Rice researchers found that cerium magnesium hexalluminate is not a quantum spin liquid, despite exhibiting characteristics of quantum spin liquid states. The material's unique ability to 'choose' between different low energy states produced observational data similar to a quantum spin liquid state.
A team at Rice University developed a new type of electric heating element using carbon nanotube fibers, which deliver more heating power per unit mass than conventional metal-alloy heaters. This innovation has the potential to electrify industrial heating, a critical step toward reducing carbon emissions.
A team of researchers led by Rice University bioengineer Omid Veiseh is developing a first-of-its-kind regenerative treatment aimed at restoring damaged lymphatic vessels and potentially curing lymphedema. The therapy, called ELIXIR, uses engineered human retinal pigment epithelial cells to rebuild broken lymphatic vessels.
Roadside radar sensors like EyeDAR enhance automotive radar systems by capturing reflections from obstacles, reducing blind spots and improving sensing accuracy. This technology has potential applications in robots, drones, and wearable platforms, complementing artificial intelligence with analog design.
A gene therapy platform successfully mapped the living brain noninvasively, using engineered proteins to track gene expression in different brain regions. This technology has the potential to reveal critical information about cellular activity and neurological disease progression.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a new technique to spot hidden defects in ultrathin electronics, which can trap electrical charges and weaken the material. This method uses electron microscopy, cathodoluminescence mapping, and force-based measurements to detect defects before they undermine device performance.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a new method to grow patterned diamond surfaces that can decrease operating temperatures in electronics. This approach uses microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition to create ordered layers of diamond crystals on substrates, allowing for controlled seed placement and scalable growth.
Researchers developed a multilayered insulated superhydrophobic (MISH) coating that maintains repellency up to 90°C, outperforming conventional coatings. The coating's insulating layer reduces heat transfer, preventing condensation and maintaining 'never-wet' properties.
Researchers are making breakthroughs in understanding how water and ions move through membranes at the molecular level. By combining molecular simulations, nanofluidics and advanced experimental tools, scientists can design membranes with unprecedented efficiency and selectivity for clean water, sustainable chemistry and renewable energy.
Rice bioengineer Jerzy Szablowski has been awarded a Sloan Research Fellowship for his innovative work on noninvasive methods to communicate with the brain. He aims to develop versatile platform technologies to obtain new types of research data and treat multiple diseases.
Rice University researchers found that strawberry guava can prevent natural forest generation in areas of Ranomafana National Park, even decades after deforestation has ended. The invasive plant changes the forest by reducing soil nutrients and altering insect populations, preventing native species recovery.
Rice University scientists create a detailed map of the Alzheimer's brain using hyperspectral Raman imaging and machine learning. The findings show that chemical changes are unevenly distributed across the brain and extend beyond amyloid plaques, revealing broader metabolic differences between healthy and diseased brains.
As glaciers shrink, they're drawing visitors for their beauty and symbolic meaning in a warming world. The study highlights both emotional responses and tensions between conservation, livelihoods, and environmental responsibility.
The Rice lab will produce bioprinted, vascularized kidney tissue that augments renal function in patients with kidney disease. The implantable kidney tissue will be made from a patient's own cells combined with a bioink that supports the long-term viability of the implanted cells.
A new study from Rice University suggests that drivers often misunderstand cyclist hand signals, which can lead to accidents. The research found that arm signals are the most effective way for drivers to understand a cyclist's intentions, but even these signals can be misinterpreted in certain situations.
A two-step approach to gene expression creates more resilient producers of nanostructures for advanced sensing and therapeutics. This new genetic regulatory system ensures host cells remain healthy while producing functional nanostructures.
FI-Chrom uses Hi-C maps to create 3D models of chromosomes, revealing structural and dynamic features such as chromatin loops forming transiently. The open-access program provides insight into chromosome structure in various organisms.
Researchers found 'dark energy' in protein structures, indicating energetic frustration between form and function. This 'dark energy' varies by site, revealing the cost of specific functions like binding.
Climate-risk scores are being used in infrastructure design, housing markets, and public policy, but the devil is in the details. Only 4% of highly cited studies shared their data and code, highlighting a structural barrier to cumulative progress.
Researchers at Rice University replicated Thomas Edison's 1879 light bulb experiment, discovering that the carbon filament used in his design could have produced turbostratic graphene. This finding sparks curiosity about what other information lies buried in historical experiments and how modern techniques can reveal new insights.
The Global Brain Economy Initiative aims to establish brain capital as an essential asset for the 21st century, connecting neuroscience with economic policy. The initiative's mission is to address disparities in support for brain capital across various sectors and promote long-term growth, workforce resilience, and social well-being.
Researchers at Rice University are exploring biological systems-inspired delivery vehicles to target specific tissues in living organisms, aiming to improve the efficiency of gene-based therapies. The project focuses on optimizing combinations of surface molecules to enable precise and efficient delivery of large DNA payloads.
The Rice University's SynthX Center has received a $18 million award from ARPA-H to develop innovative solutions for lymphatic diseases. The project aims to enable early, high-resolution imaging and biomarker-based diagnostics to facilitate accurate diagnoses and improve patient outcomes.
A multimillion-dollar grant supports Rice's Preston and Sanchez in advancing assistive clothing technology. They aim to create comfortable, scalable, and affordable garments that can provide support, balance, and stability for people with mobility limitations.
The Rice University team, led by Naomi Halas and Peter Nordlander, has been recognized for its work on advancing light-driven technologies for sustainable ammonia synthesis. The project aims to improve light-based catalysts and reactor prototypes while scaling up sustainable production processes.
Researchers used a quantum device to simulate a vibrating molecule, tracking how energy moves within it. They found that vibrations can actively steer energy flow in unexpected ways, speeding up transfer and opening new pathways.
Researchers have discovered a new quantum state of matter that combines quantum criticality and electronic topology, paving the way for advancements in computing, sensing, and materials science. This hybrid state has potential applications in real-world technologies due to its durable and highly sensitive qualities.
Researchers developed a new technique called CLASSIC that enables large-scale testing of complex DNA circuits in human cells. The approach uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to analyze vast numbers of complete circuits at once, providing scientists with a clearer picture of the rules governing genetic part behavior.
The Rice Brain Institute has awarded seed grants to four collaborative projects that unite Rice faculty with clinicians and scientists across the Texas Medical Center. The grants support innovative research in brain science, mental health, and neurological disease.
A Rice University psychologist is investigating how irrelevant visual information interferes with ability to stay on task. Her research aims to clarify how attention is captured, linger on distractions and recover. The study uses electroencephalography to measure brain activity in real-time.
A Rice University-led team has unveiled the molecular structures on industrial catalysts that behave during vinyl acetate monomer production. The work points to catalyst designs that could reduce energy use, carbon emissions, and make global VAM production cleaner and more reliable.
A team of researchers from Rice University discovered that lakes on ancient Mars could persist under thin seasonal ice for at least decades, contradicting earlier climate models. The study suggests that surface features shaped by sustained liquid water coexist with the idea that early Mars was too cold to support such conditions.
Researchers at Rice University and MD Anderson Cancer Center developed patient-specific models to predict stress and deformation in reconstructed pelvises. The study found that larger bone grafts experience lower stresses and smaller deformations than thinner bones.
A new study by Rice University researchers links legal sports betting to a measurable rise in violent and impulsive crime on game days. Crime levels surge when betting outcomes defy expectations, such as underdog wins, especially during games with close or tied scores that extend into overtime
A team of researchers uncovered a surprising physical mechanism explaining how isolated filaments form knots in fluids under strong gravitational forces. The discovery provides insight into polymer dynamics, with implications for understanding DNA behavior, designing soft materials, and nanomaterials fabrication.
Researchers at Rice University developed a material that uses light to break down PFAS and other contaminants. The covalent organic framework (COF) material, grown directly onto a hexagonal boron nitride film, requires only light to activate its photocatalytic reactions.
A new study at Rice University found that individuals with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) can accurately estimate the arrival time of an approaching vehicle using a combination of visual and auditory cues. Despite impaired central vision, participants relied on both modalities to make collision judgments.
Christina Tringides' CHAMELEON project aims to develop soft, sensor-laden brain implants that can monitor and treat glioblastoma with greater precision. Her lab creates hydrogel-based arrays with conductive electrodes to track neural signals in real-time.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a way to make serum markers more sensitive by editing them inside the bloodstream, enabling clearer observation of gene-expression changes in the brain. This approach could lead to more precise diagnostic capabilities using simple blood tests.
A Rice University study found that financial worries shape bedtime behaviors and predict poor sleep quality. The research identified "stress-before-bed behaviors" as a key mechanism linking economic worry and job insecurity to declining sleep health. Practicing healthy sleep hygiene behaviors can help break the stress-sleep cycle.
A new study from Rice University and the University of Alberta reveals that flood-driven contamination significantly increases concerns about future flooding in coastal industrial communities. Residents who suspect their neighborhoods are contaminated by floods express higher worry about climate futures.
Researchers at Rice University have developed lab-grown diamond coatings that can naturally resist scale formation without constant intervention. The nitrogen-terminated diamond surface accumulated significantly less scale than other surfaces, making it a promising anti-scaling material for water desalination and energy systems.
Researchers developed a comprehensive theory to interpret how water molecules interact with contrast agents in MRI scans, offering more accurate predictions and explanations of NMR relaxation. This advancement paves the way for new insights into medical imaging and materials science.
A new recycling process recovers nearly all valuable materials from used batteries with high purity, requiring less energy, chemicals, and costs compared to existing methods. The two-step flash Joule heating method separates lithium and transition metals quickly and cleanly.
A nonsurgical approach has been demonstrated to quiet a specific brain circuit in an animal model by delivering engineered gene therapy only to the targeted region. The method uses low-intensity focused ultrasound to open the blood-brain barrier, allowing precise control over brain activity without impacting off-target areas.
Pedro J.J. Alvarez has been awarded the 2026 Benjamin Franklin Medal in Civil Engineering for his groundbreaking research on water quality engineering. His work spans nanotechnology, microbiology, chemistry, and hydrogeology to make water cleaner, safer, and more sustainable.
A team of engineers at Rice University has developed a cleaner approach to recycling lithium-ion battery waste by recharging the cathode materials. The process produces high-purity lithium hydroxide with minimal energy consumption, making it a promising solution for sustainable battery production.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a new method to generate radio wave patterns that can identify signal direction with unprecedented accuracy, enabling rapid establishment of wireless links. This breakthrough enables high data-rate links to form almost as soon as the signal is sent.
Rice University researchers outline emerging solutions to make graphite production cleaner and more resilient, including synthetic graphite from renewable sources. The study emphasizes the critical role of graphite in energy storage technologies and the need for sustainable supply chain management.
A team of researchers from Rice University and the Houston Methodist Research Institute will study how the brain responds to neural implants. They aim to develop more stable and longer-lasting brain-computer interfaces and neuroprosthetics, which could treat neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, and stroke.