Boris Yakobson aims to transform the future of advanced materials through Rice University research. His projects focus on developing predictive synthesis models and automating the search for new materials, with applications in energy and electronics.
Han Xiao aims to develop cells that can biosynthesize and utilize non-canonical amino acids as in vivo sensors for enzymes involved in posttranslational modifications. This research could lead to new strategies in treating diseases by providing real-time insights into enzyme activities.
Researchers found a correlation between protein folding and evolution in certain globular protein families, with most conserved exons corresponding to better foldons. However, the general trend did not hold for all protein families, suggesting other biological factors may influence protein folding and evolution.
Researchers at Rice University discovered two types of motorized chain models: swimming motors and grappling motors, which manipulate chromosome structures. The study reveals how these proteins impact ideal polymer chains, leading to contraction or expansion depending on forces exerted.
David Sarlah joins Rice University as a CPRIT-funded professor to contribute to the university's cancer research, focusing on natural product synthesis and total synthesis for cancer biology. His lab aims to streamline production of compounds used in cancer therapy.
A team of scientists led by Qimiao Si predicts the existence of flat electronic bands at the Fermi level, which could enhance electron interactions and create new quantum phases. These bands have the potential to enable new applications in quantum bits, qubits, and spintronics.
Researchers at Rice University have made a breakthrough in synthesizing formamidinium lead iodide (FAPbI3) perovskite solar cells into ultrastable, high-quality photovoltaic films. The overall efficiency of the resulting FAPbI3 solar cells decreased by less than 3% over 1,000 hours of operation.
A team of researchers from Rice University and the University of Michigan found that some neurons not only replay recent past experiences but also anticipate future experience during sleep. The discovery provides an unprecedented view of how individual neurons in the hippocampus stabilize and tune spatial representations during periods...
The ACCELERATE program aims to enhance educational experiences of HCC students, providing access to resources and opportunities for biomedical research training. Students will participate in extracurricular laboratory modules, immersive research training, and mentorship programs.
Researchers at Rice University have identified genes critical for enteric nervous system development using zebrafish embryos. Opioid signaling pathways are required for the formation of nerves in the gut, contradicting previous assumptions about their role in pain perception and addiction.
Researchers have identified a class of materials called antiferroelectrics that produce an electromechanical response up to five times greater than conventional piezoelectric materials, even in films as thin as 100 nanometers. This breakthrough could enable the development of next-generation electronics and devices.
Researchers at Rice University developed a new material that mimics skin elasticity and motion types while preserving signal strength in electronics. The material, made by embedding ceramic nanoparticles into an elastic polymer, stabilizes radio-frequency communication and minimizes energy loss.
Researchers at Rice University have made significant strides in understanding the processes guiding human embryonic development. The study reveals that the duration of BMP signal exposure, rather than its strength, plays a crucial role in determining cell fate.
Konstantinos Mamouras, assistant professor of computer science at Rice University, has been awarded a $547,555 NSF CAREER Award to decentralize IoT applications and relieve network congestion. He aims to introduce novel programming techniques that enable efficient and reliable IoT development.
Researchers at Rice University have made a groundbreaking discovery about protein evolution, revealing that pseudogenes can provide clues to the evolutionary journey of proteins. The team found that certain mutations can stabilize the folding of pseudogenes, but also disrupt their biological functions.
Researchers created GraSSRep and rhea, tools that outperform current methods for handling repeats and structural variants in metagenomic data. These methods use self-supervised learning and graph neural networks to analyze microbiome data, offering new insights into biological processes and potential applications in antibiotic resistance.
Researchers at Rice University have successfully synthesized a group of natural compounds known as fusicoccanes, exhibiting diverse biological activities. The study leverages modern organic chemistry and engineered enzymes to achieve the synthesis of complex molecules.
Researchers propose forming a network of sister cities to track and raise awareness about the spread of climate-related impacts and responses to urban disasters globally. This network aims to foster ideas and best practices for coping with consequences of climate change, including extreme weather events.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a novel fabrication process to create aligned peptide nanofiber hydrogels, which can guide cell growth in a desired direction. The study revealed that cells need to be able to 'pull' on the peptide nanofibers to recognize alignment, and excessive rigidity can prevent this.
Researchers used a new integrated wireless system to record brain activity in frontal areas of macaques' brains while they foraged. The results indicate that foraging strategies are based on a cortical model of reward dynamics.
Researchers will develop 'live' joints with biocompatible bone and cartilage grown from human cells, aiming to scale up the technology for commercial use. The project, valued at $47.7M, targets 40 patients within five years with knee replacements.
The Digitally programmable Over-brain Therapeutic (DOT) device, the size of a pea, activates the motor cortex, allowing patients to move their hands. The technology offers greater patient autonomy and accessibility than current neurostimulation-based therapies.
Megan Reiter, assistant professor of physics and astronomy at Rice University, has received a $951,446 NSF grant to study the influence of neighboring stars on planet formation. Her research aims to clarify key forces shaping planet formation by exploring interplay between stars, planets, and environments.
Researchers found a way to use heat to toggle a crystal between two electronic phases, storing qubits in topologically protected states that could reduce decoherence-related errors. The discovery may lead to the creation of flash-like memory capable of storing quantum bits of information.
Researchers at Rice University and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have found that chemical reactions can scramble quantum information, similar to black holes. This discovery could lead to new methods for controlling molecular behavior and improving the reliability of quantum computers.
Mark Torres' $612,930 grant aims to analyze variations in river water chemistry using machine learning approaches and bridge the gap between theory and practical application. The project will inform policy decisions and drive sustainable solutions for safeguarding our planet's waterways.
Researchers at Rice University have identified a protein responsible for the clustering of gas vesicles in bacteria, a discovery that could enable new biomedical applications. The team used genetic, biochemical, and imaging approaches to understand the patterning of these structures, which are found in certain microorganisms.
A Rice University research project aims to provide new insights into biological fibrillar nanostructures with potential implications for the treatment and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.
The Rice Emerging Scholars Program will expand its reach and impact with increased support for scholars from under-resourced families and communities. The program aims to empower students from low-income backgrounds to achieve their academic and professional aspirations in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Rice University engineers have demonstrated a way to control the optical properties of T centers, paving the way toward leveraging these point defects for building quantum nodes. By embedding a T center in a photonic integrated circuit, they increased the collection efficiency for single photon emission by two orders of magnitude.
A recent study by Rice University researchers found that undocumented immigrants and their families experienced significant mental health challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. The four main stressors identified were anti-immigrant rhetoric, family stressors, economic changes, and limited access to healthcare, which had major negativ...
A Rice University team, led by Wei Li, has received a $15.5 million grant to develop an ultra-fast silicon timing detector for the CMS experiment at the LHC. This technology will enable breakthrough science in heavy ion collisions and provide insights into the strong nuclear force.
Researchers at Rice University have developed an additive-free, water-based ink made of lignin and cellulose for producing architecturally intricate wood structures via direct ink writing. The new method exclusively uses nanoscale wood components for 3D printing, marking a significant advancement in the field.
A team of Rice University researchers has developed an analytical model that can predict the curing time of platinum-catalyzed silicone elastomers as a function of temperature. The model could help reduce energy waste and improve throughput for elastomer-based components manufacturing, enabling more efficient soft robotics design.
Researchers at Rice University have found a way to modify blood-glucose sensors to detect the anticancer drug afimoxifene. The breakthrough technology could enable the creation of universally applicable automated dosing systems for virtually any drug.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a custom-built miniaturized chemical vapor deposition (CVD) system that can observe and record the growth of 2D MoS2 crystals in real-time. Through advanced image processing and machine learning algorithms, they were able to extract valuable insights into the growth processes of these mater...
Rice University researchers have developed a transformative approach to harnessing the catalytic power of aluminum nanoparticles by annealing them in various gas atmospheres at high temperatures. This allows for modifying the structure of the oxide layer, making the nanoparticles versatile tools for different applications.
Nai-Hui Chia, an assistant professor of computer science at Rice University, has received a National Science Foundation CAREER Award to develop a new theoretical framework for efficient quantum algorithms. The grant aims to enhance the security of quantum cryptography and tackle complex problems in physics and machine learning.
Yonglong Xie, a Rice University assistant professor, has received an $888,555 NSF CAREER Award to explore magnon-based quantum technology. He aims to create synthetic matter and next-generation devices with unprecedented functionalities.
Rice researchers developed a rapid and accurate point-of-care malaria test that is 12 times faster and easier to use than traditional tests. The device can detect asymptomatic infections and predict disease outcomes, leading to early identification and treatment of severe cases.
Rice University researchers have developed a new, energy-efficient process to upcycle glass fiber-reinforced plastic (GFRP) into silicon carbide, widely used in semiconductors and sandpaper. The method involves heating the mixture of GFRP and carbon to extremely high temperatures, transforming it into conductive silicon carbide.
A team of Rice University researchers has developed a platform for integrating DNA and RNA data from single-cell sequencing with greater speed and precision. The method, MaCroDNA, relies on a classical algorithm to identify matching pairs of data and outperformed state-of-the-art technologies in accuracy measurements.
A new study by Rice University researchers found that mainstream Americans are feeling increasingly polarized, despite a decline in survey response rates. The study used the General Social Survey to gauge polarization and found that people's negative feelings toward the other party have increased over time.
Researchers found that widely used machine learning tools produce biased results for immunotherapy research, as they rely heavily on datasets from higher-income communities. This can lead to ineffective treatments for lower-income populations. The study highlights the need for accurate and unbiased data in machine learning models.
A study published in Nature tracked neural activity of freely moving macaques using wireless eye tracking and neural monitoring. The research found that the visual cortex plays an active role in social behavior by providing signals to the prefrontal cortex, enabling the decision to cooperate.
Assistant Professor Santiago Segarra at Rice University has won the NSF CAREER Award to develop a new approach for AI-powered climate prediction by leveraging structural properties in real-world data. The research aims to create more effective learning algorithms for structured domains.
Researchers at Rice University have mapped the diffusion of graphene and hexagonal boron nitride in an aqueous solution, a crucial step towards larger-scale production of these 2D materials. The study found that the size of the material affects its movement speed, with hexagonal boron nitride moving faster than graphene.
A new study from Rice University reveals that white students who acknowledge discriminatory behavior in STEM settings are more likely to intervene when their psychological standing is enhanced. Allyship plays a critical role in combating prejudice, particularly in STEM fields where minorities face significant barriers.
Researchers at Rice University have discovered a new material that exhibits both quantum correlations and geometric frustration, resulting in a unique flat band structure. This finding provides empirical evidence of the effect in a 3D material and has implications for understanding exotic features in materials science.
Researchers at Rice University have discovered a graphene-derived material that can serve as a substitute for sand in concrete, offering a potential solution to the looming 'sand crisis.' The study found that the graphene-based concrete is 25% lighter but just as tough as conventional concrete.