Jane Grande-Allen, Rice University's first faculty member to win the award, will receive a five-year research grant to study the unique biological properties of heart valves. Her goal is to develop novel therapies for valve disease and create living, healing heart-valve replacements.
Researchers at Rice University have developed functionalized graphene oxide to alleviate clogging issues in newly drilled wells. The material forms a thinner, lighter filter cake that allows for improved drilling efficiency and reduced environmental impact.
According to the study, 17 percent of atheists with children attended a religious service more than once in the past year. Atheist scientists cite scientific identity, spousal influence, and desire for community as reasons for their involvement. They want their children to have choices and expose them to various religious traditions.
Researchers at Rice University developed a two-step method to attach organic molecules to pristine graphene, making it suitable for various new applications. This breakthrough enables advances in chemical sensors, thermoelectric devices, and metamaterials.
A new study from Rice University and Pennsylvania State University reveals that transsexual employees who are open about their gender identity in the workplace experience greater job satisfaction and organizational commitment. The research also highlights the importance of a strong support system in fostering a positive work environment.
Researchers at Rice University have successfully loaded over 2 million gold nanorods into a single cancer cell, opening up new possibilities for targeted cancer treatments. The breakthrough involves using a new molecule to replace toxic CTAB with MTAB, allowing for the safe and efficient loading of nanoparticles into cells.
A Rice University-led team recommends building a floodgate across the Houston Ship Channel and adding new levees to protect densely populated areas. The report also suggests creating a 130-mile-long coastal recreation area to utilize wetlands as a natural storm-surge barrier.
Researchers found that interviewers recalled less information about candidates with facial blemishes, leading to decreased evaluations. This study aims to raise awareness about workplace discrimination against individuals with facial stigmas.
Researchers from Rice University and two other universities are developing a new generation of design software to accurately predict robot physical behavior. This tool will enable designers to find key flaws on a computer before building a prototype, reducing expenses and increasing innovation.
New calculations by Rice University researchers suggest that the ocean may have stored as much methane hydrate 56 million years ago as it does today. This could have released massive amounts of carbon, causing drastic climate change. The discovery challenges previous assumptions about the impact of methane hydrates on global climate.
A recent study by researchers at Rice University finds that people participating in online communities tend to make riskier financial decisions. This is attributed to the false assumption that fellow community members will come to their aid when needed.
Andrew Barron, Rice University's Charles W. Duncan, Jr. -- Welch Chair of Chemistry, is honored with the prestigious World Technology Award for Materials for his groundbreaking nanotechnology research in energy and health. His work has led to projects involving down-hole sensors, carbon dioxide mitigation, and cancer treatment.
Junrong Zheng will use a five-year grant to develop a laser-based spectroscopic device for real-time, three-dimensional analysis of molecular conformations. This technology has the potential to revolutionize fields such as chemical reactions, protein folding, and drug interactions.
Researchers at Rice University have made a groundbreaking discovery by creating giant flakes of graphene oxide that form a gel-like liquid crystal in water. This alignment enables the creation of metamaterials with unique mechanical and electronic properties, as well as high-strength fibers with enhanced properties.
Bioengineers from Rice University are testing a new law of biology to predict when critically ill patients will worsen, and which treatment is likely to prevent it. The study aims to provide clinicians with a patient-specific 'forecast' using data from electrocardiograms and other vital signs.
A study by Rice University biochemist Michael Stern suggests a possible link between Type 2 diabetes and autism due to impaired glucose tolerance and hyperinsulinemia. This common underlying mechanism may lead to the development of new treatments for autistic children, including low-carbohydrate diets.
A new study by Rice University and the University of Houston reveals seasonal variations in ammonia levels in Houston's atmosphere, affecting air quality. Ammonia levels are highest in summer and lowest in winter, with a mean concentration of 3.1 ppb during summer months.
The R-one project is a cost-effective way for Rice University to create an inexpensive and sophisticated robot that can be used in classrooms and aftercare programs. The robots are already being used in introductory engineering courses to teach programming, mechanical engineering, and distributed control.
A new study from Rice University and Duke University found that removing digital rights management (DRM) restrictions can actually decrease music piracy. The research showed that while DRM restrictions make piracy more costly and difficult, they also have a negative impact on legal users who don't intend to engage in piracy.
Researchers at Rice University have created a tiny 'electron superhighway' that could be useful for building a quantum computer. The device, which acts as an electron superhighway, is one of the building blocks needed to create quantum particles that store and manipulate data.
A low-cost electronic tablet, called I-slate, has been proven to be an effective learning tool for Indian children. The device is designed to be solar-powered and cost less than $50, providing immediate feedback on correct and incorrect answers to math problems.
A new study by sociologists at Rice University and Stanford University explores how neighborhood poverty influences maternal fear of children's outdoor play. Mothers' household economic status, education, employment, and physical/mental health all contribute to their fears.
Researchers at Rice University have created a technique to control plasmonic scattering from nanoparticles using liquid crystals. By applying an electric field, the alignment of liquid crystal molecules can be manipulated, acting as a shutter to switch the nanorods' signals like a traffic light.
A new study by Rice University suggests that only a minority of scientists at major research universities view religion and science as being in perpetual conflict. In reality, most scientists see both religion and science as valid avenues of knowledge that can bring broader understanding to important questions.
A Rice University research team is developing a novel system for separating CO2 from power plant smoke stacks. The technology uses waste heat and specialized materials to filter liquids and gases, aiming to significantly reduce energy requirements compared to existing methods.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a method to pinpoint the amount of methane hydrates trapped under the seabed using shallow core samples. The technique, which analyzes transition zones between methane and sulfate, can aid in selecting deep drilling sites for expensive exploratory drilling.
Researchers aim to create bacteria that form geometrical patterns to understand stem cell behavior. By modifying E. coli with genetic circuits, they hope to unlock the genetic programming behind complex cellular structures.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a new method to create synthetic collagen, which forms from a liquid in just an hour and has properties similar to native collagen. The material may be used as a scaffold for regenerating tissues and organs using stem cells.
Researchers at Rice University have successfully powered a fluorescent light bulb using a cable made of carbon nanotubes, which is six times lighter than copper and silver. The new material shows great promise for use in applications where weight is critical, such as airplanes and automobiles.
Researchers at Rice University have made a breakthrough that could allow wireless phone companies to double throughput on their networks without adding a single cell tower. The new 'full-duplex' technology uses an extra antenna and computing tricks to enable simultaneous transmission and reception on the same frequency.
Astronomers using Hubble Space Telescope images have created time-lapse movies revealing dynamic behavior of stellar jets. The studies show clouds of dust and gas within the jets move at different speeds, challenging existing understanding of star birth processes.
A new study from Rice University reveals that gold nanowires less than 20 nanometers wide can become brittle-like under stress, exhibiting unique properties on the nanoscale. Researchers found twins in nanowires to be a key factor in reducing ductility, leading to premature fracture.
Rice University scientists have developed a solid-state, nanotube-based supercapacitor that combines the benefits of batteries and capacitors. The new device is stable, scalable, and suitable for extreme environments, with potential applications in electronics, sensors, and renewable energy systems.
Rice University researchers developed a method to rapidly convert glucose into biofuels and petrochemical substitutes by reversing the beta oxidation cycle in bacteria. They produced butanol, a biofuel, about 10 times faster than previously reported organisms, using cheap feedstocks like glucose and mineral salts.
A new study by Rice University and Southern Methodist University found that 45.4% of women and 24.5% of men scientists have fewer children than they wanted due to career pressures. Women are more satisfied with their lives despite having fewer children, while men experience a greater impact on life satisfaction.
Researchers found a direct relationship between chemical synthesis conditions and graphene alloy electronic properties. This discovery enables precise prediction of final product's properties using well-understood chemical procedures.
Researchers demonstrate that any carbon source can be converted into high-quality graphene, a material with numerous applications. They tested various materials, including food, insects, and waste, to produce graphene, showcasing its potential for widespread use.
Researchers at Rice University have discovered a way to transform sheets of graphite oxide into functional supercapacitors by writing patterns into them with a laser. The devices exhibit good electrochemical performance without the need for chemicals, comparable to existing thin-film micro-supercapacitors.
Researchers at Rice University have created a hybrid graphene film that combines conductivity and transparency, potentially replacing indium tin oxide as a transparent conductive coating in displays. The material outperforms ITO in terms of transparency and conductivity, and is environmentally stable.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a hybrid energy storage device packed into a single nanowire, which shows promise as a rechargeable power source for nanoelectronics. The devices have good capacity but require further optimization to improve performance.
A study by Rice University biologist Evan Siemann and colleagues found that the invasive Chinese tallow tree was not introduced to the US by Ben Franklin. The genetic evidence suggests that the trees originated from eastern China, with a faster growth rate in the US than their Chinese counterparts.
A team of engineers from four US universities aims to create a prosthetic arm that can be controlled by brain signals, allowing amputees to perceive tactile sensations. The project combines noninvasive neural decoding, direct brain control, and sensory feedback to improve the user experience.
A Rice University study reveals that European house mice have developed resistance to warfarin through two distinct processes: point mutation and horizontal gene transfer. Algerian mice, a desert-dwelling species, are believed to have passed the resistant genome into house mice in Spain or North Africa.
The US shale gas industry is projected to significantly impact global energy markets by 2040. The study finds that Russia's natural gas market share in Western Europe will decline from 27% to 13%, while the US will become a major supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Researchers have defined the atomic structure of astrovirus, which causes juvenile diarrhea, identifying potential targets for vaccine development and antiviral drugs. The study may help block the virus before it becomes infectious and reduce the risk of dehydration in children.
Rice University scientists have developed a cable made of metallic nanotubes that can carry electricity with minimal loss. The 'amplified' nanotubes are created by chemically attaching an iron/cobalt catalyst to the ends of nanotubes and fine-tuning the temperature and environment for amplification.
Rice University researchers have created a metallic molecule that becomes strongly photoluminescent when it attaches to amyloid fibrils, which form plaques in the brains of Alzheimer's patients. This breakthrough technique has the potential to improve the design of medications to treat the devastating disease.
Houston's population growth was the highest in the US, with a whopping 1.2 million new residents added over the past decade, outpacing New York and Chicago combined. The city's growth can be attributed to its proximity to Latin America, business-friendly policies, low cost of living, and significant job growth.
Researchers developed a supramolecular system combining single-walled carbon nanotubes with porous silicate materials, enabling the study of interactions between carbon nanotubes and a wide range of photoluminescent molecules. The platform holds promise for applications in catalysis, artificial photosynthesis, and hydrogen splitting.
A study from Rice University and Italy's Eugenio Medea Scientific Institute has shed light on the biochemical workings of atlastin, a protein linked to HSP. The research suggests that atlastin plays a crucial role in maintaining the health of long nerve cells affected by HSP.