Researchers at Rice University and Oak Ridge National Laboratory have advanced on the goal of two-dimensional electronics by controlling the growth of uniform atomic layers of molybdenum disulfide. The material is a semiconductor, one of three needed to make functioning 2-D electronic components.
A new study published by Rice University and the University of California at Davis predicts that US corn yields will decline by 7% and irrigation needs will increase by 9% due to climate change. This could sharply hinder the nation's ethanol production targets, leading to a re-evaluation of biofuel policies.
Researchers have captured the first three-dimensional crystalline snapshot of the initial step in actin filament formation, crucial for understanding cell shape and cancer. The study's dual-mutant approach helped overcome challenges in forming crystals, revealing critical contacts involved in nucleation.
Researchers at Rice and Penn State universities have created solar cells using block copolymers, which outperform other polymer compounds as active elements. The new cells reach about 3% efficiency, surprisingly better than previous labs have achieved.
Scientists at Rice University and Honda Research Institute have created a hybrid material that combines diamonds, nanotubes, and graphene for superior thermal management. The researchers successfully grew vertically aligned carbon nanotubes on diamond using graphene as a middleman, demonstrating its potential as a heat sink.
Research from Rice University found that children living in traditional two-parent married households have a lower obesity rate (17 percent) compared to those living with cohabitating parents or other non-traditional family structures. This study highlights the impact of family structure on childhood obesity, suggesting that marriage a...
Researchers at Rice University have developed a novel approach to arrange metal nanoparticles in geometric patterns, enabling control of light with light. The breakthrough enables the creation of optical devices that can transform incoming light signals into output of a different color.
A Rice University study found that regulatory patterns in E. coli cells can arise from mutation, genetic drift, and neutral evolution, challenging the idea that environmental factors drive such patterns. The researchers generated computer models of random regulatory networks, which evolved through millions of generations without progra...
Researchers at Rice University found that adding boron to graphene improves its ability to store lithium ions, resulting in a capacity two times larger than graphite. The discovery also enables the material to hold a proper voltage, making it suitable for commercial use.
Researchers at Rice University have discovered a way to create liquid crystals from negatively charged carbon nanotubes, allowing for easier functionalization and potentially leading to stronger, more conductive fibers. This breakthrough could significantly improve the creation of macro materials out of microscopic nanotubes.
Researchers found that amniotic fluid stem cells can communicate with mature heart cells through channels in the membrane, forming functional gap junction connections. However, these cells do not differentiate into cardiac tissue under these conditions.
OpenStax College plans to add six more titles by 2015, bringing the total to 25 books, with estimated savings of $750 million for college students. The nonprofit publisher's textbooks are peer-reviewed and equal in quality to costly alternatives.
Rice University bioengineering professors Rebecca Richards-Kortum and Maria Oden have won the $100,000 Lemelson-MIT Award for Global Innovation. They will donate their prize money to build a new neonatal ward at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Malawi, which has implemented Rice's low-cost health care technologies since 2007.
Rice University research finds that professional culture in engineering contributes to gender wage inequality, with women underpaid for technical work and overpaid for social activities. The study highlights the importance of understanding how professional cultures shape judgments of competence and excellence.
Rice University researchers have discovered that the liquid crystal phase of silicone becomes significantly stiffer when subjected to repeated compression. This breakthrough could lead to new strategies for self-healing materials, as well as biocompatible materials that mimic human tissues. The stiffening effect is reversible and occur...
Researchers discovered a genetic circuit in bacteria that enables individual freedom while ensuring the collective good. The circuit allows each bacterium to weigh its decisions based on stress levels and peer signals, striking a balance between selflessness and selfishness.
Researchers are studying how bird loss affects Guam's forests by examining the distribution of 16 tree species. Without birds to move seeds to open gaps, pioneer trees may struggle to germinate or grow.
A team of scientists and technicians led by Rice University is conducting a 45-day expedition in the North Atlantic to gather detailed information about the geology of the ocean basin. The $6 million project aims to study the Galicia rift, where sediment has not deeply buried formations that have existed at the bottom of the ocean for ...
A new study from Rice University reveals that religious and nonreligious organizations in the US have a comparable impact on immigrants' ability to acclimate to American society. Despite differences in motivations, both types of organizations provide similar services and outreach to their communities.
A study from Rice University reveals that public awareness of sexual-orientation employment-antidiscrimination laws is heightened in communities with such legislation. Gay and lesbian job applicants experience less interpersonal discrimination when protected by antidiscrimination law, even when controlling for religious views.
Rice physicists Qimiao Si and Rong Yu discovered a new electronic state in which some electrons become frozen, while others remain mobile, leading to 'bad traffic' on the path to superconductivity. This phase, known as orbital-selective Mott phase, provides clues about the fundamental origins of superconductivity.
Researchers at Rice University and MD Anderson Cancer Center developed 3D scaffolds that effectively mimic the environment in which tumors develop, allowing for more accurate evaluation of anti-cancer drug responses. The technology holds promise for accelerating the development of cancer therapeutics.
Rice University researchers are developing a comprehensive model that predicts how brine, oil, and gas react to extreme temperatures and pressures. The model aims to provide companies with strategies to maintain flow and reduce risk in deepwater production.
Rice University researchers have discovered a biochemical link between blood clotting and the immune system, which could lead to new treatments for patients with inflammatory diseases. The study found that a protein involved in blood clotting also triggers the body's immune response.
Researchers found that the seven-atom ring defects at junctions in polycrystalline graphene result in reduced strength due to amplification of tension. This finding is significant for materials scientists using graphene, particularly in composite materials and stretchable electronics.
Laura Segatori, a Rice University engineer, has received a NSF CAREER Award to develop a toolkit for probing the workings of cellular processes that lead to diseases like Parkinson's. Her goal is to identify key proteins and learn how to regulate them using nanoparticles.
A Rice University team has found that using waste heat can remove more CO2 from coal-fired power plant emissions economically. The researchers hope to reduce the costs of CO2 capture by creating an integrated reaction column that uses waste heat, engineered materials and optimized components.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a new material that accelerates the development of high-power lithium-ion batteries suitable for electric cars. The hybrid ribbons of vanadium oxide and graphene work well for lithium-ion storage, providing both high energy density and significant power density.
A meta-analysis of 51 studies found a positive correlation between conscientiousness and college grade point averages. The study suggests that individuals with higher levels of conscientiousness tend to excel academically beyond their initial high school grades or achievement test scores.
A study by Rice University found that testing enhances learning among adults of all ages, improving memory retention and job performance. The research discovered that participants who took tests showed improved retention compared to restudying, even after a two-day delay.
Researchers at Rice University have found a way to divide and modify enzymes to create a genetic logic gate, which can be used to mimic digital circuitry. The discovery could lead to the development of diagnostic systems that look for signs of disease and gene therapies in one step.
A new study from Rice University suggests that a widely used model to predict the impact of pollution controls has been too conservative. In Northeastern cities, ozone levels dropped significantly beyond expectations after cutting emissions of nitrogen oxides from 2002 to 2006.
Researchers at Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine have discovered that stressed proteins can remain in a dangerous shape for up to five hours before returning to their normal state. This finding has profound clinical implications, as it helps explain the workings of the key clot-forming protein von Willebrand factor.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a process to produce fatty acids from plant biomass using genetically modified E. coli bacteria. The new method has shown significant improvements in yield and efficiency, with the potential to produce millions of tons of fuel per year.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a nanotube-based photodetector that can detect light across the visible and infrared spectrum. The device, made from extra-long carbon nanotubes, promises to make possible new optoelectronic devices, solar cells, and specialized cameras.
A new study from Rice University found that same-sex couples who live together have worse health than married opposite-sex couples, with similar health to those living apart. The research highlights the importance of considering the unique challenges faced by this population in discussions of relationships and health.
Researchers found a positive correlation between out-of-hospital cardiac arrests and exposure to both fine particulate matter and ozone in Houston. Daily average increases in particulate matter raised OHCA risk by 4.6 percent, while short-term increases in ozone level increased risk by 4.4 percent.
Researchers at Rice University created a computer model to study the growth of tiny blood vessels in the brain after a stroke. They found that individual cells respond to stimuli using rules and patterns, which can be replicated to guide vessel structure development.
Researchers at Rice University propose combining synthetic and natural toxins to create a 'one-two punch' therapy against cancer and drug-resistant bacteria, potentially reducing side effects and preventing resistance. The approach targets the unique membranes of both cancer cells and Gram-negative bacteria.
The study found that growing proportions of Harris County's Asian adults are now the U.S.-born children of Asian immigrants, and they are even better educated than their parents. This demographic shift suggests a changing face for the local Asian population in Houston.
A new study led by Rice University suggests that episodic flare-ups of volcanoes at key locations could be driving Earth's repeated flip-flopping between greenhouse and icehouse states. The researchers found that these continental-arc volcanoes release enormous amounts of carbon dioxide, which drives the climate cycles.
Researchers at Rice University have made progress toward creating 2-D boron through theoretical work that suggests the most practical ways to make the material. The team's results indicate that 2-D boron may conduct electricity better than graphene, a key finding in the field of two-dimensional materials.
Rice University scientists develop a technique to combine single-atom-thick graphene and hexagonal boron nitride into sheets with controlled patterns. The new method enables the creation of fully functional devices with circuits on the same scale as current semiconductor fabrication.
Scientists use magnetic levitation to create laboratory techniques for growing tissues virtually identical to those found in people's bodies. Researchers combined four cell types to replicate bronchiole deep inside the lung, creating realistic lung tissue.
Researchers have discovered that cells in every part of a wounded skin patch exert force to pull their neighbors along, coordinating their motions to heal the wound. This new understanding could lead to insights into the process and its long-term implications for healing and cancer research.
A recent study from Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy has found that Mexico's violent drug cartels have failed due to prohibition, and that shifting the government's approach from a war mindset to crime fighting is crucial. The report recommends strengthening civil service, law enforcement, and judicial systems to pre...
Researchers at Rice University used the AWSEM-MD software to simulate protein folding and found a surprising twist: short sequences can self-recognize and stick together, leading to misfolding. This discovery provides new insights into degenerative diseases and may lead to drug design.
Researchers have developed a new carbon nanotube fiber with exceptional properties, including thermal and electrical conductivity, and flexibility. The fiber has the potential to revolutionize industries such as aerospace, automotive, and medical applications.
Researchers at Rice University have found that magma forms as deep as 250 kilometers in the Earth's mantle, a discovery that challenges previous theories on melting depth. This finding also sheds light on the planet's interior and surface connection, revealing new insights into geological processes.
Researchers developed a mathematical model to predict how specific mutations affect antibiotic resistance. They discovered that small changes can increase resistance by up to 500%, challenging the idea of big effects from big changes.