The Center for Theoretical Biological Physics at Rice University has received a five-year extension from the National Science Foundation to pursue research on the intersection of biology and physics. Researchers will continue to use computational analysis and experimental efforts to understand cell behavior and interactions.
Researchers from Rice University have made the first direct measurements of three subsurface boundaries from Mars' crust to its core using NASA's InSight Lander data. The study provides insights into Mars' early history, planetary formation, and the planet's development from a chemical and thermal perspective.
Ghasempour's research enables real-time, high-speed connections that can be used in various applications, such as emergency response systems and smartwatch technology. Her innovations have the potential to create a next-generation Internet of Things by connecting thousands of devices with faster streams of data.
A new study finds that educational inequality has consistently risen with income inequality in the US since the early 20th century, despite periods of relative equality. The research also highlights a 'Vietnam War effect' where collegiate inequality was high among men but low among women during this period.
Researchers propose creating a global database of 2D crystal patterns and recipes to unlock the CVD process and environment for mass production. A Nakaya-like diagram has been developed to analyze these patterns, enabling scientists to infer clues about process variables.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a new strategy, 'wrap, trap and zap,' to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria in wastewater treatment plants. The graphene-wrapped nanospheres kill bacteria by producing reactive oxygen species, degrading antibiotic-resistant genes and minimizing their release into the environment.
Researchers from Rice University and the University of Georgia have developed a method to assess individual contributions to collective behavior using data science. By analyzing experimental data about individual cell movements, they uncovered unexpected patterns and signals associated with emergence in cooperative bacteria.
Biomolecular engineers at Rice University have developed a gene-editing technique that dramatically enhances the accuracy of CRISPR-based edits. The new technique, called A3G-BE, precisely modifies single targeted cytosine mutations while minimizing unwanted editing, showing significant success in treating disease-relevant contexts.
Rice chemist James Tour and his team use adhesive tape to create a silicon oxide film that replaces troublesome anodes in lithium metal batteries. The new coating triples the battery lifetimes of other zero-excess lithium metal batteries, delivering better performance and longer lifespan.
A recent study by Rice University environmental engineers has found high levels of antibiotic-resistant genes in the droppings of common urban ducks, crows, and gulls. The researchers discovered that these genes encoded significant resistance to tetracycline, beta-lactam, and sulfonamide antibiotics.
Rice University engineers found that boron nitride can destroy 99% of PFOA in four hours through light activation, outperforming previously reported catalysts. The discovery suggests the potential for using boron nitride as a tool to address PFAS pollution.
A new study published in Nature Communications suggests that climate change will intensify winds steering hurricanes north over Texas, increasing the likelihood of fast-moving storms. The research found a 50% rise in the chances of fast-moving hurricanes compared to slow-movers like Harvey.
Researchers have discovered that charcoal nanoparticles can effectively combat damaging levels of superoxides, which are toxic at high concentrations. The nanozymes could aid in the treatment of COVID-19 patients by reducing radical oxygen ions produced in response to an injury or stroke.
Researchers created a nanoscale gap between gold electrodes and found that excited electrons leaping the gap emitted bright light. The effect depends on metal's plasmons, ripples of energy flowing across its surface.
Researchers at Rice University have successfully created complex blood vessel networks using laser-welded sugar templates, paving the way for the creation of large tissue models. The technique enables the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to cells throughout the body, making it a promising approach for future therapeutic applications.
Researchers at Rice University have discovered trochoidal dichroism, a novel type of polarized light-matter interaction. The discovery reveals that different wavelengths of light interact differently with plasmonic nanoparticles, which could help study molecules and determine molecular orientation.
James Tour, a Rice University chemist, has won the Royal Society of Chemistry Centenary Prize for his groundbreaking work in materials chemistry with applications in medicine and nanotechnology. The award recognizes his research group's contributions over 32 years.
Rice University experimental physicist Ming Yi has been awarded a five-year grant from the Department of Energy to explore magnetism in two-dimensional materials. Her research aims to understand how key ingredients for magnetism evolve as materials transition from 3D to 2D.
Researchers have created a catalyst that can break carbon-fluorine bonds via hydrodefluorination, a process known as C-F bond breaking. The innovation has potential applications in remediating fluorinated compounds and could lead to cleaner, more efficient chemical processes.
Rice University researchers suggest that T cell relaxation time is key to immune response, explaining how invaders prompt the immune system. The approach helps explain why T cells can react so fast and selectively, despite self-ligand imposters outnumbering invaders by a factor of 100,000.
Researchers at Rice University discovered that excitons can spontaneously form in ground-state bilayers of specific 2D compounds, exhibiting superfluid-like behavior. This phenomenon holds promise for innovative electronic and quantum computing applications.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a new method to kill breast cancer cells using light-activated molecules. By replacing a single oxygen atom with sulfur, the photosensitizers generate reactive oxygen species that destroy tumor cells.
Rice University researchers have demonstrated methods to optimize data-centric processing, improving energy efficiency by up to two orders of magnitude. Two complementary approaches, TIMELY and SmartExchange, were presented at ISCA 2020, leveraging innovative hardware architecture and co-designing with machine-learning algorithms.
Researchers at Rice University have made a breakthrough in 4D printing by developing a method to print objects that can change shape autonomously. The technique uses liquid crystal polymers to create materials that can morph from one shape to another through temperature, electric current or stress.
Rice University scientists developed an easy and affordable tool to count and characterize nanoparticles using the open-source SEMseg program. The tool simplifies nanoparticle analysis by extracting pixel-level data from low-contrast SEM images and recombining it into sharp images.
Researchers develop implant that uses magnetic energy to produce high-frequency signals for treating epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, chronic pain and other conditions. The miniaturization enables wireless power delivery and minimally invasive procedure.
Researchers at Rice University have developed an egg-based coating that protects fruits and vegetables from rotting, extending their shelf life comparable to standard coatings like wax. The coating, made from egg whites and nanoscale cellulose, is all-natural, washable, and non-toxic.
Researchers isolated single BNNTs using a fluorescent rhodamine surfactant, allowing them to track their movement and confirm Brownian motion matches predictions. This study helps understand particle behavior in liquids and could lead to the development of novel composite materials and biomedical applications.
Laurence Yeung's research aims to unify theory and experiments on oxygen isotopes to improve estimates of primary productivity in the oceans. He also seeks to resolve interlaboratory discrepancies and study biosphere productivity over a billion years.
Physicist Ming Yi receives a prestigious $1.6 million grant to study correlated quantum materials, aiming to gain fundamental understanding of their electronic phases and control their behavior.
A newly discovered ocean virus is hijacking the metabolism of the most abundant organism on Earth, Prochlorococcus marinus. The virus alters the ability of P. marinus to store carbon and counter the greenhouse gas effect, potentially preventing gigatons of carbon from being taken out of the air annually.
A Rice University study reveals that blood flow to the brain recovers faster than brain function after a microstroke. The research used advanced neural monitoring technology to measure both blood flow and neuronal recovery simultaneously, showing a significant disconnect between the two processes.
Researchers developed Early Bird, an energy-efficient method for training deep neural networks, which can use 10.7 times less energy than traditional methods to achieve the same level of accuracy. This breakthrough could lead to significant cost savings and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
Researchers have found a link between 2D and 3D phases of topological matter, reviving the quantum Hall effect in 3D superconductors. This connection could enable fault-tolerant quantum computing using entangled states protected by long-range quantum entanglement.
Daniel Preston, a Rice engineer, has received a National Science Foundation grant to investigate the effect of varying temperatures on SARS-CoV-2. His project aims to provide evidence-based guidelines for PPE sterilization and predict virus lifetime in different climates.
Early studies indicate COVID-19 genetic material can be detected in stool samples, but it's unclear if infectious virus is present. Further research is needed to determine the risk of transmission through feces.
Researchers at Rice University have created a 2D Janus compound that enhances the detection of biomolecules via surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. The nonmetallic material boosts signal strength, reducing background noise and improving detection limits.
Researchers at Rice University found evidence of piezoelectricity in lab-grown molybdenum dioxide flakes due to trapped electrons in defects. The material exhibits strong piezoelectric response comparable to conventional materials like molybdenum disulfide.
Rice University researchers have created a self-sustaining system that splits water to produce hydrogen fuel using solar power, with an efficiency of up to 6.7%. The device uses perovskite solar cells and catalytic electrodes to convert sunlight into electricity, which drives the electrochemical reaction to produce hydrogen and oxygen.
Peter Lwigale has been awarded a four-year, $1.5 million NIH R01 grant to investigate the function of Npnt, a protein abundant in the cornea's extracellular matrix. The study aims to inform therapies for malformed eyes and injuries.
Rice University researchers have discovered a hidden symmetry in the chemical kinetic equations used to model biological processes. This discovery has significant implications for drug design, genetics, and biomedical research, as it reveals that errors are controlled by kinetics rather than thermodynamics.
Researchers at Rice University developed a plan to recycle wastewater, reducing the need for surface water by 28%. The 'direct potable reuse' method could also improve water quality and travel times, providing a more efficient and sustainable water supply system.
Rice University has secured a $2.45 million NIH grant to develop CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing for sickle cell disease treatment. The study aims to address the risks and mechanisms of gene editing in hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells.
Rice University researchers have won a National Science Foundation RAPID grant to upgrade their wastewater-treatment technology. They aim to develop a system that can selectively adsorb viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, and disable them using photocatalytic disinfection.
Researchers at Rice University have simulated a complex network mechanism by which the brain retains information. The study suggests that cytoskeletal avalanches within neurons' dendritic spines may be one way they retain new information.
Researchers at Rice University have found that the size of the space trapping petrochemicals is the primary factor behind puzzling NMR signals, leading to better interpretation of logs in unconventional shale formations. The discovery is crucial for extracting oil and gas safely and economically.
László Kürti, a Rice University chemist, has received a prestigious grant to speed up drug design by simplifying the synthesis of essential precursors. The five-year grant will support research into amines and their derivatives, which are present in most drug molecules. This could lead to more environmentally friendly drug development.
The Rice University team has developed an automated bag valve mask ventilator unit that can be built for less than $300 in parts. In lab tests, the device delivered nonstop air for 24 hours, showing its potential to help critically ill COVID-19 patients.
Rice University researchers are receiving $3 million to upgrade sensors for the Large Hadron Collider. The upgrades will enable the collider to discover even deeper truths about elemental matter. The research team is responsible for designing and managing the installation of next-generation sensors in the Compact Muon Solenoid.
Researchers at Rice University have discovered that double-walled carbon nanotubes can create a staggered band alignment, allowing for more efficient separation of positive and negative charges in photovoltaic applications. This effect is caused by the interplay of different curvatures between the inner and outer walls of the nanotube.