A new technique developed by Rice University researchers can detect the movement of single molecules over hours using plasmonic properties of nanoparticles. This method is label-free and permanent, enabling the tracking of molecular interactions at the single-molecule limit.
Rice University researchers, led by John McDevitt, have been awarded $3.7 million to develop a cost-effective Bio-Nano-Chip that can detect early warning signs of disease. The technology has the potential to cut treatment time and costs, enabling emergency medical technicians to perform tests at home or in an ambulance.
A breakthrough discovery has explained why some fluids containing polymers form beads when stretched, providing a key for improving diverse industries such as ink-jet printing and drug dispensing. The study's findings highlight the importance of fluid inertia and relaxation time in bead formation.
Researchers have developed a liquid-based method to produce high-quality graphene, which could lead to novel carbon composites and more affordable touch screens. The new technique yields very pure material and has the potential to drive down costs in industries such as aerospace, automotive, and construction.
Physicists use iron oxychalcogenides to study Mott localization in undoped pnictide parent compounds, providing further evidence that these systems are on the verge of Mott localization. This proximity to Mott localization endows the system with strong quantum magnetic fluctuations.
Rice researchers found that starving cells in slime mold have an advantage, pushing those that eat into selfless sacrifice. The study reveals a surprising strategy for survival and reproduction in single-cell organisms.
Researchers have developed a way to use Rice University's light-activated nanoshells as building blocks for complex structures that can trap, store and bend light. These materials have unique optical properties, making them suitable for applications such as ultrasensitive biological and chemical sensors.
The Rice University-led Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry journal has released a special virtual edition making 25 previously published studies on the Exxon Valdez oil spill available for free. The collection provides insights into the occurrence, fate, and effects of oils and oil spills in the environment.
A new report by SSPEED Center warns that a major hurricane could endanger tens of thousands of lives and cripple the Houston Ship Channel. The study highlights vulnerabilities in existing dikes and levees, highway infrastructure for evacuation, and coastal flooding risks.
Researchers at Rice University have discovered thin films of nanotubes created with ink-jet printers can be used to make field-effect transistors. The technique allows for the creation of digital electronics on flexible substrates, with potential applications in raincoats and other devices.
Researchers at Rice University have discovered a way to extract hydrogen atoms from graphane, creating spaces that resemble quantum dots. This breakthrough enables precise control over the semiconducting properties of quantum dots, with potential applications in advanced optics, single-molecule sensing, and nanoscale circuitry.
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute has renewed a four-year grant for Rice University's global health program, Beyond Traditional Borders (BTB), with a $1.2 million investment. BTB challenges students to design practical solutions to real-world problems in developing nations, resulting in over 10% of Rice undergraduates taking the cour...
A new study by Rice University and the US Department of State's Office of eDiplomacy examines the five-year history of Diplopedia, a Wikipedia-style diplomacy Web 2.0 tool. The platform has grown to over 10,000 articles written by DOS employees, providing valuable information for desk officers and foreign service experts.
Scientists at Rice University have made a breakthrough in creating highly purified samples of carbon nanotube species using ultracentrifugation, a technique that can help enable the development of efficient nationwide electrical grids and critical applications in medicine and electronics.
Researchers at Rice University and the University of Cambridge have created a computer model that accurately describes the behavior of three regulatory proteins in hematopoietic stem cells. The Scl-Gata2-Fli1 triad is thought to be the master-level regulator for these self-renewing cells, which produce new blood cells.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a synthetic enzyme that can selectively bind with proteins and attach tags for identification. The method has shown promise in identifying signaling proteins involved in health and disease, including those related to cancer.
Researchers at Rice University and their international colleagues created ultra-fine air filters using carbon nanotube membranes. These filters can remove up to 99% of particles smaller than a micron, outperforming traditional HEPA filters.
Physicists at Rice University and Princeton University have found that ultracold mixes of electrons can have 'topological' properties making them immune to information degradation in quantum computers. The discovery could pave the way for the development of fault-tolerant quantum computers.
A pilot study found that a rice-developed nano-bio-chip is effective in detecting premalignancies with high sensitivity and specificity rates comparable to traditional tests. The minimally invasive technique could lead to earlier detection of oral cancer, resulting in higher survival rates.
A Rice University researcher has developed a natural extracellular matrix from adipose cells that supports the growth of living cells into tissues. The substance, called Adipogel, has been proven effective for growing liver cells and may be used to repair damaged organs in the future.
A new study by Rice University sociologists examines the role of private foundations in supporting religion and finds they have a significant influence despite limited financial contributions. The study highlights the Lilly Endowment's strategic giving, which has a real impact on the religious sector.
A new model, MORVEL, offers a marked improvement on previous work by estimating the relative movements of interlocking tectonic plates. The study provides precise rates of plate spreading along mid-ocean ridges and helps researchers understand surface processes like mountain-building and subsurface processes like mantle convection.
Rice researchers have developed an inexpensive, printable transmitter for RFID tags that can be invisibly embedded in packaging. This technology has the potential to revolutionize checkout processes by allowing customers to walk through a scanner with their groceries without stopping at each item.
A new 3-D cell culture technique using magnetic forces has been developed, allowing for the growth of cells in 3-D. This method promises to provide more accurate preclinical drug tests and better cancer research outcomes by mimicking the body's natural tissue structures.
A six-year study by ecologists at Rice University and Indiana University found that a symbiotic fungus living inside fescue can have far-reaching effects on plant, animal, and insect communities. The research suggests that cooperative microorganisms play a significant role in ecological diversity.
A Rice University team re-examined Gustav Mie's century-old equations for electromagnetic wave interaction with spherical metal particles. The researchers found that average properties matched the predictions, but individual particles deviated significantly due to shape and orientation variations on the substrate.
A recent survey by Rice University found that Toyota owners continue to show high levels of satisfaction with their vehicles, despite the company's numerous recalls since 2009. The study attributed this to a 'brand insulation effect,' where current customers shielded Toyota from the negative effects of recalls.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a graphene-hybrid material by stitching together graphene and hexagonal boron nitride. This 2D structure offers new possibilities for materials scientists, with electric properties ranging from metallic conductor to semiconductor to insulator.
Researchers suggest a 400km-deep density trap formed due to unique geophysical conditions 3.5 billion years ago, trapping gases like helium and argon inside the planet.
Gold and silver nanowires can form strong bonds without the need for heat, a breakthrough that could simplify the creation of high-density electronic devices. The discovery was made by Rice University researchers who observed the self-healing process under an electron microscope.
Researchers at Rice University developed an amplitude gating technique to improve PET/CT scanner efficiency. The method uses a flexible chest band to record breathing cycles during CT scans, creating sharper images with better tumor detection accuracy.
Scientists at Rice University have discovered a new technique for singling out individual diseased cells and destroying them with tiny explosions using lasers and nanoparticles. The method, known as nanobubbles, can be tuned to create either small, harmless bubbles or large bubbles that burst the cells.
Rice University researchers have developed a new way to track nanoparticles using gold nanorods and polarization imaging techniques. The technique could provide valuable information about materials, including living systems, that incorporate nanoparticles.
A Rice University researcher has found a way to transfer forests of aligned carbon nanotubes from one surface to another in minutes. The technique uses water vapor to weaken chemical bonds between the tubes and the catalyst particles, allowing for precise control over the diameter of the nanotubes
A new study from Rice University's Jones Graduate School of Business found that internal CEOs tend to outperform externally hired leaders in the long term. Over three years, internally promoted CEOs were more likely to initiate and implement strategic changes that build a firm's competitive advantage.
Researchers found a direct connection between electrons' conductivity and magnetic properties in iron-based superconductors. The study sheds light on high-temperature superconductivity's fundamental nature.
A new policy paper questions the economic, environmental and logistical basis for billions of dollars in federal subsidies and protectionist tariffs for domestic ethanol producers. The report highlights the environmental threats posed by current biofuels policy and challenges claims that ethanol use lowers greenhouse gas emissions.
Researchers have discovered a way to visualize iron-sulfur clusters in living cells using a custom protein tag, enabling analysis of diseases involving these metalloclusters. This technique has high potential for helping find real treatments for diseases such as Friedreich's ataxia and myopathy.
A Rice University team developed a single nanoparticle that can be tracked in real-time with MRI as it targets cancer cells, tags them with fluorescent dye and kills them with heat. This all-in-one particle is a promising example of theranostics, a growing field developing technologies for diagnosis and treatment in one procedure.
Using ultracold atoms, Rice physicists confirmed a theory about a universal quantum mechanism that allows trimers to form in special cases where pairs cannot. The team observed Efimov's trimers appear and reappear repeatedly in a stepwise fashion.
Researchers aim to develop a database of nanoparticle behavior, enabling the prediction of particle fate and design of targeted treatments. Eight classes of nanoparticles will be studied in a two-year project.
Researchers at Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine found a previously unrealized role of receptor-binding residues in host evasion, which could be a bottleneck for the virus. This discovery may lead to more efficient vaccine design not only for H1N1 but also for other strains of the flu.
Rice University Professor Junichiro Kono and his team discovered a plasmonic material that can either stop or let through terahertz beams with adjustments to temperature and/or magnetic field. This finding helps close the knowledge gap in the electromagnetic spectrum between electronic and photonic devices.
The Rice University-M.D. Anderson Cancer Center program provides incoming graduate students with early exposure to translational research and clinical practice. The HHMI funding renewal will allow the program to expand to include students from M.D. Anderson's Department of Imaging Physics.
Physicists at Rice University have successfully created a Bose-Einstein condensate from strontium atoms, marking an important advancement in atomic-scale research. The achievement demonstrates the long-sought creation of a state where individual atoms lose their identity and come together to form a singular lump.
A survey of 30 pediatric physicians reveals differing views on the role of religion and spirituality in medicine, with some seeing it as a barrier to care and others as a bridge. The study found that pediatric oncologists are more likely to view patients' religious backgrounds as relevant to their treatment.
Researchers at Rice University and the Texas Heart Institute will label stem cells with gadonanotubes to track their effectiveness in regenerating damaged heart tissue. The team aims to use MRI to steer the cells in vivo with an external magnetic field.
Researchers at Rice University are developing a rapid saliva test for oral cancer that can be performed by a dentist in under 30 minutes. The test uses a novel microchip, known as a lab-on-a-chip, to detect specific biomarkers in cells, allowing for early diagnosis and improved patient outcomes.
Researchers found a mechanism that enables proteins to become more specialized over time, contributing to human biological complexity. Random genetic mutations in duplicate genes can lead to dosage imbalances, which can be alleviated through paralogization, allowing humans to maintain complex tissues.
Researchers at Rice University have made a breakthrough in industrial-scale nanotube processing, creating a method to produce pure carbon-nanotube fibers that could lead to advances in materials science and nanoelectronics. The process uses chlorosulfonic acid as a solvent, enabling the efficient production of high-quality nanotubes.