Researchers at Rice University have created a method to modify hexagonal-boron nitride (h-BN) by attaching carbon chains, making it easier to bond with polymers and other materials. This modification also makes the material more dispersible in organic solvents.
Rice University chemists have developed a fast and inexpensive synthetic route to azetidines, a class of molecules that can be used as building blocks in drug design. The new method allows for the creation of NH-azetidines, which contain unprotected nitrogen atoms, making them more accessible for further reactions.
Researchers create paper-based structures that mimic aortic valves, allowing them to study how calcifying diseases slow or stop hearts from functioning. The device helps understand the chemical transactions in heart disease and may eventually lead to non-invasive medication.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a set of eight fluorescent surfactants that can capture images of single nanotubes or cells using fluorescent microscopy. These compounds show promise for use in medicine, manufacturing, water purification and biomedical applications.
The Rice team found that the Janus configuration, with a half-circle of zigzags opposite six armchairs, allows for tight contact with solid catalysts and preserves continuous nanotube growth. This discovery advances understanding of growth mechanisms and has implications for designing efficient catalysts.
Rice University physicists have shown single crystals of cerium zirconium pyrochlore possess the right characteristics to qualify as the first possible 3D quantum spin liquid. The material exhibits long-range magnetic order and entanglement, which are hallmarks of a quantum spin liquid.
Researchers at Rice University have created a device that channels waste heat into light, enabling more efficient solar energy systems. The technology, which utilizes carbon nanotube films, aims to simplify the process of turning heat into electricity with high efficiency.
Astronomers have detected a circumplanetary disk of gas and dust around the young gas giant PDS 70 c, 370 light years from Earth. The discovery provides direct evidence of planet formation and challenges current theories.
A new study from Rice University and Rutgers University finds that journalism educators are encouraging students to explore alternative career paths outside the news business, due to the rapid changes in the industry. The professors stress the importance of developing entrepreneurial skills and being prepared for a precarious job market.
Research from Rice University suggests that white people's expressions of racial apathy can decrease over time, with a shift towards greater care for racial equality. The study also found a correlation between education and lower levels of racial apathy among whites.
Researchers at Rice University developed a method to increase the efficiency of solar-powered desalination systems by concentrating sunlight into 'hot spots' using inexpensive plastic lenses. This approach boosts output by more than 50% and increases purified water production, addressing global water scarcity issues.
Researchers create mathematical framework to estimate cost-benefit trade-off of seeking shade in a warming world. The framework predicts that 17 insect species will experience 'behavioral rescue' and improve their fitness, while 19 are likely to be negatively impacted by rising temperatures.
Researchers used rare oxygen molecules trapped in air bubbles in old ice and snow to track ancient ozone levels, establishing a limit of 40% increase since 1850. This new data bolsters confidence in atmospheric chemistry models' ability to predict future changes.
A new study from Rice University psychologist Danielle King found that how leaders respond to employee suggestions can impact whether or not the employee opens up in the future. Employees who receive sensitive explanations for rejected ideas are more likely to offer suggestions again in the future.
Researchers at Rice University have developed flexible nanotube film antennas that match the efficiency of copper, but with improved flexibility and thinner dimensions. The new material could enable lighter, stronger, and more resistant antennas for various applications including 5G networks and aerospace.
A study by Rice University researchers found that people selling items on online resale websites tend to favor buyers from wealthier areas. The findings suggest that geographic location plays a significant role in shaping interactions and outcomes in mundane settings, revealing the far-reaching effects of segregation.
New research analyzes light from CI Tau b, a close-orbiting giant exoplanet, to determine its mass and brightness. The study provides strong evidence for the 'hot start' theory of planet formation, challenging traditional models.
Researchers have created a new type of hydrogel that can grow new tissue to heal wounds, eliminating the need for external growth factors. The hydrogels are made with biomolecules anchored in crosslinkers and can be mixed at room temperature.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a cheap and clean method to handle carbon nanotubes, improving lab safety. The protocol involves proper attire, containment systems, and efficient transfer procedures, making it possible for labs to safely work with these materials on a large scale.
A new study uses CRISPR-Cas9 to repair the sickle cell mutation in patients' hematopoietic stem cells, boosting their own protective fetal hemoglobin. The approach showed promising results, with up to 40% of edited cells fixed and a significant increase in fetal hemoglobin expression.
Researchers at Rice University have created a material that generates electricity from movement, enabling the creation of wearable devices powered by human activity. The triboelectric effect is used to harness energy from contact and separation between materials, producing enough power to charge small capacitors.
Rice University nanoscientist Naomi Halas has been selected as the winner of the 2019 ACS Nano Lectureship Award for the Americas. She will present her award lecture at ChinaNano, an international conference on nanoscience and technology.
Rice University researchers have successfully grown a unique form of iron oxide with strong magnetic properties that is easy to stack atop other 2D materials. The material, epsilon iron(III) oxide, shows promise as a building block for exotic nanoscale structures that could be useful for spintronic devices and electronic applications.
A Rice University study found that years of home-schooling do not appear to influence the general health of children. Instead, better sleep patterns and diet habits help counteract any shortfalls in physical fitness through outside activities.
New experiments by US, Chinese and European physicists have found iron selenide's magnetic properties are highly anisotropic, like other iron superconductors. The material's structure and electronic behavior are surprisingly similar to those of other iron-based superconductors.
Rice University's NASA-funded TuLIPSS project develops a portable spectrometer that can capture hyperspectral data instantly, unlike current systems that scan line-by-line. The device, called TuLIPSS, uses optical fibers to deliver image components to a detector and customize the balance of spectral and spatial data.
Researchers have created a system that can systematically rewire two-component systems in bacteria, allowing them to identify the function of an unknown sensor. This technology has wide-ranging implications for medical diagnostics, pathogen study and environmental monitoring.
A Rice University-led team is developing a headset technology that can directly link the human brain and machines, aiming to transmit visual images from one individual to another's mind. The project, funded by $18 million, plans to demonstrate direct, brain-to-brain communication at the speed of thought without surgery.
A nanocomposite combining polymer nanofibers and boron nitride nanosheets offers high strength and superior thermal conduction, allowing it to withstand harsh environments. The material acts as an effective heat sink up to 250 degrees Celsius.
Researchers develop a new bioprinting technology that can create complex vascular networks, mimicking the body's natural passageways. This breakthrough enables the creation of exquisitely entangled structures for 3D printing replacement organs, potentially addressing the need for organ transplants.
Physicists at Rice University have reported the first direct observation of two-neutrino double electron capture for xenon 124, a process that decays into tellurium 124 with an estimated half-life of 160 trillion years. This discovery puts the half-life closer to 18 sextillion years, challenging our understanding of this isotope.
Scientists at Rice University and their collaborators have discovered coal-derived 'dots' that are effective antioxidants for people who suffer traumatic brain injuries, strokes or heart attacks. The biocompatible dots can quench oxidative stress and protect cells from damage, offering a potential treatment option.
Researchers found that IPOs lead to an increase in home prices and consumer spending in surrounding areas, with each $10 million in proceeds generating 0.7 new businesses and 41 new local jobs. However, IPO activity can also lead to gentrification and price out middle-to-lower-income residents.
Researchers have developed a system that allows living cells to perform analog-to-digital signal processing, enabling precise control over cellular responses. This breakthrough expands the toolkit for synthetic biologists, who can now use genetic circuitry to process complex signals and make informed decisions.
Researchers develop a new method to create detailed structural models of proteins using force-driven simulations, reducing computational power requirements. The technique, inspired by metallurgy, allows for faster computation and more accurate results than existing approaches.
Scientists at Rice and Northwestern universities have developed a method to image and characterize 2D borophene crystals, which can exhibit unique lattice configurations that determine their characteristics. The research could help manufacturers incorporate borophene into products with desirable electronic, thermal, optical properties.
A study of 400,000 camera-trap records from 36 mammal species on three continents found that tropical mammals respond to changing local temperatures and other species nearby. Temperatures did not increase drastically overall during the study period, but micro habitat use changed over time due to temperature fluctuations.
Rice University engineers employ neural networks to rapidly model the characteristics of new 2D materials, significantly reducing computational time. The technique enables accurate predictions with minimal data, facilitating bottom-up design and discovery.
Actuarial risk assessments can reduce inconsistencies, but also reproduce class-based and race-based inequalities. The use of proprietary algorithms raises questions of transparency and fairness.
Research from Rice University links digital device overload to obesity risk, finding media multitasking associated with increased susceptibility to food temptations and lack of self-control. The study suggests a possible link between media multitasking, higher body mass index, and greater percentage of body fat.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a new method for recycling spent lithium-ion batteries using an environmentally friendly deep eutectic solvent. The solvent successfully extracted over 90% of cobalt and significant amounts of lithium from powdered compounds and used batteries, making it a promising approach to curtail hars...
Researchers at Rice University discovered that PTFE stir bars react with chemicals in an unexpected way, affecting the modification of nanotubes. This discovery highlights the importance of choosing inert materials in laboratory settings.
Researchers at Rice University have created 3D-printed scaffolds that can mimic the physical characteristics of osteochondral tissue, a hard bone beneath a compressible layer of cartilage. The scaffolds are designed to promote healing and potentially treat common sports injuries.
Researchers at Rice University and Austria's Vienna University of Technology shatter ultracold BECs, revealing two distinct phenomena depending on the frequency of shaking. The team observes grains of varying sizes in some experiments, attributed to quantum correlations that challenge standard theories.
Researchers at Rice University discovered that molecules on the surface of gold nanorods induce dipoles, scattering enough energy to dampen plasmon signals. This finding enhances catalysis applications and challenges previous explanations for signal loss via plasmon damping.
Researchers at Rice University suggest that fluctuating growth rates of bacteria can increase the time it takes to eradicate a bacterial infection, giving the surviving bugs a better chance to develop resistance. This approach could lead to more accurate dosing and improved treatment outcomes.
Researchers developed a technique to grow live bone in the rib area using 3D-printed bioreactors and stem cells. The new method aims to replace current reconstruction techniques that use harvested bone tissues from different areas, promoting natural healing powers.
Rice University researchers developed a novel molecular sieve that can remove perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) from polluted water more efficiently and effectively than current technologies. The nanomaterial features random, large-pore defects that improve its adsorption capacity and fast-adsorption kinetics.
A Rice University study found that a B12-deficient diet harms nematodes' health, reducing their ability to metabolize branched-chain amino acids and leading to mitochondrial damage. This increase in mitochondrial toxicity also enhances resistance to multiple stressors and pathogens.
Researchers found that stem cells are sensitive to the speed of signaling molecule delivery, not just its concentration. This discovery highlights the dynamic interactions between morphogens and cells during embryonic development, allowing for more precise control over cell fates and potentially leading to new ways to drive cellular di...