Articles tagged with Rice
Physicists at Rice University have successfully cooled a neutral plasma using lasers, a technique that could lead to new insights into exotic states of matter and potentially even breakthroughs in quantum computing. The achievement sets the stage for simulators of super-dense stars like Jupiter and white dwarf stars.
Researchers at Rice University and the Duke University School of Medicine have identified JAG1 as a key player in tumor mechanics. The study shows how cancer stem cells differentiate within tumors and spread through the interaction of JAG1 with a signaling pathway, enabling metastasis.
Researchers create a rubbery, shape-shifting material that can morph into complex shapes at room temperature and change back when heated. The material shows promise for soft robots and biomedical applications requiring pre-programmed shapes at body temperature.
A new study by Rice University and other institutions reveals that UK scientists are significantly less religious than the general population. Elite scientists, particularly biologists, are more likely to never attend religious services.
Rice University scientists develop synthetic protein switches to control electron flow, enabled by chemical triggers. The discovery enables custom-designed switches for applications such as living sensors and electronically controlled metabolic pathways.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a method to transfer entire 2D circuits to any smooth surface, enabling the creation of atom-flat sensors that seamlessly integrate with devices. This breakthrough allows for the monitoring of performance without adding weight or hindering signal flow in optical fibers.
A study in Central America, Africa, and Asia finds that implementing simple climate-resilient strategies can increase yields, benefit the environment, and increase farmer income. The research proposes site-specific techniques, such as crop rotation and organic fertilization, which have estimated rates of return ranging from 17% to 590%.
Rice University engineers have developed a microfluidic device that can produce customizable, 'wet' foams in small amounts for various applications. The device creates large bubbles in the middle and two ranks of identical smaller bubbles along the edges, with the ability to control size distribution.
Researchers have discovered that rice plants can be used to clean runoff from farms before it enters waterways, capturing pesticides and reducing their presence in rivers and streams. The study found that levels of three common pesticides dropped by as much as 97% in fields where rice was planted.
Research highlights the presence of harmful toxins in common food items and water sources, including rice, barbecued meat, tap water, and toilets. Studies estimate high levels of arsenic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in rice and heat-processed meat, respectively.
Researchers at Rice University have discovered a way to control the output of gold nanoparticles using circularly polarized light. By changing the handedness of the light input, they found they could change the intensity of the scattered light by up to 50%, opening up new possibilities for ultrasmall optical components and antennas.
A study by Kyoto University found that microcredit programs in Bangladesh increased rice yield and overall crop farm income. Households also showed a higher adoption of hybrid and high-yield rice varieties. Additionally, there was a positive effect on cultivating owned land and livestock ownership.
Researchers at Georgia Tech discover that wok tossing is a critical aspect of cooking fried rice, involving two oscillating motions: translational and rotational. By understanding these motions, they aim to develop robotic designs for automated fried rice cooking.
Researchers propose that changes in Earth's spin axis, known as true polar wander, triggered the latest ice age about 12 million years ago. By analyzing fossil signatures and magnetic data from ocean sediments, they found evidence of a 3-degree shift in the planet's rotation axis, which may have led to the formation of thick ice sheets.
Researchers discovered a two-dimensional material that can become a magnetic topological insulator even without an external magnetic field. The material, chromium triiodide (CrI3), exhibits collective spin excitations called magnons, which behave similarly to photon waves.
The 'smart skin' technology uses fluorescing carbon nanotubes to reveal stress in aircraft, bridges, or pipelines over entire surfaces or microscopic levels. It enables two-dimensional mapping of accumulated strain that can't be achieved by other non-contact methods.
New research reveals that fall-applied residual herbicides can damage rice crop performance, with pyroxasulfone, S-metolachlor, and trifluralin causing greater injury than clomazone. Only clomazone is recommended for pre-plant applications to target glyphosate-resistant Italian ryegrass.
Rice University scientists have developed a new epoxy compound that combines graphene foam for improved conductivity and strength. The composite material is substantially tougher than pure epoxy and far more conductive, while retaining its low density.
Rice University engineers have developed flexible organic photovoltaics with improved mechanical properties, enabling them to withstand strains of up to 20%. The new material retains its efficiency and gains flexibility by incorporating a network of elastic additives.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a new technology that uses a moth-infecting virus and nanomagnets to deliver CRISPR/Cas9 payloads for gene editing. The therapy has the potential to treat genetic diseases such as sickle cell, muscular dystrophy, and cystic fibrosis.
A study published in Psychosomatic Medicine found that recent bereavement is associated with increased levels of inflammation and cardiovascular illness risk. Sleep disturbances exacerbated the negative effects of grief, highlighting the importance of addressing sleep issues in post-loss health interventions.
Rice University scientists have developed a simple and efficient method to attach drugs or substances to antibodies, which are central to the body's immune system. The technique, called pClick, uses non-canonical amino acids to bind to specific sites on antibodies without the need for re-engineering or harsh chemicals.
Researchers at Rice University have discovered the structure of the condensin protein complex, a ring-shaped protein that helps condense chromosomes. The finding settles a long-standing controversy over the mechanism by which the complex wrangles DNA, and provides insight into its activity during mitosis and cell life cycles.
A study by Rice University researchers found that Texas would be healthier with stronger limits on sulfur dioxide emissions from coal plants. The study analyzed 13 coal plants and concluded that particulate matter is the deadliest air pollutant, causing respiratory diseases, heart attacks, and strokes.
Researchers at Rice University have created high-powered, fast-charging lithium metal batteries using carbon nanotube films. The films effectively quench dendrite growth, allowing the batteries to retain 99.8% of their coulombic efficiency over 580 charge/discharge cycles.
Researchers at Rice University have discovered a link between tiny tremors on the Cascadia margin and fluid activity deep within the Earth's crust. The study reveals that these small quakes are related to slippage in the subducting plate, which releases fluids into sediments trapped beneath the overriding plate.
A new computational model, PRYSM, has been developed to interpret climate data from lake sediments, revealing that lake temperature proxies underestimated air temperature changes. The model is designed to compare paleoclimate data with climate model simulations, aiming to improve interpretations of past climate changes.
Researchers at Rice University have found a correlation between digital device use and the quality of first impressions. People who reported frequent media multitasking were more likely to be distracted by irrelevant information when making first impressions about someone they had never met.
A study from Rice University found that grief can cause inflammation leading to negative health outcomes such as cardiovascular problems and premature mortality. Researchers discovered that widows and widowers with elevated grief symptoms suffered higher levels of bodily inflammation.
Researchers found that increasing miR397 levels in domesticated rice plants resulted in traits similar to wild rice, including long stems and few flowering structures. Transgenic expression of the gene encoding miR397 partially de-domesticated rice, boosting grain production and improving resilience.
Matt Jones will use the grant to develop techniques in liquid cell transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to view chemical processes in real time at the atomic scale. He aims to capture video of nanocrystal synthesis, protein biofouling and catalysis itself.
A new study reveals that terahertz data links are not as secure as previously thought, and can be intercepted by clever eavesdroppers. Researchers found ways to steal signals without being detected, even with directional beams, by using objects like metal plates or cylinders to scatter the signal.
Rice University researchers are working to develop cell implants that can sense blood glucose levels and produce insulin on demand for Type 1 diabetes patients. The project aims to eliminate the need for patients to monitor their blood glucose and administer insulin shots, potentially leading to a cure for this autoimmune disease.
Rice University scientists develop micron-sized spheres that trap and destroy bisphenol A (BPA), a synthetic chemical used in plastics. The spheres utilize reactive oxygen species (ROS) to degrade BPA into harmless chemicals, showing 90% efficacy after just one hour.
Rice University researchers have created a new catalyst that can convert ammonia into hydrogen fuel at ambient pressure using light energy, significantly lowering the activation barrier. The catalyst, made of copper with trace amounts of ruthenium, uses plasmonic effects to enhance its efficiency.
Researchers have identified a rice strain with improved nutritional profile by thickening its aleurone layer. The mutation of the OsROS1 gene responsible for this change offers a strategy to enhance nutritional value in rice and other cereal crops.
Researchers create spheres that can be made at low cost and promise to mitigate the energy-intensive techniques now used to make cement. The spheres are suitable for various applications, including bone-tissue engineering, insulation, ceramic, and composite materials.
According to a study by Rice University data scientists, the number of groups and organizations an individual joins is crucial in forming online friendships. The researchers found that individuals who are active in multiple communities have a higher chance of meeting people with similar interests.
Scientists created a comprehensive guide to the optical properties of 2D materials, enabling the design of smaller devices and polarizing filters. The research revealed surprising optical signatures in each material, with some absorbing or reflecting specific wavelengths of light.
A cross-disciplinary team led by Rice University will investigate the formation of life-essential elements in rocky planets during their early evolution. The CLEVER Planets project aims to understand how these elements survive turbulent periods and ultimately lead to habitability, with a focus on rocky worlds beyond our solar system.
A new study finds that rice farms emit 45 times more nitrous oxide than continuously flooded farms, which also predominantly emit methane. The authors call for scientists to map flooding regimes and measure emissions, as well as optimize water use to reduce climate impacts.
A study reveals that intermittent flooding in rice cultivation leads to higher nitrous oxide emissions, potentially up to 30-45 times higher than continuous flooding. Co-management of water, nitrogen, and carbon can reduce climate impacts by 10-90%.
Researchers from Rice University's Laboratory for Nanophotonics studied plasmons in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with fewer than 50 atoms. They found that these molecules can support molecular plasmons in the visible spectrum, offering a new area of research at the intersection of plasmonics and molecular chemistry.
Researchers used ultracold lithium atoms to verify a theory predicting collective behavior in one-dimensional wires. The study confirmed the predicted speed of charge waves and spin waves as a function of interaction strength, setting the stage for further investigation into strongly correlated electron physics.
The Rice University graduate-level bioelectronics program aims to develop technologies at the cell/material interface, focusing on light-harvesting systems and implantable devices. The five-year program will train students from various departments to tackle bioelectronics challenges collaboratively.
Researchers project that insect activity will increase along with temperatures, boosting worldwide losses of rice, corn and wheat by 10-25 percent. For a 2-degree Celsius rise in surface temperatures, median losses in yield due to insect activity would be 31% for corn, 19% for rice and 46% for wheat.
Rising global temperatures will lead to increased pest pressure and crop losses, especially in temperate regions, with wheat, rice, and maize facing substantial declines. Crop losses are projected to rise by 10-25% per degree of warming, with the most severe impacts expected in countries like France and China.
Rice University researchers have developed a fleet of autonomous aerial drones that can coordinate to detect and track airborne pollutants. The system, called ASTRO, will use real-time data to alert neighborhoods of hazardous conditions following extreme weather events.
Rice University engineers discovered that weak van der Waals forces between nanotubes and water molecules can align into a square rod. The research provides valuable insight on ways to leverage atomic interactions for fabricating nanochannels and energy-storing nanocapacitors.
Researchers at Rice University have discovered the first example of Dicke cooperativity in a matter-matter system, which could lead to faster information processing and lower power consumption. The discovery uses a magnetic field to prompt cooperativity among spins within a crystalline compound made primarily of iron and erbium.
Rice University scientists create iron-based TI contrast agent that outperforms gadolinium chelates, improving T1 MRI contrast performance by two-fold. The study demonstrates a method to load iron into nanoparticles, offering a safer and more effective alternative for radiologists.
Biologists at Rice University have discovered a new trophic interaction between love vines and gall-forming wasps. The study found that the vines attack tumor-like growths called galls made by the wasps, leaving behind mummified adult wasps.
Research from Rice University and the University of Pittsburgh finds that damage from natural disasters and FEMA aid increases wealth inequality between races in the US. Whites accumulate more wealth after disasters, while residents of color accumulate less, leading to an increase in racial wealth gaps.
A Rice University scientist has developed a new method to diagnose quantum computers, reducing the need for expensive measurements. This approach uses compressed sensing to minimize data while ensuring accurate results, making it possible to validate even large-scale systems.
The ShareBackup system uses fast switches and software to take over network traffic after a failure, minimizing downtime for applications. It can analyze problems, including misconfigurations, and diagnose faulty devices, helping data centers optimize their networks.
Rice University scientists have created a magnetic nanoparticle compound that efficiently separates crude oil droplets from produced water. The nanoparticles are attracted to the magnet and bind to the oil, allowing for easy separation. This solution could be valuable for industry and offshore oil rigs.
A new chemical compound has been developed and tested by scientists at the University of Huddersfield, which attracts vulnerable cancer cells while leaving healthy cells untouched. The compound contains ruthenium and is showing promising results in laboratory tests.
Researchers at Rice University and the University of Houston created models to predict the output of custom-built genetic circuits, enabling unprecedented precision in programming microorganisms. The models can be used to design microbes for complex environments, such as the gut microbiome or soil, and improve the controllable manufact...
A new study from Rice University links biological markers for cancer-related exhaustion to fatigue in Parkinson's disease, highlighting potential targets for treatment. Researchers found elevated levels of inflammatory biomarkers in patients with Parkinson's who experienced fatigue, similar to those seen in cancer patients.
Researchers found local distortions in the crystal lattice of an iron pnictide compound at ultracold temperatures near optimal superconductivity. These distortions indicate a 'nematic quantum critical point' where nematic phases compete with superconductivity, potentially aiding its development.