A new review article provides a novice-level introduction to applying molecular genomics techniques to study complex behavior. The guide recommends specific tools and collaborations for behavioral ecologists, aiming to bridge the gap between behaviorists and genome annotators.
Rice University scientists have developed a stable and economical method to make polymers through photo-controlled atom-transfer radical polymerization. The process uses photosensitive quantum dots as a catalyst, which can be triggered by light sources such as the sun or a household lamp.
The Rice lab demonstrates energetic properties of colloids in spinning magnetic fields, gathering into disorganized aggregated clusters and then forming crystal-like regimes as the field strength increases. The researchers explore ways to model novel two-dimensional materials like tunable catalysts or colloids with changing surface areas.
Researchers at Rice University have created a new type of gas sensor that can monitor microbes' health and activity in soil without disturbing them. The sensor uses genetically engineered microbes to report on their environment and activity, providing valuable data for bioengineers, geobiologists, and other researchers.
Researchers discovered that a specific mix of hydrogen bonds is critical to making strong and ductile infrastructure materials. The optimal overlap of oxygen and hydrogen atoms forms a network of weak hydrogen bonds that connects soft and hard layers.
Rice University researchers confirmed their theory on the mechanism behind a fluorescent biosensor that monitors neurons by sensing changes in voltage. They developed a method to test fluorescent biosensors using computer simulations, resolving a decade-long debate between scientists.
Archaeologists at Rice University have discovered glass production in sub-Saharan Africa, challenging previous theories about the origins of glass technology. The findings suggest that glass was widely traded across West Africa and had a significant impact on regional dynamics.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a new ceramic material that combines the benefits of white graphene with calcium-silicates. The resulting composite has improved strength, toughness, and thermal conductivity, making it suitable for high-performance applications in construction, nuclear power plants, aerospace, and more.
Researchers develop a gene promoter library to precisely tune genetic inputs and outputs, allowing for the design of probiotics that can diagnose or fight disease. The toolkit enables the creation of non-leaky promoters that turn on as much as needed, opening new doors for fighting disease.
Researchers have created a method to rapidly align and twist carbon nanotubes on a slide, producing short, high-strength fibers. The technique reduces production time from hours to minutes, enabling quicker testing and analysis of the fibers' properties.
Researchers create virus-like nanoparticles that can detect and process environmental inputs, producing controllable outputs. The modified viruses can display multiple peptides on their surface, enabling efficient delivery of protein- or peptide-based therapeutics to specific cells or tissues.
A new paper by experts at Rice University's Baker Institute finds geopolitical risks to US oil supply are at their lowest since the 1970s. Climate policies have enhanced oil security through greater fuel efficiency and alternative technologies.
Researchers at Rice University have optimized nanomaterials for fuel-cell cathodes, revealing that nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes and graphene nanoribbons can replace platinum to boost fuel cell efficiency. The study showed that the right balance of binding energy is crucial for good catalytic performance.
Scientists at Rice and Swansea universities discovered that removing contaminants from carbon nanotubes enhances their conductivity. Vacuum annealing at high temperatures reduced surface contamination, allowing accurate resistance measurements. This breakthrough could lead to more consistent results in nanoscale devices.
Researchers at Rice University's NEWT Center have discovered a catalyst that converts nitrates into nitrogen and water, effectively removing the toxic pollutant from drinking water. This breakthrough offers a promising solution for addressing nitrate pollution in agricultural communities and improving public health.
A new study by Rice University professor Xue Gao outlines a strategy using gene editing to slow the progression of genetic hearing disease. The research found that delivering RNA protein complexes into hair cells significantly increased hair cell survival rates and preserved hearing in rodents.
Researchers predict creation of 'Weyl-Kondo semimetal,' a quantum material with unique properties, and demonstrate its existence through modeling. The discovery has significant implications for understanding high-temperature superconductivity and strongly correlated materials.
Researchers have invented a device that uses fast-moving fluids to insert flexible, conductive carbon nanotube fibers into the brain, where they can help record neuronal signals. The microfluidic-based technique promises to improve therapies relying on electrodes.
Rice University scientists found that porous particles of calcium and silicate show potential as building blocks for various applications. When assembled into micron-sized sheets and pellets, the arrays held up better under pressure, with bigger individual nanoparticles being 120% tougher than smaller ones.
A new study found that male professors gave over twice as many talks as female professors at top 50 US universities during the 2013-2014 academic year. Despite equal levels of perceived importance and acceptance rates for speaking invitations, male speakers dominated departmental talks.
A team of researchers at Rice University has detailed the structure of MiNT protein, which balances forces in cells' mitochondria. This discovery could provide a new target to treat cancer, diabetes and other diseases by regulating iron and reactive oxygen species.
A recent study by World Weather Attribution found that climate change increased the likelihood of extreme rainfall events like Hurricane Harvey. The research suggests that storms like Harvey are now three times more likely in today's climate.
Researchers found individual prey had a roughly 40% likelihood of being consumed regardless of habitat complexity, but predators preferred certain prey in open environments. Habitat complexity dampened selection and equalized predation risk among active and sedentary prey.
A study by Rice University researchers found that soil charcoal behaves differently than other forms of soil carbon, becoming more patchy and concentrated in low-lying areas. Charcoal's benefits as a soil amendment include reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide and improving crop productivity.
Researchers at Rice University have created an asphalt-based sorbent that can capture more than twice its weight in carbon dioxide from natural gas, outperforming traditional methods. The new material features the selectivity of amines but requires no thermal source and has negligible degradation over multiple testing cycles.
Rice University statisticians developed a method to integrate neuroimaging scans to identify patients at high risk of continued seizures before surgery. The study found a subgroup with 5.8 times greater odds of postoperative seizures due to differences in brain networks.
Rice University physicists have successfully created a previously unseen state of matter, the excitonic insulator, which could be used to form component of topological quantum computer. The device uses braided qubits and has inherent topological signatures that could enable fault-tolerant qubits.
Researchers at Rice University found that purified carbon nanotubes enhance wheatgrass growth by up to 13% in water solutions. However, contaminated particles can concentrate toxins and hinder plant development. The study highlights the need for understanding nanomaterials as part of a system rather than in isolation.
Researchers decode interactions between materials and structures in nature-inspired composites like nacre and tooth enamel. The model reveals key factors influencing composite properties and provides insights into designing lightweight, multifunctional structural composites.
Researchers at Rice University have refined a method to train robots to collaborate with humans through gentle physical feedback. The approach allows robots to adjust their trajectory in real-time and learn from human interaction, enabling more efficient and effective collaboration.
A clinical study validated the effectiveness of NEST360°'s low-cost jaundice detector, BiliSpec, which accurately diagnoses bilirubin levels with comparable accuracy to expensive laboratory tests. The device's affordability could bring testing for jaundice within reach for cash-strapped hospitals in sub-Saharan Africa.
Researchers at Rice University and MD Anderson Cancer Center use fluorescent carbon nanotube probes to locate specific tumors in the body. The noninvasive technique achieved first in vivo success in detecting small concentrations of nanotubes inside rodents with high accuracy.
Researchers at Rice University have discovered that borophene, a two-dimensional boron material, can emit visible and near-infrared light by activating its plasmons. This property makes it a promising candidate for plasmonic and photonic devices such as biomolecule sensors, waveguides, nanoscale light harvesters, and nanoantennas.
A team of scientists from Rice, UCLA, Michigan State, and UNM discovered a significant enrichment of heavy nitrogen molecules in the Earth's atmosphere. This finding suggests that life on Earth is locked in a tug-of-war with the deep Earth and upper atmosphere over the presence of these rare molecules.
Rice researchers successfully printed complex schwarzite structures with computer algorithms and 3-D printers, showcasing their strength, lightness, and durability. The discovery may lead to high-load-bearing components for buildings, cars, and aircraft, as well as nanoscale electronic devices and battery components.
A recent study by Rice University sociologists found that over a third of Latino respondents believe science education may negatively impact their children's faith. The study aimed to understand the relationship between STEM education and religious faith among blacks and Latinos, two groups with high levels of religiosity.
Researchers at Rice University and Northwestern University have developed a method to use nanoshells to deliver high doses of cancer-killing drugs inside tumors. The approach uses laser-activated gold nanoparticles to release approved drugs in laboratory cultures, demonstrating clinical applicability.
A new study from Rice University reveals that nearly 80% of undocumented Mexican immigrants living near the California-Mexico border have a lifetime history of traumatic events. Clinically significant psychological distress affects around 50% of these individuals, with many reporting domestic violence, poverty, and material deprivation.
Researchers at Rice University have discovered a novel gene cluster in Mycobacterium dioxanotrophicus PH-06 that expresses an enzyme capable of initiating dioxane biodegradation. This finding could lead to the development of a cost-effective tool for treating contaminated groundwater sites.
Pillared graphene's thermal transport was found to be faster with wrinkles due to reduced phonon scattering. The optimal configuration involves three octagons instead of six heptagons, facilitating a smoother turn without significantly stressing the graphene.
Using computer models, researchers analyzed epigenetic marks to predict how chromosomes fold in three dimensions. By training a neural network on these marks, they were able to identify the structural types of chromatin and validate their findings with additional data.
Researchers found that microscopic defects in electrodes enable lithium to hop inside the cathode along multiple directions, increasing reactive surface area and allowing for more efficient exchange of lithium ions. This discovery challenges traditional thinking on how electrode shape should be optimized for battery performance.
Rice University scientists invented a bifunctional recognition system called NanoDeg to target specific proteins and regulate their degradation. This plug-and-play system allows for precise control over protein expression levels, enabling the study of cellular dynamics and synthetic gene circuits.
A new study by Rice University found that nearly a quarter of Mexican immigrants living near the California-Mexico border without legal authorization have a mental disorder, with major depressive disorder, panic disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder being the most prevalent. The study's findings highlight the need for culturally s...
Researchers at Rice University developed nanotube fiber antennas that match the performance of traditional copper antennas but weigh significantly less. The flexible fibers offer practical advantages for aerospace and wearable electronics applications, where weight and flexibility are crucial factors.
Research from Rice University found that individuals with depressive symptoms before a disaster experience increased inflammation, a major risk factor for heart disease. The study tracked participants' health markers after the 2005 Texas City petrochemical refinery explosion and found a significant increase in inflammatory markers.
Researchers at Rice University have developed microfluidic devices to study the interaction between asphaltene and dispersants, revealing that smaller particles are more likely to stick together. The study found that dispersants can break down deposits by increasing repulsion between aggregates, creating softer asphaltenes.
Researchers and experts are concerned about the collection, sharing, and storage of personal health data by health and wellness apps. Kirsten Ostherr, a Rice University professor, notes that many unregulated apps capture tons of personal data, including potentially classified as personal health information.
Scientists discovered fossil evidence of punctuated bursts of sea-level rise in coral reefs offshore Texas, which poses a significant risk to coastal communities. The findings suggest that sea level may not rise steadily but rather in sharp bursts, with potential implications for future study and preparation for inundation.
Rice University researchers have identified a specific binding site on the amyloid beta peptide, which could facilitate the development of better drugs to treat Alzheimer's disease. The probe uses light activation to catalyze oxidation of the protein, preventing it from aggregating in the brains of patients.