Rice researchers detail previously unexplored aspects of cement's crystalline nature, which affects the energy required to make it and greenhouse gas emissions. By fine-tuning its components, they hope to save energy and reduce carbon emissions in concrete manufacturing.
Rice University scientists use computer simulations to model the energy landscape of amyloid beta protein aggregation, a key step in Alzheimer's disease progression. The research predicts that specific sequences on protein molecules interact to form toxic oligomers.
A team at Rice University is creating a haptic cueing system that provides real-time vibration feedback to medical students during endovascular surgeries. The system aims to improve the smoothness of tool movements, reducing errors and improving training efficiency.
Researchers develop a new method to make ultra-lightweight materials for spacecraft and satellites using high-velocity impact. By crushing nanotubes against a target, they produce diamond-like structures with extraordinary mechanical properties, enhancing the resilience of these critical components.
A study by Rice University researchers proposes that the origin of Earth's volatile elements, including carbon, can be explained by a massive collision between Earth and an embryonic planet similar to Mercury. This collision may have led to the exclusion of carbon from Earth's core and its incorporation into the silicate mantle.
A new study reveals that warmer, wetter climate conditions in California would impair grassland productivity. The research found that average conditions from the past 40 years are near optimal for grass production, and any significant deviation toward warmer or wetter conditions will cause land to be less productive.
Researchers have developed a porous, highly compressive 3D graphene material suitable for bone implants, demonstrating its potential as a replacement for titanium. The technique uses spark plasma sintering to weld nanoscale graphene sheets, producing materials with high mechanical strength and biocompatibility.
Researchers found that group extinction significantly increases cooperation within groups, with contributions averaging 92% of the endowment. This effect persists even after removal of the selection mechanism, suggesting that the threat of group extinction is a powerful motivator for cooperation.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a recipe to make carbon capture materials the best they can be. Experiments showed that once a sorbent material achieved a surface area of 2,800 square meters per gram, neither more surface area nor larger pores made it more efficient at capturing carbon dioxide.
A new study by Rice University researchers found that strong external governance mechanisms can actually increase the likelihood of financial fraud among top managers. Higher levels of dedicated institutional ownership and increased analyst pressure were linked to higher rates of fraud. The findings challenge traditional agency theory,...
Researchers successfully merge light and matter, creating a new condensed matter state with strongly coupled electrons. The discovery could advance technologies like quantum computers and communications by revealing new phenomena in cavity quantum electrodynamics.
A research program at Rice University aims to create software that uses students' highlights to improve their comprehension and knowledge retention. The team plans to analyze volunteers' highlights for clues about their understanding of the text and conduct laboratory experiments to develop new software.
Graphene nanoribbons exhibit properties similar to those of biological materials when in solution, forming folds and loops. The researchers found that their rigidity increases as oxide molecules are removed, making them suitable for designing and fabricating GNR-biomimetic interfaces.
The study aims to determine the health needs of children within HISD through a three-year analysis of physical, social, and mental health. The researchers will use online questionnaires, focus groups, and community-based participatory research to gather data on 250 schools.
Researchers found that cracks tend to follow the path of least resistance and turn towards voids or portlandite particles, sapping energy from them. This interaction regulates competing deformation mechanisms, leading to increased strength and toughness.
Researchers at Rice University have created a method for producing extremely pure levoglucosan, an organic compound with potential applications in pharmaceuticals and synthetic chemistry. The team's process is more economical and operationally simpler than existing methods, offering new possibilities for the production of LGA.
Rice University bioengineer Junghae Suh has been awarded a prestigious R01 grant to research the use of viral gene therapy to fight ovarian cancer. The grant will help Suh and her lab adapt viruses to recognize extracellular enzymes overexpressed by ovarian-cancer tumors and deliver therapeutic genes to diseased cells.
Rice University scientists detect thermal boundary that hinders ultracold experiments, requiring clever measurement techniques to overcome. The researchers found that cooling substrates reduced temperature increases, but thermal boundary resistance remained a major issue.
Researchers at Rice University have found that ultra-flat circuits made from 2D materials exhibit distinct electronic characteristics compared to traditional components. The discovery has significant implications for the development of new electronics designs, including photovoltaic applications and transistors.
A study by Rice University and MD Anderson Cancer Center found significant differences in adherence to recommended cancer treatment for elderly patients across 22 Texas hospital referral regions. Regional variations in treatment rates persist despite the presence of treatment specialists and teaching hospitals.
Scientists at Rice University found a phonon band gap in spider silk, enabling the material to block certain frequencies of sound waves. This discovery has implications for creating tunable, dynamic metamaterials with novel sound or thermal insulation properties.
Researchers have created a titanium-gold alloy that is four times harder than most steels, making it an ideal material for artificial knee and hip joints. The alloy's improved hardness and biocompatibility are due to its unique crystal structure, which is resistant to wear and tear.
Researchers have created gas biosensors that enable real-time monitoring of microbial gene expression in soil samples, allowing for the study of horizontal gene transfer and its impact on environmental processes. The technique has the potential to improve crop growth through more efficient watering and fertilizer use.
Edward Nikonowicz will investigate a gene-regulating switch that could lead to the development of new antibiotics, targeting Bacillus anthracis bacteria.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a new method for uniting light-harvesting photonic nanomaterials with high-efficiency metal catalysts. The 'antenna-reactor' design produces a significant improvement in selectivity, turning a poison into a valuable commodity and offering potential energy savings and improved efficiency.
Researchers at Rice University have developed 'rivet graphene', a two-dimensional carbon material with enhanced strength and conductivity. The new material uses nanotubes to reinforce its structure, making it suitable for flexible and transparent electronics.
A new study from Rice University found that patients' self-rated health is a strong predictor of morbidity and mortality, even stronger than blood tests and measurements. The researchers linked low self-rated health to high levels of herpesvirus activity and inflammation, which are associated with poor cellular immunity and disease.
A recent study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology found that team training can significantly improve healthcare outcomes, including reducing patient mortality by 15% and medical errors by 19%. Team training has been shown to enhance communication, cooperation, and problem-solving skills among healthcare staff.
A study by Rice University researchers found that religious identification dampens the negative effect of political conservatism on environmental consumption. The data showed a smaller gap between liberal and conservative pro-environment consumers among the very religious, challenging stereotypes about religion and environmental care.
The new research training group will develop scientists with combined education in statistics and computer science to address complex data science challenges. The three-year program aims to integrate students from various disciplines, including machine learning, into a collaborative environment.
A recent study found that physician payment reform resulted in a significant decrease in the use of home-based dialysis. Patients with traditional Medicare coverage experienced a 0.7 percent reduction in home dialysis use, while those living in areas with larger facilities saw a 0.9 percent decrease.
A new molecule, rhenium dipyridophenazine complex, has been discovered that glows brighter when bound to amyloid protein fibrils implicated in Alzheimer's disease. This enables real-time monitoring of plaque aggregation, a key step in the development of potential treatments.
Researchers suggest minor evolutionary changes could have altered the fates of Earth and Venus, potentially leading to life on Venus and none on Earth. The study expands the notion of habitable zones and questions the role of plate tectonics in supporting life.
A Rice University lab developed a predictive model to treat leukemia patients, using a unique set of patient data. The top-performing models were able to predict patient response to therapy with an accuracy of close to 80 percent.
Researchers found that proteins have quick access to target genes in cells despite crowding, thanks to dynamic movements of molecules. This discovery suggests that proteins can efficiently search and bind to DNA even in busy environments.
Rice University scientists have streamlined the synthesis of uncialamycin, a potent anti-tumor antibiotic that can be used as part of an antibody drug conjugate. The researchers developed a scalable process for bulk production, enabling the creation of novel variations of the molecule with high potency against cancer cells.
Core proteins partially disassemble to facilitate gene activation, according to Rice University researchers. Their detailed models support the idea that DNA unwrapping and core protein unfolding are coupled, with histone tails playing a crucial role in nucleosome stability.
A study by Rice University researchers found that 'anti-evolution' education legislation is often introduced to mollify religious constituents, rather than expected success. The study analyzed data from 26 states and found that only 25% of anti-evolution bills made it through state education committees.
Researchers at Rice University have synthesized a new cancer-fighting compound called Thailanstatin A, which targets the spliceosome, a complex of proteins and ribonucleoproteins that regulate DNA splicing. The compound has shown promise in preclinical studies and could potentially be used to develop new therapies for cancer.
Researchers at Rice University developed RedEye, a technology that can provide computers with continuous vision, enabling wearables to see and remember what their owners need. By analyzing analog signals in real-time, RedEye improves energy efficiency and presents unique privacy advantages.
A new study by Rice University health economists aims to understand the association between physician-hospital integration and healthcare quality and price. The project will analyze data from 2008-2013 to examine the effects of integration on patient outcomes, readmission rates, and hospital finances.
Researchers at Rice University used computer simulations to study DNA's twisted-ladder form, finding that chromosomes can emerge with either right- or left-handed superhelices. The discovery could help explain how cells regulate gene expression and cell differentiation.
The latest nanosubmarine model, USN-2, can be viewed by single-molecule microscopy for at least 1.5 seconds, allowing for the tracking of its trajectory. This advancement is expected to lead to a better understanding of how the vehicles move and potentially enable their use in delivering cargo or interacting with cells.
A new study from Rice University and Louisiana State University suggests that the early life experiences of individual animals can have wide-reaching impacts on entire species. The research, which examined whether past environments could affect species distribution, found that ignoring these carryover effects can result in incorrect as...
Astronomers have found evidence for a tightly orbiting gas giant, PTFO8-8695 b, which is being torn away by its 2 million-year-old star. The planet's outer layers are likely to be destroyed, and its ultimate fate remains uncertain.
Researchers at Rice University have created 'missing tooth' hydrogels that can trap and slowly release hydrophobic small-molecule drugs, making them ideal for targeted delivery. The biodegradable gel can be injected where needed and releases medication over time.
A three-year study found that corals are declining worldwide due to a combination of threats including overfishing, nutrient pollution and pathogenic disease. The study reveals that even modest temperature increases make corals more vulnerable to bacteria, leading to increased algal cover and coral mortality.
Researchers at Rice University found a link between emotional stress and Type 2 diabetes, with low inhibition leading to increased pro-inflammatory cytokines like IL-6. The study showed that individuals with poor inhibition were more likely to develop diabetes due to the pathway from high anxiety to inflammation.
Researchers at Rice University tested nanocars in ambient conditions, finding they stuck to surfaces due to hydrophobicity. The vehicles slowed down as molecules absorbed from the air created obstacles that acted like sticky foam, eventually trapping them.
Researchers at Rice University have discovered a giant planet, CI Tau b, orbiting a young star in the constellation Taurus. The planet, at least eight times larger than Jupiter, orbits its 2 million-year-old star every nine days and is thought to have formed rapidly, with surrounding gas and dust still present.