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.
Researchers at Rice University and Moscow State University found that graphene oxide can bind to natural and human-made radionuclides, removing them from liquids. This discovery could be used to clean up contaminated sites like Fukushima nuclear plants, reduce costs of fracking, and revive rare earth metal mining.
Rice University researchers have found a way to selectively heat diverse nanoparticles using short laser pulses. They demonstrated the effect in common gold nanoparticles, nanoparticle clusters, and mixed nanorods and nanoshells, showing narrow photothermal spectra and spectral selectivity.
Researchers have published the first genomic report on limpet, leech and worm species, shedding light on lophotrochozoans' evolutionary history and functional gene groups. The study's findings suggest that these ancient animals played crucial roles in marine ecosystems.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a new process to convert soybean byproducts into succinic acid, a valuable chemical used in various industries. The process uses genetically modified E. coli bacteria to metabolize soluble carbohydrates from soybeans, achieving a high yield and a 1:1 ratio of feedstock to product.
Researchers at Rice University have discovered a new way to monitor protein aggregation in living cells, which could lead to the development of drugs that break up fibrils. The metallic probe, made of ruthenium, binds with misfolded alpha-synuclein proteins and can be tracked using photoluminescence spectroscopy.
A new study published in Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes found that experts are more effective when making intuitive decisions, especially in tasks with less structure. In two studies, researchers compared expert and non-expert participants on basketball shot difficulty and designer handbag authenticity tasks. Resu...
Theoretical physicists at Rice University have predicted the formation of conductive sub-nanometer 'wires' in two-dimensional materials, which could lead to advanced electronics. The discovery was made by investigating atomic-scale properties and topological defects in semiconductors.
Researchers at Rice University have created a method to trigger biochemical reactions remotely on demand by exposing plasmonic gold nanoparticles to near-infrared light, enabling chemical processes to occur at lower temperatures. This technology has great potential for industrial applications, including energy savings and more sustaina...
Researchers have developed a biocompatible patch that can support the growth of healthy new tissue and potentially replace current patches used to repair congenital heart defects. The patch, seeded with living cardiac cells, is designed to degrade over time, leaving a repaired heart.
Researchers at Rice University have discovered that the madder plant's purpurin can be used as a natural cathode for lithium-ion batteries, offering an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional batteries. The team has built a half-battery cell with a capacity of 90 milliamp hours per gram after 50 charge/discharge cycles.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a way to selectively kill some diseased cells while treating others in the same sample using tunable plasmonic nanobubbles. The process activates with a pulse of laser light and leaves neighboring healthy cells untouched.
Researchers successfully grew forests of carbon nanotubes on a sheet of graphene, creating a seamless three-dimensional structure with a massive surface area. This hybrid material offers great potential for electronic components like fast supercapacitors.
A new study from Rice University explores the effects of firm actions and industry spillovers on media coverage following wrongdoing. The research found that companies directly responsible for wrongdoing face more damaging media backlash than those not directly involved but affected by industry-wide scandals.
A Rice University-led study has uncovered an elaborate mechanism allowing bacteria to begin preparing for survival even as it delays the decision to form a spore. The research found that nested 'feedforward' loops enable cells to process information while executing the program, making an accurate decision without delay.
Rice University scientists have developed a super-efficient solar-energy technology that converts sunlight into steam directly, with an overall energy efficiency of 24 percent. The 'solar steam' method uses nanoparticles to heat water instantly vaporizing it and creating steam from nearly frozen water.
Researchers at Rice University have created a new type of nanoparticle called lava dots, which are hollow and coated versions of quantum dots. The particles were discovered using a 'molten-droplet synthesis' technique and can be used as catalysts for hydrogen production, chemical sensors, and solar cells.