Researchers at Rice University have discovered a four-component alloy with tunable optical properties, which could lead to more efficient solar cells and light-emitting diodes. The alloy's optical bandgap can be altered by changing the growth temperature, making it a promising material for various applications.
A new paper by Rice University sociologist Craig Considine reveals that Islamophobia is not just religious bias but also racism and cultural intolerance. Incidents of Islamophobia increased by 57% in 2016, and over half of hate crimes were linked to a race/ethnicity/ancestry bias.
A Rice University and Texas A&M-Galveston study found that FEMA's 100-year flood plain maps failed to capture 75 percent of flood damages from five serious floods. The research suggests that innovative computational tools can build more predictive maps, improving flood risk assessments.
A Rice University study has found that the aspirin-like drug diflunisal blocks the action of prestin, a key protein required for hearing. The research suggests potential repurposing of diflunisal as a treatment for cancer and amyloid polyneuropathy.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a new computer model that accurately simulates the interactions between water and alkanes, a family of hydrocarbons. This breakthrough could have far-reaching implications in fields such as energy production, environmental systems and biology.
Researchers have developed motorized molecules that can target and destroy specific cells using ultraviolet light. The nanomachines can be designed to deliver drugs or disrupt cell membranes, showing promise for treating diseases like breast tumors and melanomas.
Rice University scientists have developed a method to efficiently modify natural antibodies that can deliver drugs to target cells by adding rhodium, a rare transition metal. The new technique allows labs to test the relative function of various antibody sources and antigen targets to see which will work best on tumor cells.
Seismologists have discovered that processes beneath the Andean Plateau produce far more continental rock than previously thought. The findings suggest that mountain-forming regions could create larger volumes of continental crust in less time, leading to significant changes in our understanding of Earth's geological history.
A Rice University study reveals that flowing liquid water below the Antarctic ice appears to play a pivotal role in determining the fate of Antarctic ice streams. The research used sediment cores and precise seafloor maps to uncover an extensive, uncovered, water-carved channel connected to subglacial lakes.
Researchers developed a method to analyze hot spot tracks and found most groups are fixed and relatively motionless, moving at about 4 millimeters per year. This contradicts previous findings that suggested hot spots moved as much as 33 millimeters a year.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a new material that can absorb up to 340% of its weight in carbon dioxide, making it a promising solution for capturing greenhouse gases. The boron nitride foam is highly porous and can be tuned for specific applications.
Researchers identified the 57th plate using multibeam sonar soundings and plate-motion circuits. The discovery resolves a misfit in the Pacific-Cocos-Nazca circuit, indicating another unknown plate's presence.
Researchers at Rice University have created a semiconducting transition-metal dichalcogenide material called Janus sulfur molybdenum selenium (SMoSe) with a larger band gap than molybdenum diselenide. The discovery has potential applications in catalytic production of hydrogen and other fields.
Rice University researchers have developed a method to control defects in 2-D materials, which can enhance their electronic, magnetic and optical properties. By growing atomic-thin sheets on curved substrates, they can manipulate the appearance of grain boundaries, which are critical in determining material behavior.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a catalyst that can split water into hydrogen and oxygen, offering a potential solution for renewable energy. The catalyst uses laser-induced graphene, a low-cost material, to produce large bubbles of oxygen and hydrogen simultaneously.
Researchers at Rice University and the University of Science and Technology of China have developed a combination of antibacterial phages and magnetic nanoparticle clusters that infect and destroy bacteria protected by biofilms in water treatment systems. The innovative material, which uses bacteriophages combined with nanoparticles, c...
Scientists at Rice University have created a method for printing and rewriting color images by utilizing structural colors, which are determined by the selective reflections of certain colors at specific angles. The technique uses a single, colorless ink and can generate high-resolution images with excellent durability.
A new study suggests that glaciers may have played a role in releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, potentially warming the planet. The research found that glacial weathering increased the rate of carbon dioxide release, with oscillating glaciers changing atmospheric levels by up to 25 parts per million over 10,000 years.
Scientists at Rice University and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have developed new two-dimensional electrocatalysts that extract hydrogen from water with high efficiency and low cost. The catalysts were created by forming bubbles between layers, which breaks them apart and increases the number of active sites.
Researchers at Rice University have successfully turned wood into an electrical conductor by creating laser-induced graphene, a form of the atom-thin carbon material. The process involves heating a thin film pattern onto a block of pine using a standard industrial laser, producing high-quality graphene foam bound to the wood surface.
The Rice lab has produced the first full-length structure of a salmon virus protein, shedding light on its role in viral assembly and potentially informing strategies to treat human influenza viruses. The discovery could lead to new antiviral treatments by targeting the protein's interaction with other viral components.
Researchers at Rice University have created a novel filter that can remove toxic heavy metals from contaminated water, using a combination of carbon nanotubes and quartz fibers. The filters are reusable and can be washed with vinegar, making them an effective solution for treating water in remote regions.
A study by Rice University researchers found that biochar can reduce health care costs, especially in urban areas close to farmland. The use of biochar in agriculture may also lower the need for fertilizer and reduce pollutants by storing nitrogen in the soil.
A study from Rice University found that Mexican immigrants living in the US without proper documentation are at high risk of psychological distress. The survey revealed that respondents aged 18-25 were most likely to exhibit distress, citing loss of home, social status, and family as reasons for their mental health issues.
The researchers created a three-layer structure of nickel, graphene, and a compound of iron, manganese, and phosphorus that can produce both hydrogen and oxygen simultaneously. The material is scalable, stable in acidic and basic solutions, and requires less energy than traditional catalysts.
Researchers analyzed recent progress in lithium-ion technology and suggested ways to make batteries adaptable for challenging conditions. The study mapped the performance of various materials in high-temperature batteries, highlighting opportunities for improvement.
Researchers at Rice University and the University of Houston are developing mathematical models to understand how cells in large colonies of bacteria communicate with each other. Their goal is to design colonies that can perform computations and make sophisticated decisions, mimicking the ability of tissues to maintain homeostasis.
Rice University scientists found that indented tobermorite responds differently than bulk material, with layers bonding through indentation remaining intact after force removal. The study reveals three molecular mechanisms at work in tobermorite, which are also responsible for the strength of calcium-silicate-hydrate mix in cement.
Expedition 371 investigates shift in Pacific Plate movement, which formed subduction zone and altered ocean circulation patterns. Cores collected at six Tasman Sea sites will help scientists understand timing and causes of these changes and their impact on Earth's climate.
A Rice University professor has developed a method to upconvert light, making solar cells more efficient and disease-targeting nanoparticles more effective. The technique uses plasmonic metals and semiconducting quantum wells to boost the frequency of light, changing its color.
New research from Rice University reveals that more children are living in high-poverty neighborhoods after the Great Recession, with a significant increase in non-Hispanic white children. Children in these neighborhoods are on average a year behind academically, according to standardized math, reading and writing assessment tests.
Rice University researchers discovered a way to turn white graphene, an exceptional conductor of heat, into a wide-bandgap semiconductor with magnetic properties by adding fluorine. The magnetism is an unexpected bonus that could make the unique material suitable for electronics in extreme environments.
Rice University engineers are building a flat microscope to monitor and stimulate neurons on the surface of the brain. The goal is to provide an alternate path for sight and sound to be delivered directly to the brain, compensating for loss of vision or hearing.
Researchers at Rice University have simplified the synthesis of electrophilic aminating agents, which can incorporate nitrogen atoms into molecules in a single efficient step. This breakthrough process eliminates the need for transition metals or high temperatures, making it an environmentally friendly alternative.
Researchers from Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine have demonstrated a key step in generating implantable tissues with functioning capillaries. They used human endothelial cells and mesenchymal stem cells to initiate tubulogenesis, crucial for blood-transporting capillary formation.
Scientists at Rice University have developed a new material that combines flexibility and stiffness by infusing it with tiny pockets of liquid gallium. The composite exhibits higher energy absorption characteristics than traditional materials, making it suitable for applications such as shock absorbers and biomimetic structures.
Rice University scientists simplify synthesis of precursor molecules for biologically active compounds, enabling cheaper and more sustainable drug design. The new method uses hydroxylamine O-sulfonic acid to produce aziridine molecules at room temperature in a few hours.
A four-year study by Rice ecologists found that strong environmental filters like predatory fish cause regular variations in dragonfly communities. The results show how these patterns can help predict biodiversity loss in specific habitats.
A study by Rice University experts found that state revenue declines during economic downturns disproportionately affect children, leading to cuts in Medicaid benefits and education spending. The analysis indicates a $64 cut in Medicaid spending per child beneficiary and an $82 per capita cut in long-run state education spending.
Researchers at Rice University have created a new catalyst for fuel cells that is as effective as platinum but cheaper. The catalyst uses single ruthenium atoms attached to graphene and has shown excellent performance in tests.
Researchers from Rice University and China's Tianjin University have successfully created centimeter-sized objects of atomically thin graphene using 3D laser printing. The new method eliminates the need for high-temperature chemical vapor deposition treatment, enabling mass production of bulk graphene with controlled pore size.
A new desalination system uses solar energy to turn salt water into freshwater, promising a cost-effective and sustainable solution for global water scarcity. The technology combines membrane distillation with light-harvesting nanophotonics to efficiently generate steam from sunlight.
Researchers at Rice University have created hydrogel strings using a compound found in mussels, allowing for controlled growth of cells on surfaces. The aligned fibers promote ordered cell growth, making it possible to direct cell growth from one location to another.
Neuroscientists propose using nonlinear message-passing and probabilistic models to simulate real-world conditions in the brain. This approach aims to better understand the brain's ability to perform approximate probabilistic inference.
Rice University scientists have discovered a way to selectively open gaps in blood vessel barriers, allowing large molecule drugs to reach targeted tissues. The technique uses magnets to manipulate nanoparticles and alter the endothelial cell's structure, creating temporary 'leakiness' that can be controlled.
Research finds that the southern half of the Tibetan Plateau formed in less than one-quarter of the time since India-Eurasia continental collision, with most of the uplift occurring when a denser lithospheric root broke away. The study's findings support a different scenario to the traditional theory on Tibet's formation.
Researchers from Rice University and the Texas Heart Institute have developed a battery-less pacemaker that can be implanted directly into a patient's heart. The device harnesses energy wirelessly from radio frequency radiation transmitted by an external battery pack, reducing complications related to traditional lead-based pacemakers.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a new technique that reduces computational overhead for deep learning by up to 95% using hashing, a tried-and-true data-indexing method. The technique blends locality-sensitive hashing and sparse backpropagation to achieve significant savings in energy and time.
Scientists at Rice University have developed analogs of potent anti-tumor agents, which show superior properties and exhibit potent cytotoxicities against certain cancer cells. The new compounds were tested on kidney cancer and human uterine sarcoma cell lines, including a drug-resistant cell line.
A recent national report by Rice University psychology professor Fred Oswald suggests that students who develop a sense of belonging, have a growth mindset and set personal goals are more likely to succeed in college. The report found that these competencies can be improved with low-cost, brief writing exercises.