice University professor Bidong Zhang has received a $2.54 million NASA grant to develop more accurate ages for lunar samples using next-generation radiometric dating techniques. The goal is to create an easier-to-use tool kit that can analyze various types of lunar rocks brought back by NASA's future missions.
The partnership aims to develop groundbreaking water treatment solutions in areas like desalination, brine management, PFAS treatment, and resource recovery. The collaboration will leverage IDE's expertise in commercial water treatment and the WaTER Institute's research prowess.
Researchers discovered a new material, boron arsenide, that exhibits record-high coherence of optical phonons due to suppression of three-phonon scattering. This finding holds promise for the development of quantum phononics and could aid in managing excess heat in electronics.
Researchers at Rice University and the Weizmann Institute have visualized compact molecular orbitals in flat band quantum materials, providing insight into the interplay between topology and correlation physics. The study reveals that these electronic agents underlie the unusual quantum critical behavior in a highly correlated metal.
Corey Abramson's research combines fieldwork and computation to examine how health and American society shape one another. He is completing his book 'Unequal Anatomies' with Oxford University Press, integrating large-scale computational tools with qualitative research.
Researchers at Rice University discovered that bacterial cells use SMC proteins to enable the separation of their circular chromosomes during replication. This process relies on repulsive forces strengthened by SMC, allowing the cell to split neatly into two with its own copy of DNA.
Researchers at Rice University explored how artificial intelligence and machine learning can accelerate discoveries in the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE). The workshop aimed to integrate AI techniques into the massive computing ecosystem powering the experiment.
Researchers at Rice University developed a safe bioelectronic sensor using naturally occurring polymer chitosan to effectively communicate with bacteria. The system uses a hydrogel to trap bacteria near an electrode, generating a stable electronic current when exposed to target substances.
Researchers directly measured lithium dendrites' mechanical strength, finding they exhibit unexpectedly high strength and brittle behavior under stress. The study provides insights into how dendrites respond to physical stresses within a battery cell, shedding light on the challenge of scale and access that hindered previous research.
Rice bioengineer Omid Veiseh has been awarded a $2.2 million grant to develop implantable cell factory platforms that can deliver therapeutic antibodies over extended periods. The platform aims to reduce dosing frequency and improve access to biologic therapies in low- and middle-income countries.
New study evaluates two prominent AI global weather models, finding they excel at forecasting storm tracks but struggle to reproduce realistic wind patterns and storm intensity. The researchers emphasize the need for bias corrections and interpretation to improve AI forecasting accuracy.
Researchers create polymer heat exchanger with 2-4 times more cooling capacity per dollar than metal versions, offering a cost-effective and scalable solution for industries. The design's deployable nature makes it ideal for space missions, drones, and compact electronics.
Rice University researchers have developed a new capability, magnetoARPES, to study quantum behaviors in materials like superconductors. The technique allows researchers to probe the full electronic response to a magnetic field, giving insights into collective electron behaviors.
Researchers developed a method to use PFAS to extract lithium from high-salinity brine pools, reducing environmental damage and costs. The process, which uses electrothermal heating, recovers 82% of lithium fluoride at 99% purity, outperforming traditional methods in terms of energy efficiency and water usage.
Researchers at Rice University developed a CRISPR-based technique that increases mitochondrial production in heart cells, improving energy levels and pumping contractions. The system successfully boosted mitochondrial function in human cell types, animal models, and adult human heart donor tissue.
Rice University has been selected to lead the US Space Force Strategic Technology Institute 4 (SSTI) with a $8.1 million cooperative agreement. The Center for Advanced Space Sensing Technologies (CASST) will focus on developing advanced remote sensing and sensemaking technologies from space. The research team will integrate existing te...