Articles tagged with Rice
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Rice University scientists discovered that salt reduces the temperature at which elements interact in a chemical vapor deposition furnace, making it easier to form atom-thin layers. This process allows for the creation of novel materials with customized properties.
Researchers detect Bloch-Siegert shift in strongly coupled light and matter, a phenomenon previously speculated but never observed. The discovery could lead to a greater understanding of theoretical predictions in quantum phase transitions and the development of robust quantum bits for advanced computing.
Rice University scientists introduce a new technique to fine-tune two-component biological sensors, enabling tailor-made biosensors for diagnostic gut bacteria and environmental pollutant detection. The approach uses phosphatase activity to alter the sensitivity of these pathways, promising a major breakthrough in synthetic biology.
Rice University's RENEW technology will underlie a city-scale wireless test platform in Salt Lake City, enabling researchers and developers to conduct tests with up to 40,000 users. The platform aims to prepare for the future of wireless communications, where scalability is crucial.
Researchers relax perovskite crystal to reduce strain and improve power conversion efficiency, achieving 20.5% efficiency with negligible degradation over 1,500 hours of operation.
Researchers at Penn State developed a microengineered slippery rough surface that surpasses current technology in water harvesting applications. The new surface combines the properties of pitcher plants and rice leaves, allowing it to collect tiny water droplets from air at a faster rate.
A survey of 502 individuals found that patients are more willing to undergo non-invasive dental procedures such as teeth cleaning and whitening performed by a robot. The promise of half-price dentistry increased participants' willingness to accept robotic dentistry, with only 32% opposed at full price.
Researchers assess whether extreme weather events like Hurricane Harvey impact invasive pests, pollinators and other species. The team evaluates changes in ant communities to determine if floods accelerated the invasion process by invasive fire ants and tawny crazy ants.
A new study reveals that hybrid chickadees have marked deficiencies in learning and memory compared to their pure species parents. This discovery provides a new mechanism by which hybrids can have low fitness, potentially leading to cascading effects on species apart.
Scientists at Rice University have developed a method to produce strong, lightweight graphite pellets without the need for high-temperature processing. The pellets exhibit good conductivity and stability in various conditions, making them suitable for applications such as conducting cables and electrodes.
The NEWT Center at Rice University has developed an energy-saving technology to remove pollutants from water. The polymer mat attracts hydrophobic contaminants, which are then destroyed by photocatalytic titanium dioxide under light exposure.
Research finds that living abroad leads to clearer career decision-making and increased self-concept clarity. The study, conducted by a team of social scientists at Rice University and other institutions, suggests that depth, not breadth, of international experiences enhances self-discerning reflections.
Research by IIASA researcher Narasimha Rao found that Indian diets can be improved to reduce micronutrient deficiencies while lowering greenhouse gas emissions. The study suggests that adopting a diet rich in coarse cereals, legumes, and green leafy vegetables can boost protein intake and reduce deficiencies.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a hydrogel that significantly accelerates wound healing in genetically diabetic rodents, promoting tissue growth and regeneration. The study's findings suggest that the hydrogel's cellular infiltration enhances wound closure rates, providing hope for improved treatment of diabetic ulcers.
Researchers discovered micron-scale particles linked to a magnetic field can self-assemble into swimming motion, replicating human breaststroke. The ability can be controlled with an eccentric magnetic field, allowing for potential use as drug-delivery vehicles or micro-robots.
Scientists at Rice University and Tokyo Metropolitan University developed a novel way to manipulate light at the quantum scale by using single-walled carbon nanotubes as plasmonic quantum confinement fields. The discovery could lead to the development of unique lasers and other optoelectronic devices.
A single gene, LGF1, has been discovered to control the surface properties of rice, making it superhydrophobic and enabling survival during flood events. The gene also confers drought tolerance by reducing evaporation from leaf surfaces.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a new 'white graphene' architecture that can store hydrogen with unprecedented capacity in boron nitride nanomaterials. The optimal design features a specific spacing and arrangement of boron nitride sheets and pillars, resulting in improved hydrogen absorption and release capabilities.
Researchers discovered that a hydrogel developed by the Rice University lab exhibits significant therapeutic properties, rapidly infiltrating host cells and promoting healing. The hydrogel can be delivered through a syringe and degrades over six weeks, leaving behind healthy tissue.
A Rice University study reveals a connection between dinosaur-era volcanoes and the formation of shale gas and oil fields. The research suggests that nutrient-rich ash from thousands of volcanic eruptions led to the creation of these deposits.
A new review paper by Eduardo Salas of Rice University found that team training can significantly improve health care outcomes, including reducing patient mortality by 13 percent. The research highlights the importance of incorporating considerations such as on-the-job skill building and simulations into team training.
Researchers successfully exfoliated gallenene onto various substrates, demonstrating its potential as an efficient metal contact in two-dimensional electronic devices. The method used to create the flat gallium could be explored for other metals and compounds with low melting points.
A new slow-release hydrogel has been developed to aid immunotherapy for cancer, providing a continuous dose of immunotherapy drugs to activate the immune system. The hydrogel, called STINGel, was tested in lab cultures and in vivo trials, showing promise in killing cancer cells and preventing further implantation of cancer cells.
The Rice team designs a thin, wide-field microscope that surpasses traditional microscopes in resolution and field of view. FlatScope eliminates the need for lenses, allowing for micrometer resolution over several cubic millimeters.
Physicists have discovered a way to create complex structures called Rydberg polarons using ultracold strontium atoms, which can be assembled like Lego blocks. The findings reveal new insights into the basic nature of matter and challenge traditional chemistry laws.
A Rice University-led team has been awarded $10 million by the NSF to create wearable and point-of-care microscopes that can monitor nearly 100 health conditions without invasive procedures. The technology aims to provide real-time, non-invasive imaging of tissues using on-chip illumination and sensing.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University are part of a $10 million program to develop a new type of camera that can peer deep beneath the skin to diagnose and monitor various health conditions. The camera uses computational scatterography to make sense of scattered light, enabling noninvasive bio-optical imaging at a cellular scale.
Researchers at the University of Illinois used a combination of traditional kick-seining and environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques to study the rare Faxonius eupunctus crayfish. They found the species most abundant in the middle part of its 30-mile range, with up to 35,000 cubic feet of water flowing by each second.
Rice University researchers will use the data to analyze how exposure to mixed toxins in the environment affects a population, especially children. The team aims to develop tools that can characterize environmental exposures, social stressors and residential stability to improve understanding of their impact on educational outcomes.
Researchers at Rice University have found that graphene catalysts contain trace amounts of manganese, which activates the oxygen reduction reaction and improves fuel-cell efficiency. The study used inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry to detect manganese atoms in samples made by the Rice lab.
Scientists developed a new approach to improve nitrogen use and promote flowering in rice by overexpressing the OsNRT1.1A gene. This led to increased yields of over 30% in field trials and accelerated maturation by one to two weeks.
Scientists at Rice University have successfully used CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing to repair 20-40% of stem and progenitor cells from patients with sickle cell disease. The study, led by bioengineer Gang Bao, aims to find a cure for the hereditary disease.
Rice University scientists have developed a technique to write graphene patterns onto various materials, including food, paper, and cloth. The new method uses laser-induced graphene (LIG) to create conductive identification tags and sensors that can be embedded into products.
A study by Rice University found that 80% of black and Latino Americans believe in the healing power of religious faith, while Korean-Americans see it as primarily supportive. The research aimed to understand the role of church in health promotion and explored how racial representation shapes distrust of medicine.
Researchers at Hokkaido University identified a single gene that causes hybrid sterility in rice, a major reproductive barrier between species. The discovery could help improve crop yields and address food shortages.
Rice University scientists have developed a stable and economical method to make polymers through photo-controlled atom-transfer radical polymerization. The process uses photosensitive quantum dots as a catalyst, which can be triggered by light sources such as the sun or a household lamp.
The Rice lab demonstrates energetic properties of colloids in spinning magnetic fields, gathering into disorganized aggregated clusters and then forming crystal-like regimes as the field strength increases. The researchers explore ways to model novel two-dimensional materials like tunable catalysts or colloids with changing surface areas.
Researchers discovered that disabling the Bsr-k1 gene in rice plants boosts their resistance to multiple diseases without compromising grain yield or weight. This breakthrough has significant implications for breeding disease-resistant rice varieties.
Researchers at Rice University have created a new type of gas sensor that can monitor microbes' health and activity in soil without disturbing them. The sensor uses genetically engineered microbes to report on their environment and activity, providing valuable data for bioengineers, geobiologists, and other researchers.
Researchers discovered that a specific mix of hydrogen bonds is critical to making strong and ductile infrastructure materials. The optimal overlap of oxygen and hydrogen atoms forms a network of weak hydrogen bonds that connects soft and hard layers.
Rice University researchers confirmed their theory on the mechanism behind a fluorescent biosensor that monitors neurons by sensing changes in voltage. They developed a method to test fluorescent biosensors using computer simulations, resolving a decade-long debate between scientists.
A team of researchers used wild rice as a 'canary in a coal mine' to discover sulfate's conversion into toxic sulfide, harming fish and ecosystems. Human activities like mining, sewage, and fertilizers release sulfate, which accelerates decomposition and increases mercury contamination.
Wild Australian rice's unique genetics hold the key to improving drought tolerance, pest resistance, and nutritional benefits in commercial rice production. The study reveals that northern Australia's wild rices contain valuable genetic diversity closely related to domesticated rice, which can be cross-bred for improved crop resilience.
Archaeologists at Rice University have discovered glass production in sub-Saharan Africa, challenging previous theories about the origins of glass technology. The findings suggest that glass was widely traded across West Africa and had a significant impact on regional dynamics.
Researchers have created a method to rapidly align and twist carbon nanotubes on a slide, producing short, high-strength fibers. The technique reduces production time from hours to minutes, enabling quicker testing and analysis of the fibers' properties.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a new ceramic material that combines the benefits of white graphene with calcium-silicates. The resulting composite has improved strength, toughness, and thermal conductivity, making it suitable for high-performance applications in construction, nuclear power plants, aerospace, and more.
Researchers develop a gene promoter library to precisely tune genetic inputs and outputs, allowing for the design of probiotics that can diagnose or fight disease. The toolkit enables the creation of non-leaky promoters that turn on as much as needed, opening new doors for fighting disease.
Researchers create virus-like nanoparticles that can detect and process environmental inputs, producing controllable outputs. The modified viruses can display multiple peptides on their surface, enabling efficient delivery of protein- or peptide-based therapeutics to specific cells or tissues.
Researchers at Rice University have optimized nanomaterials for fuel-cell cathodes, revealing that nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes and graphene nanoribbons can replace platinum to boost fuel cell efficiency. The study showed that the right balance of binding energy is crucial for good catalytic performance.
A new paper by experts at Rice University's Baker Institute finds geopolitical risks to US oil supply are at their lowest since the 1970s. Climate policies have enhanced oil security through greater fuel efficiency and alternative technologies.
Scientists at Rice and Swansea universities discovered that removing contaminants from carbon nanotubes enhances their conductivity. Vacuum annealing at high temperatures reduced surface contamination, allowing accurate resistance measurements. This breakthrough could lead to more consistent results in nanoscale devices.
Researchers at Rice University's NEWT Center have discovered a catalyst that converts nitrates into nitrogen and water, effectively removing the toxic pollutant from drinking water. This breakthrough offers a promising solution for addressing nitrate pollution in agricultural communities and improving public health.
Researchers at the Energy Safety Research Institute discovered that hard-to-remove contaminants like iron catalyst, carbon, and water can skew conductivity test results. Cleaning these contaminants using vacuum annealing or argon ion bombardment can improve measurement accuracy, but may also introduce defects that degrade conductivity.
A new study by Loris Ferrari examines the practical consequences of two entropy theories in small systems. The research finds that certain quantities can be measured experimentally to assess which theory is more accurate, resolving a long-standing debate between Ludwig Boltzmann and Willard Gibbs.
A new study by Rice University professor Xue Gao outlines a strategy using gene editing to slow the progression of genetic hearing disease. The research found that delivering RNA protein complexes into hair cells significantly increased hair cell survival rates and preserved hearing in rodents.
Researchers reveal OsMAPK3-OsbHLH002-OsTPP1 pathway enhances rice chilling tolerance by increasing trehalose content and activating cold signal transduction. OsbHLH002 is phosphorylated by OsMAPK3, reducing its ubiquitination and degradation.
Researchers predict creation of 'Weyl-Kondo semimetal,' a quantum material with unique properties, and demonstrate its existence through modeling. The discovery has significant implications for understanding high-temperature superconductivity and strongly correlated materials.
Rice University scientists found that porous particles of calcium and silicate show potential as building blocks for various applications. When assembled into micron-sized sheets and pellets, the arrays held up better under pressure, with bigger individual nanoparticles being 120% tougher than smaller ones.
A new study found that male professors gave over twice as many talks as female professors at top 50 US universities during the 2013-2014 academic year. Despite equal levels of perceived importance and acceptance rates for speaking invitations, male speakers dominated departmental talks.
Researchers have invented a device that uses fast-moving fluids to insert flexible, conductive carbon nanotube fibers into the brain, where they can help record neuronal signals. The microfluidic-based technique promises to improve therapies relying on electrodes.