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Global warming: More insects, eating more crops

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.

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.

Gas-sensing drones draw NSF backing

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.

Nanotubes change the shape of water

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.

Rice U. lab finds evidence of matter-matter coupling

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.

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition is a durable star atlas for planning sessions, identifying targets, and teaching celestial navigation.

Reimagining MRI contrast: Iron outperforms gadolinium

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.

Love vine sucks life from wasps, leaving only mummies

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.

Natural disasters widen racial wealth gap

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.

Quantum bugs, meet your new swatter

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.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

ShareBackup could keep data in the fast lane

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.

Particles pull last drops of oil from well water

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.

Models give synthetic biologists a head start

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...

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Biomarkers link fatigue in cancer, Parkinson's

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.

Rice U. system selectively sequesters toxins from water

Rice University scientists develop technology to remove specific contaminants from drinking water and wastewater, reducing energy and cost. The system uses composite electrodes that selectively pull target ions, allowing for more efficient treatment and reuse.

Nanotube 'rebar' makes graphene twice as tough

Rice University researchers discovered that graphene reinforced with carbon nanotubes 'rebar' can withstand twice the stress of pristine graphene, making it more suitable for flexible electronics. The study demonstrated how rebar helps bridge cracks in graphene under strain.

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.

NSF backs strategy to reconstruct cancer cells' evolution

Rice University's Luay Nakhleh has received $1.5 million in grants from the NSF to develop algorithms that can infer evolutionary histories of tumor cells, helping researchers understand why some cancer cells spread and mutate differently.

Engineers track neural activity, muscle movement in ageless aquatic creatures

Engineers at Rice University have developed methods to study the neural patterns driving muscle movements in freshwater hydrae, a species that appears ageless and can regenerate its body parts. By analyzing neural activity and muscle responses, the team hopes to uncover similarities with other animals and gain insights into their nervo...

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.

Feds back Rice U. study of nanoscale electrocatalysis

The US Department of Energy awards Rice University researchers $1.1 million to develop single-particle spectroscopy techniques and analyze mechanisms to improve nanoparticle-based electrocatalysts. The goal is to fine-tune nanoscale electrocatalysts for future applications in various industrial processes.

Harvey samples saddled with antibiotic-resistant genes

Rice University researchers found widespread contamination by E. coli and high levels of antibiotic-resistant genes in water and sediment samples collected after Hurricane Harvey. These findings highlight the need for caution when handling stagnant floodwaters, especially for immunocompromised individuals or those with open wounds.

Researchers find new way to target flu virus

A team of researchers from Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine has discovered a weak link in the flu virus protein hemagglutinin that could be targeted by therapeutic drugs. By analyzing the protein's mechanism of attachment to host cells, they propose a new approach for developing universal vaccines.

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.

Sulfur analysis supports timing of oxygen's appearance

Researchers found that ancient rock sulfur isotope anomalies align in rivers eroding the rocks, supporting the timing of oxygen's appearance around 2.7 billion years ago. The balance suggests a robust oxygenation event, allowing for better understanding of complex life's emergence.

Lake bed reveals details about ancient Earth

Researchers found anomalous oxygen isotopes in an ancient Canadian lake bed, hinting at life on ancient Earth's surface. The study provides evidence of a lower gross primary production during the Proterozoic eon, shedding light on the evolution of life on Earth.

In borophene, boundaries are no barrier

Researchers at Rice and Northwestern universities discovered how different lattice arrangements of borophene can combine into new crystal-like forms, exhibiting metallic properties and unique electronic structure. The findings suggest potential applications in flexible and transparent electronic interconnects, electrodes, and displays.

Scientists to tap data networks' hidden powers

Researchers Ang Chen and Eugene Ng aim to optimize components along data streams to analyze big data efficiently. They plan to intelligently process and reduce data before it reaches servers, potentially generating partial answers.

Genetic adaptation allows rice to survive long-term flooding

A new study identifies the SD1 gene as responsible for the deepwater rice adaptation, which enables plants to rapidly grow taller to keep above floodwaters. This discovery highlights the intrinsic complexity of plant adaptation strategies and could offer solutions for breeding modern rice varieties to cope with climate change.

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

Rice plants evolve to adapt to flooding

Researchers at Tohoku University have identified a key gene responsible for deepwater rice's ability to thrive in flood conditions. The SD1 gene enables the plant to increase its height and accumulate ethylene, allowing it to ride out lengthy floods.

Fluorescent fish genes light path to neuroblastoma

A Rice University neurobiologist and cancer researcher has created a new type of zebrafish that produces fluorescent tags in migratory embryonic nerve precursor cells. The goal is to find the origins of neuroblastoma, which could potentially lead to treatments for cancers where SOX proteins play a role.

Genome's gyrations fit right into Rice University model

Researchers at Rice University have developed an energy landscape model that details the combination of forces driving nuclear motion in cells. The model, based on a protein folding algorithm, reveals the presence of dynamically associated domains and phase separation in chromatin segments.

In India, swapping crops could save water and improve nutrition

A study published in Science Advances suggests replacing rice with alternative crops like maize, finger millet, or sorghum could reduce irrigation water demand by 33 percent while improving iron and zinc production. However, more research is needed to evaluate the potential benefits on a case-by-case basis for each district.

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.

Host plants tell insects when to grow longer wings and migrate

Researchers found that host plant quality determines whether brown planthoppers grow short wings or long wings, with higher glucose levels triggering the development of long-winged adults. This discovery could lead to new methods for controlling the insect, a major pest on rice in Asia.

Study shows machine learning can improve catalytic design

A new study shows that combining machine learning and quantum chemistry can help chemical engineers at Rice University and Penn State find fundamental correlations in large amounts of data. This allows them to narrow down their search and design more efficient catalysts, which can translate into millions of dollars for companies.

Illinois study finds benefits and tradeoffs in feeding rice bran to pigs

A new study from the University of Illinois provides information on the effects of rice bran on growth performance and carcass quality of growing-finishing pigs. The results show that including 30% full-fat rice bran in diets improves gain-to-feed ratio without affecting carcass characteristics or meat quality.

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor tracks ventilation quality in labs, classrooms, and conference rooms with long battery life and clear e-ink readouts.

Feds back study of congenital heart disease

A team led by Jane Grande-Allen and Dr. Sundeep Keswani will develop computer models to predict DSS lesions in the left ventricular outflow tract, aiming to prevent fibrotic lesions and treat other cardiovascular diseases associated with altered flow.

DOE funds field test of Rice's solar desalination technology

Rice University's NESMD technology uses nanoparticles and sunlight to desalinate water in one step, reducing energy costs compared to traditional methods. The technology has shown promising results in laboratory-scale tests, with the potential for further optimization and scaling up for field testing.

Rice University's Ming Tang earns early career award

Ming Tang, a Rice University materials scientist, is awarded a $150,000 annual grant to study morphological instability mechanisms in electrodeposition of active metals. The goal is to apply the findings to next-generation rechargeable batteries for lithium, zinc, sodium, and potassium.

Boring barnacles prefer the shallow life on coral reefs

Researchers found that barnacle density decreases with depth and extent of coral cover, suggesting a preference for spreading out. This study provides insight into the importance of barnacles in reef erosion and their potential as indicators of reef health.

Cementless fly ash binder makes concrete 'green'

Researchers create environmentally friendly composite binder using fly ash, reducing carbon dioxide emissions and the need for sodium-based activators. The new binder replaces Portland cement in concrete production with minimal impact on compressive strength.

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

Sculpting with graphene foam

Researchers create 3D laser-induced graphene (LIG) foam with excellent performance in lithium-ion capacitors, exceeding graphite's theoretical limit. The process is easily scaled and scalable to complex shapes using a custom-built fiber lasing system.

A system purely for developing high-performance, big data codes

PlinyCompute is a system designed for developing high-performance big data codes, offering faster implementation of complex object manipulation and library-style computations compared to Spark. The platform was developed by Rice University's DARPA-funded Pliny Project team, which aims to create sophisticated programming tools using mac...

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.

DIY brings high throughput to continuous cell culturing

eVOLVER, an open-source system developed by Rice University, enables high-throughput continuous cell culturing using automated growth experiments. The system can support 96-chamber experiments and allows for real-time data tracking and monitoring of culture conditions, making it suitable for applications in synthetic biology and antibi...

Otago researchers help unlock answers about leptospirosis in Africa

Researchers have discovered that exposure to cattle and rice farming are risk factors for the devastating disease leptospirosis in northern Tanzania. Cattle and work in rice fields are associated with acute leptospirosis, suggesting that controlling Leptospira infection in livestock could play a role in preventing human infection.

Scientists go deep to quantify perovskite properties

Researchers at Rice University and Los Alamos National Laboratory developed a scale to measure exciton binding energy in perovskite quantum wells, enabling the design of efficient optoelectronic devices. This breakthrough could impact solar cells, LEDs, and other technologies.

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.

Letters of recommendation for women more likely to raise doubts

A new study found that letters of recommendation written for women are more likely to contain words or phrases that raise doubts about job or education qualifications. The researchers defined four categories of doubt-raisers: negativity, faint praise, hedging, and irrelevant information.

Simpler model gets to the point with proteins

Rice University researchers develop a molecular modeling framework that combines experimental data with coarse-grained simulations, enabling more accurate protein dynamics modeling. The technique reveals unanticipated molecular properties and can be scaled up to larger systems, reducing simulation time by hours.

Breeding better Brazilian rice

Researchers at Embrapa have developed improved rice varieties with increased yields and reduced plant height, allowing for more efficient use of resources. Over a 45-year period, grain yield improved by an average of 0.62-0.73% per year, resulting in thousands of pounds in increased yield for farmers.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

Risk assessment tools may increase incarcerations rates

A new study by Rice University sociologist Robert Werth suggests that risk assessment tools in the US parole system contribute to higher incarceration rates. The study found that these tools consider everyone a risk, leading to an environment where most people are supervised closely.

Neurons ripple while brains rest to lock in memories

Researchers from Rice University and Michigan Medicine developed a tool to analyze brain waves during periods of rest. They found that these ripples can be used to reconstruct memories of an environment, even when the animals were not actively exploring. The study provides new insights into how brains sort and store information.

A better statistical estimation of known Syrian war victims

Researchers from Rice University and Duke University developed a new method to accurately estimate the number of identified victims killed in the Syrian civil war. Using 'hashing with statistical estimation,' they produced real-time estimates with a lower margin of error than existing methods.

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.

Psychologists: Women are not to blame for the wage gap

Psychologists at Rice University argue that organizations must provide training, support, and opportunities for growth to eliminate the wage gap. The researchers highlight myths regarding the gap and offer suggestions for its elimination, including removing barriers, providing equal growth opportunities, and promoting diversity.

Flow in the asthenosphere drags tectonic plates along

New research by Rice University geophysicists reveals that the asthenosphere's convective cycling and pressure-driven flow can move faster than the tectonic plates on top of it. This challenges a long-held theory that the lithosphere moves independently of the asthenosphere.

Rice's nutritional value decreases in higher CO2 concentrations

A study found that rice grown under higher CO2 concentrations has lower nutritional value, particularly in protein, iron, zinc, and vitamin B content. This decrease may have significant implications for the health of populations relying heavily on rice as a primary food source.

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.

Increasing CO2 levels reduce rice's nutritional value

A new study found that increased CO2 levels in rice can lead to lower levels of four key B vitamins and reduced protein, iron, and zinc. The nutritional deficits could have a disproportionate impact on health outcomes in the poorest rice-dependent countries.