Research on rice as a crop and staple food. Covers fertilizer and emissions trade-offs, biochar and heavy metals, and heat resilience.
Researchers found that the length of repeating polyglutamine sequences contained in proteins is critical to the onset of disease, with aggregation beginning only when chains reach 36 repeats. The study sheds light on how mutations and protein structure influence disease severity.
The Light Plate Apparatus (LPA) brings optogenetics within reach of most biology labs with low-cost, easy-to-use hardware and software. Researchers can now incorporate optogenetics testing into their labs without extensive engineering or programming training.
Researchers at Rice University and the University of Graz successfully drove single-molecule nanoroadsters using light, demonstrating a new method for propulsion. The vehicles, made of 112 atoms, reached a top speed of 23 nanometers per hour and showed wavelength sensitivity.
A computational model helps biologists predict minimal mutations for efficient reprogramming of signaling proteins, expanding the landscape for two-component systems in bacteria. The model connects interaction specificity and promiscuity, enabling researchers to design novel interactions.
A majority of British scientists who mentioned Richard Dawkins during research interviews reject his public engagement approach, feeling he misrepresents science and its norms. The study's findings emphasize the importance of promoting science over personal attacks to effectively communicate scientific knowledge.
Research by Rice University finds that consumers with a local identity are more willing to pay more for goods and services, even when the country of origin is unknown. This suggests that companies can increase revenue without lowering prices or modifying products by triggering a sacrifice mindset in customers.
Rice University scientists have discovered a new material that can store large amounts of hydrogen efficiently, making it suitable for next-generation green cars. The pillared boron nitride and graphene hybrid outperforms other materials in terms of surface area and recyclable properties.
Researchers found that voters perceive enhanced security measures as more secure than systems with fake security elements. Participants also reported increased confidence in the voting system when it included robust security features.
The new CaPSuLe system calculates locations in under 2 seconds with over 92% accuracy, consuming less than 4 joules of energy. It uses machine learning and inexact computing to address issues of privacy, computations, and energy.
Rice University scientists fire micro-cubes at a target to rearrange their nanoscale structures, creating ultrastrong and tough materials. The technique, known as LIPIT, uses advanced laser-induced projectile impact testing to generate high pressure that far exceeds the material's strength.
A Rice University-led team demonstrates how to improve the quality of simulations run on supercomputers by using inexact computing methods, which can reduce energy costs and maintain accuracy levels. The approach allows for significant improvements in solution quality within a fixed energy budget.
Rice University scientists found polymer chains in common carbon fibers can misalign during manufacture, weakening the product. They suggest ways to improve the fiber's strength, including starting with graphene nanoribbons.
A new study from Rice University found that individuals with low socio-economic status as children are more likely to experience poor health in adulthood. The researchers discovered a correlation between early adversity and biological capacity to regulate emotions, which can lead to compromised adult health.
Researchers at Rice University have received a $2 million NIH grant to create a library of programmed bacteria that can produce therapeutic drugs on-site in response to dietary triggers. The project aims to advance the development of a biological control system for safely and effectively turning bacteria on and off.
Rice University's Chao Center for Asian Studies has received a $150,000 federal grant to boost its Asian studies programs. The grant will support the development of new courses, teacher workshops, and speaker series aimed at enhancing teaching and public outreach.
Researchers at Rice University have created a laser-free, wireless system capable of delivering 1 terabit of data per second using pulse-radio technology inspired by Guglielmo Marconi. This breakthrough technology promises to revolutionize wireless communication with speeds 20,000 times faster than current 4G networks.
Rice University researchers have discovered a way to subtly change the interior structure of semi-hollow nanorods, altering their interaction with light. This method could form the basis of a nanoscale switch with enormous potential.
Rice University scientists are building a tool to detect and quantify genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the environment. The technology uses light transmission spectrometry to identify DNA or proteins from engineered crops and animals, which can have unintended consequences on ecosystems.
Researchers at Rice University have found a new, wavy two-dimensional material called borophene that could be ideal for creating flexible electronic devices. The material has excellent conductivity and can stretch without losing its electronic properties.
Rice University scientists use computer simulations to model the energy landscape of amyloid beta protein aggregation, a key step in Alzheimer's disease progression. The research predicts that specific sequences on protein molecules interact to form toxic oligomers.
Rice researchers detail previously unexplored aspects of cement's crystalline nature, which affects the energy required to make it and greenhouse gas emissions. By fine-tuning its components, they hope to save energy and reduce carbon emissions in concrete manufacturing.
A team of scientists has identified the African origin of the black grains grown by Suriname Maroons, tracing back to Mande-speaking farmers in Western Ivory Coast. The study combines ethnobotanic, historic and genetic research to uncover the migration history of people and crops.
A team at Rice University is creating a haptic cueing system that provides real-time vibration feedback to medical students during endovascular surgeries. The system aims to improve the smoothness of tool movements, reducing errors and improving training efficiency.
Researchers develop a new method to make ultra-lightweight materials for spacecraft and satellites using high-velocity impact. By crushing nanotubes against a target, they produce diamond-like structures with extraordinary mechanical properties, enhancing the resilience of these critical components.
A study by Rice University researchers proposes that the origin of Earth's volatile elements, including carbon, can be explained by a massive collision between Earth and an embryonic planet similar to Mercury. This collision may have led to the exclusion of carbon from Earth's core and its incorporation into the silicate mantle.
A new study reveals that warmer, wetter climate conditions in California would impair grassland productivity. The research found that average conditions from the past 40 years are near optimal for grass production, and any significant deviation toward warmer or wetter conditions will cause land to be less productive.
Researchers have developed a porous, highly compressive 3D graphene material suitable for bone implants, demonstrating its potential as a replacement for titanium. The technique uses spark plasma sintering to weld nanoscale graphene sheets, producing materials with high mechanical strength and biocompatibility.
Researchers found that group extinction significantly increases cooperation within groups, with contributions averaging 92% of the endowment. This effect persists even after removal of the selection mechanism, suggesting that the threat of group extinction is a powerful motivator for cooperation.
A team of NYU scientists will investigate how rice adapts to salty soil conditions under a $4 million NSF grant. They aim to identify genes that enable plants to thrive in saline environments, with potential implications for breeding more resilient crops.
Researchers successfully merge light and matter, creating a new condensed matter state with strongly coupled electrons. The discovery could advance technologies like quantum computers and communications by revealing new phenomena in cavity quantum electrodynamics.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a recipe to make carbon capture materials the best they can be. Experiments showed that once a sorbent material achieved a surface area of 2,800 square meters per gram, neither more surface area nor larger pores made it more efficient at capturing carbon dioxide.
A research program at Rice University aims to create software that uses students' highlights to improve their comprehension and knowledge retention. The team plans to analyze volunteers' highlights for clues about their understanding of the text and conduct laboratory experiments to develop new software.
The LEGATO project has provided guidelines for optimizing rice ecosystem functions and services, with a focus on the socio-cultural context. Research on Silicon application has shown its potential to improve rice yields, while recommendations have been made for farmers and practitioners on managing decomposition driven by invertebrates.
Graphene nanoribbons exhibit properties similar to those of biological materials when in solution, forming folds and loops. The researchers found that their rigidity increases as oxide molecules are removed, making them suitable for designing and fabricating GNR-biomimetic interfaces.
An international research team identified a signal peptide required for awn elongation in wild rice and found its dysfunction in cultivated Asian rice. The study suggests human selection pressure led to the loss of this peptide's function, resulting in awnlessness.
The study aims to determine the health needs of children within HISD through a three-year analysis of physical, social, and mental health. The researchers will use online questionnaires, focus groups, and community-based participatory research to gather data on 250 schools.
Researchers found that cracks tend to follow the path of least resistance and turn towards voids or portlandite particles, sapping energy from them. This interaction regulates competing deformation mechanisms, leading to increased strength and toughness.
Researchers at Rice University have created a method for producing extremely pure levoglucosan, an organic compound with potential applications in pharmaceuticals and synthetic chemistry. The team's process is more economical and operationally simpler than existing methods, offering new possibilities for the production of LGA.
Rice University bioengineer Junghae Suh has been awarded a prestigious R01 grant to research the use of viral gene therapy to fight ovarian cancer. The grant will help Suh and her lab adapt viruses to recognize extracellular enzymes overexpressed by ovarian-cancer tumors and deliver therapeutic genes to diseased cells.
A new U of T Scarborough study identified rice varieties that can reduce nitrogen waste and minimize environmental pollution. The research found that certain chemicals produced by the roots of these crops can significantly reduce nitrogen capture inefficiencies in soil microbes.
Rice University scientists detect thermal boundary that hinders ultracold experiments, requiring clever measurement techniques to overcome. The researchers found that cooling substrates reduced temperature increases, but thermal boundary resistance remained a major issue.
Researchers have uncovered evidence of ancient rice DNA, shedding light on the origins of domesticated rice species japonica and indica. The study suggests that indica rice was historically cultivated in East Asia or imported to the region, contradicting traditional assumptions about its exclusive presence in northern parts of East Asia.
Scientists at Rice University found a phonon band gap in spider silk, enabling the material to block certain frequencies of sound waves. This discovery has implications for creating tunable, dynamic metamaterials with novel sound or thermal insulation properties.
Researchers at Rice University have found that ultra-flat circuits made from 2D materials exhibit distinct electronic characteristics compared to traditional components. The discovery has significant implications for the development of new electronics designs, including photovoltaic applications and transistors.
A study by Rice University and MD Anderson Cancer Center found significant differences in adherence to recommended cancer treatment for elderly patients across 22 Texas hospital referral regions. Regional variations in treatment rates persist despite the presence of treatment specialists and teaching hospitals.
Researchers have created a titanium-gold alloy that is four times harder than most steels, making it an ideal material for artificial knee and hip joints. The alloy's improved hardness and biocompatibility are due to its unique crystal structure, which is resistant to wear and tear.
Edward Nikonowicz will investigate a gene-regulating switch that could lead to the development of new antibiotics, targeting Bacillus anthracis bacteria.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a new method for uniting light-harvesting photonic nanomaterials with high-efficiency metal catalysts. The 'antenna-reactor' design produces a significant improvement in selectivity, turning a poison into a valuable commodity and offering potential energy savings and improved efficiency.
Researchers have created gas biosensors that enable real-time monitoring of microbial gene expression in soil samples, allowing for the study of horizontal gene transfer and its impact on environmental processes. The technique has the potential to improve crop growth through more efficient watering and fertilizer use.
A new study from Rice University found that patients' self-rated health is a strong predictor of morbidity and mortality, even stronger than blood tests and measurements. The researchers linked low self-rated health to high levels of herpesvirus activity and inflammation, which are associated with poor cellular immunity and disease.
Researchers at UMass Amherst have partnered with Chemists Without Borders to create a low-cost test kit for measuring arsenic in rice crops. The team hopes the kit will provide consumers with information on exposure and encourage protective measures, such as rinsing or choosing different varieties.
Researchers at Rice University have developed 'rivet graphene', a two-dimensional carbon material with enhanced strength and conductivity. The new material uses nanotubes to reinforce its structure, making it suitable for flexible and transparent electronics.
A recent study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology found that team training can significantly improve healthcare outcomes, including reducing patient mortality by 15% and medical errors by 19%. Team training has been shown to enhance communication, cooperation, and problem-solving skills among healthcare staff.
A study by Rice University researchers found that religious identification dampens the negative effect of political conservatism on environmental consumption. The data showed a smaller gap between liberal and conservative pro-environment consumers among the very religious, challenging stereotypes about religion and environmental care.
The new research training group will develop scientists with combined education in statistics and computer science to address complex data science challenges. The three-year program aims to integrate students from various disciplines, including machine learning, into a collaborative environment.
A new molecule, rhenium dipyridophenazine complex, has been discovered that glows brighter when bound to amyloid protein fibrils implicated in Alzheimer's disease. This enables real-time monitoring of plaque aggregation, a key step in the development of potential treatments.
A recent study found that physician payment reform resulted in a significant decrease in the use of home-based dialysis. Patients with traditional Medicare coverage experienced a 0.7 percent reduction in home dialysis use, while those living in areas with larger facilities saw a 0.9 percent decrease.
Researchers suggest minor evolutionary changes could have altered the fates of Earth and Venus, potentially leading to life on Venus and none on Earth. The study expands the notion of habitable zones and questions the role of plate tectonics in supporting life.
Researchers at Hiroshima University identified a genetic mutation in K1801 that could ruin high-quality sake brewing, threatening consistent production with stable quality. A genetically engineered version of the yeast with normal growth but high ethyl caproate production was also created.
A Rice University lab developed a predictive model to treat leukemia patients, using a unique set of patient data. The top-performing models were able to predict patient response to therapy with an accuracy of close to 80 percent.