Research on rice as a crop and staple food. Covers fertilizer and emissions trade-offs, biochar and heavy metals, and heat resilience.
Researchers at Rice University have developed flexible nanotube film antennas that match the efficiency of copper, but with improved flexibility and thinner dimensions. The new material could enable lighter, stronger, and more resistant antennas for various applications including 5G networks and aerospace.
A study by Rice University researchers found that people selling items on online resale websites tend to favor buyers from wealthier areas. The findings suggest that geographic location plays a significant role in shaping interactions and outcomes in mundane settings, revealing the far-reaching effects of segregation.
Researchers have created a new type of hydrogel that can grow new tissue to heal wounds, eliminating the need for external growth factors. The hydrogels are made with biomolecules anchored in crosslinkers and can be mixed at room temperature.
A new study uses CRISPR-Cas9 to repair the sickle cell mutation in patients' hematopoietic stem cells, boosting their own protective fetal hemoglobin. The approach showed promising results, with up to 40% of edited cells fixed and a significant increase in fetal hemoglobin expression.
A study by Virginia Tech researchers reveals that lithium-ion battery electrode failure is caused by the heterogeneity of individual particles, leading to inefficiencies in charging. The team used a synchrotron X-ray method to produce results and identified problems with batteries today, including uneven charging rates.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a cheap and clean method to handle carbon nanotubes, improving lab safety. The protocol involves proper attire, containment systems, and efficient transfer procedures, making it possible for labs to safely work with these materials on a large scale.
Researchers at Rice University have created a material that generates electricity from movement, enabling the creation of wearable devices powered by human activity. The triboelectric effect is used to harness energy from contact and separation between materials, producing enough power to charge small capacitors.
Rice University nanoscientist Naomi Halas has been selected as the winner of the 2019 ACS Nano Lectureship Award for the Americas. She will present her award lecture at ChinaNano, an international conference on nanoscience and technology.
A new study warns that Colombia's rice production may shift to higher altitudes without climate action, with potential losses of 4.4 million hectares of arable land by the 2050s. The research highlights the need for complex decisions on land-use change and crop cultivation to ensure food security.
Rice University researchers have successfully grown a unique form of iron oxide with strong magnetic properties that is easy to stack atop other 2D materials. The material, epsilon iron(III) oxide, shows promise as a building block for exotic nanoscale structures that could be useful for spintronic devices and electronic applications.
A Rice University study found that years of home-schooling do not appear to influence the general health of children. Instead, better sleep patterns and diet habits help counteract any shortfalls in physical fitness through outside activities.
Researchers have created a system that can systematically rewire two-component systems in bacteria, allowing them to identify the function of an unknown sensor. This technology has wide-ranging implications for medical diagnostics, pathogen study and environmental monitoring.
New experiments by US, Chinese and European physicists have found iron selenide's magnetic properties are highly anisotropic, like other iron superconductors. The material's structure and electronic behavior are surprisingly similar to those of other iron-based superconductors.
A Rice University-led team is developing a headset technology that can directly link the human brain and machines, aiming to transmit visual images from one individual to another's mind. The project, funded by $18 million, plans to demonstrate direct, brain-to-brain communication at the speed of thought without surgery.
Rice University's NASA-funded TuLIPSS project develops a portable spectrometer that can capture hyperspectral data instantly, unlike current systems that scan line-by-line. The device, called TuLIPSS, uses optical fibers to deliver image components to a detector and customize the balance of spectral and spatial data.
A nanocomposite combining polymer nanofibers and boron nitride nanosheets offers high strength and superior thermal conduction, allowing it to withstand harsh environments. The material acts as an effective heat sink up to 250 degrees Celsius.
Scientists at the University of Toledo discovered that rice husks can remove microcystin, a toxin released by harmful algal blooms, with up to 95% efficiency. The treatment uses organic rice husks treated with hydrochloric acid and heated to 250 degrees Celsius.
Scientists from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and Rice University have discovered that the chemical nature of surface molecules affects plasmon resonance in metal nanoparticles. This finding could lead to new methods for harnessing light-driven processes like photocatalysis.
Researchers develop a new bioprinting technology that can create complex vascular networks, mimicking the body's natural passageways. This breakthrough enables the creation of exquisitely entangled structures for 3D printing replacement organs, potentially addressing the need for organ transplants.
Researchers found indica rice varieties had more bacteria associated with nitrogen metabolism, leading to higher nitrogen-use efficiency. The study established a model using random-forest machine-learning approach and identified NRT1.1B as key factor in root microbiota composition.
An international study found that countries with high rice consumption have lower obesity levels, even after adjusting for other risk factors. The researchers estimate that increasing average rice intake could reduce the worldwide prevalence of obesity by 1%.
Scientists at Rice University and their collaborators have discovered coal-derived 'dots' that are effective antioxidants for people who suffer traumatic brain injuries, strokes or heart attacks. The biocompatible dots can quench oxidative stress and protect cells from damage, offering a potential treatment option.
Physicists at Rice University have reported the first direct observation of two-neutrino double electron capture for xenon 124, a process that decays into tellurium 124 with an estimated half-life of 160 trillion years. This discovery puts the half-life closer to 18 sextillion years, challenging our understanding of this isotope.
Researchers have developed a system that allows living cells to perform analog-to-digital signal processing, enabling precise control over cellular responses. This breakthrough expands the toolkit for synthetic biologists, who can now use genetic circuitry to process complex signals and make informed decisions.
Researchers found that IPOs lead to an increase in home prices and consumer spending in surrounding areas, with each $10 million in proceeds generating 0.7 new businesses and 41 new local jobs. However, IPO activity can also lead to gentrification and price out middle-to-lower-income residents.
Researchers in Bangladesh found a way to reduce inorganic arsenic in rice by modifying parboiling methods, resulting in a 25% reduction and a 213% increase in calcium content. This new method also reduces potassium levels by 40%.
Researchers develop a new method to create detailed structural models of proteins using force-driven simulations, reducing computational power requirements. The technique, inspired by metallurgy, allows for faster computation and more accurate results than existing approaches.
Scientists at Rice and Northwestern universities have developed a method to image and characterize 2D borophene crystals, which can exhibit unique lattice configurations that determine their characteristics. The research could help manufacturers incorporate borophene into products with desirable electronic, thermal, optical properties.
A study of 400,000 camera-trap records from 36 mammal species on three continents found that tropical mammals respond to changing local temperatures and other species nearby. Temperatures did not increase drastically overall during the study period, but micro habitat use changed over time due to temperature fluctuations.
Rice University engineers employ neural networks to rapidly model the characteristics of new 2D materials, significantly reducing computational time. The technique enables accurate predictions with minimal data, facilitating bottom-up design and discovery.
Actuarial risk assessments can reduce inconsistencies, but also reproduce class-based and race-based inequalities. The use of proprietary algorithms raises questions of transparency and fairness.
Researchers found that weedy rice has evolved a root growth strategy that minimizes below-ground contact with other plants, allowing it to exploit the nutrient-sharing soil environment of rice fields. This 'cheater' root trait enables weedy rice to outcompete cultivated rice for essential nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorous.
Research from Rice University links digital device overload to obesity risk, finding media multitasking associated with increased susceptibility to food temptations and lack of self-control. The study suggests a possible link between media multitasking, higher body mass index, and greater percentage of body fat.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a new method for recycling spent lithium-ion batteries using an environmentally friendly deep eutectic solvent. The solvent successfully extracted over 90% of cobalt and significant amounts of lithium from powdered compounds and used batteries, making it a promising approach to curtail hars...
Researchers at Rice University discovered that PTFE stir bars react with chemicals in an unexpected way, affecting the modification of nanotubes. This discovery highlights the importance of choosing inert materials in laboratory settings.
Scientists have named five new species of tiny frogs found across the island of Madagascar, belonging to the 'narrow-mouthed' frog family. These miniature frogs are remarkable for their extreme miniaturization, with some species reaching lengths as small as 7.7 mm.
Researchers at Rice University have created 3D-printed scaffolds that can mimic the physical characteristics of osteochondral tissue, a hard bone beneath a compressible layer of cartilage. The scaffolds are designed to promote healing and potentially treat common sports injuries.
A newly discovered mechanism in plant nutrition could help achieve higher harvests in a sustainable way. The study found that the balance between nitrogen and phosphorus is crucial for crop yield, with nitrogen controlling phosphate absorption.
Researchers discovered that genes respond differently to individual amounts of water and nitrogen versus their combination. This finding has implications for engineering crops that can thrive in dry or nutrient-poor soils, which could increase global food production.
A recent study of child-feeding habits among Marshallese in Arkansas found high compliance with medical standards for breastfeeding infants, but also reliance on rice and processed foods. Researchers identified economic and cultural barriers to incorporating fruits and vegetables into the diet.
A 64-year-old woman developed acute liver injury after taking red yeast rice supplement for six weeks. The supplement contains monacolin K, a chemical found in lovastatin, which carries the same risk of liver damage as statin medication. Doctors warn that more regulation is needed to prevent harmful side effects.
Researchers at Rice University and Austria's Vienna University of Technology shatter ultracold BECs, revealing two distinct phenomena depending on the frequency of shaking. The team observes grains of varying sizes in some experiments, attributed to quantum correlations that challenge standard theories.
Researchers at Rice University discovered that molecules on the surface of gold nanorods induce dipoles, scattering enough energy to dampen plasmon signals. This finding enhances catalysis applications and challenges previous explanations for signal loss via plasmon damping.
Researchers at Rice University suggest that fluctuating growth rates of bacteria can increase the time it takes to eradicate a bacterial infection, giving the surviving bugs a better chance to develop resistance. This approach could lead to more accurate dosing and improved treatment outcomes.
Researchers developed a technique to grow live bone in the rib area using 3D-printed bioreactors and stem cells. The new method aims to replace current reconstruction techniques that use harvested bone tissues from different areas, promoting natural healing powers.
Rice University researchers developed a novel molecular sieve that can remove perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) from polluted water more efficiently and effectively than current technologies. The nanomaterial features random, large-pore defects that improve its adsorption capacity and fast-adsorption kinetics.
A Rice University study found that a B12-deficient diet harms nematodes' health, reducing their ability to metabolize branched-chain amino acids and leading to mitochondrial damage. This increase in mitochondrial toxicity also enhances resistance to multiple stressors and pathogens.
A study by University of Pennsylvania sociologists found that high-income residents moving into tech-enabled neighborhoods increase carbon emissions, displacing low-income populations. The research highlights the need for affordable housing and sustainable planning to counteract gentrification's negative effects.
Researchers found that stem cells are sensitive to the speed of signaling molecule delivery, not just its concentration. This discovery highlights the dynamic interactions between morphogens and cells during embryonic development, allowing for more precise control over cell fates and potentially leading to new ways to drive cellular di...
A Rice University study reveals that students who look more racially stereotypical are more likely to persist in STEM fields, while those who do not fit the mold face higher drop-out rates. Asian students who look more like their racial group are more likely to complete a STEM degree, but black students who do so are less likely.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a theory explaining why monolayer crystal islands align on vicinal substrates, allowing for large-scale growth of 2D materials like graphene and h-BN. The 'digital filter' mechanism helps to overcome small indentations in the steps, enabling seamless merging of the crystals.
Rice physicists propose experiment to measure fractionalization in ultracold atoms, mimicking electrons in quantum materials. Theoretical framework could provide new insights into high-temperature superconductivity and quantum computing.
Researchers discovered that the WNT signaling pathway is more dynamic than previously thought, with different cell types responding differently to the same signals. They found that cells can tune the dynamics of this pathway to perform different functions in different contexts.
A new study from Rice University found that people with non-visible stigmas, such as sexual orientation or health problems, who live openly at work are happier and more productive. Workers who expressed their stigmas experienced decreased job anxiety, improved job satisfaction, and increased commitment to their position.
Two Rice University faculty members, Mark Torres and Ming Yi, have been selected as 2019 Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellows for their work in ocean sciences and physics. The fellowships provide $70,000 in funding to support fundamental research by early-career scientists.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a new PUF technology that provides a leap in reliability for IoT devices. The technology uses microchip physical imperfections to produce unique security keys, making it ideal for authentication and encryption.
Rice University scientists have developed a method to produce valuable gold nanowires from short particles using vitamin C. The process, which is fully controllable and reversible, allows for the production of nanowires of any desired length, making them suitable for sensing, diagnostic, imaging, and therapeutic applications.
Rice University physicist Kaden Hazzard has won a National Science Foundation CAREER Award to create algorithms that aim to advance the creation of novel quantum matter. He will investigate new ways to simulate states of matter at extreme cold temperatures, as close as possible to absolute zero.
Genevera Allen, a Rice University statistician, emphasizes the need for machine learning systems to question their predictions and assess uncertainty. She argues that current ML techniques often rely on uncorroborated data-driven discoveries, leading to reproducibility issues in fields like precision medicine.
Rice University researchers have developed a method to capture 4D data using 2D microscopes, enabling scientists to visualize molecules' locations and movements in living cells. The technique uses custom phase masks to manipulate light and separate spatial and temporal information.