Research on rice as a crop and staple food. Covers fertilizer and emissions trade-offs, biochar and heavy metals, and heat resilience.
A Japanese research team has discovered four new genes in rice that could significantly improve crop breeding and help address global food shortages. The newly identified genes, found through genome-wide association studies (GWAS), influence traits such as flowering date, panicle number, and grain yield.
Rice University scientists have streamlined the synthesis of uncialamycin, a potent anti-tumor antibiotic that can be used as part of an antibody drug conjugate. The researchers developed a scalable process for bulk production, enabling the creation of novel variations of the molecule with high potency against cancer cells.
Researchers found that proteins have quick access to target genes in cells despite crowding, thanks to dynamic movements of molecules. This discovery suggests that proteins can efficiently search and bind to DNA even in busy environments.
Archaeologists uncover evidence of domesticated rice in China, shedding new light on the history of human agricultural practices. The discovery suggests that rice domestication has been ongoing for much longer than previously thought, with characteristics consistent with japonica rice now cultivated in Japan and Korea.
Core proteins partially disassemble to facilitate gene activation, according to Rice University researchers. Their detailed models support the idea that DNA unwrapping and core protein unfolding are coupled, with histone tails playing a crucial role in nucleosome stability.
A study by Rice University researchers found that 'anti-evolution' education legislation is often introduced to mollify religious constituents, rather than expected success. The study analyzed data from 26 states and found that only 25% of anti-evolution bills made it through state education committees.
Researchers at Rice University have synthesized a new cancer-fighting compound called Thailanstatin A, which targets the spliceosome, a complex of proteins and ribonucleoproteins that regulate DNA splicing. The compound has shown promise in preclinical studies and could potentially be used to develop new therapies for cancer.
Researchers at Rice University developed RedEye, a technology that can provide computers with continuous vision, enabling wearables to see and remember what their owners need. By analyzing analog signals in real-time, RedEye improves energy efficiency and presents unique privacy advantages.
A new study by Rice University health economists aims to understand the association between physician-hospital integration and healthcare quality and price. The project will analyze data from 2008-2013 to examine the effects of integration on patient outcomes, readmission rates, and hospital finances.
Researchers at Rice University used computer simulations to study DNA's twisted-ladder form, finding that chromosomes can emerge with either right- or left-handed superhelices. The discovery could help explain how cells regulate gene expression and cell differentiation.
The latest nanosubmarine model, USN-2, can be viewed by single-molecule microscopy for at least 1.5 seconds, allowing for the tracking of its trajectory. This advancement is expected to lead to a better understanding of how the vehicles move and potentially enable their use in delivering cargo or interacting with cells.
A new study from Rice University and Louisiana State University suggests that the early life experiences of individual animals can have wide-reaching impacts on entire species. The research, which examined whether past environments could affect species distribution, found that ignoring these carryover effects can result in incorrect as...
Astronomers have found evidence for a tightly orbiting gas giant, PTFO8-8695 b, which is being torn away by its 2 million-year-old star. The planet's outer layers are likely to be destroyed, and its ultimate fate remains uncertain.
University of Delaware researchers found that incorporating rice husk into soil can decrease toxic arsenic levels in rice grain by 25 to 50 percent. This eco-friendly approach has implications for developing countries relying on rice as a staple food and aims to improve soil quality without negatively affecting yield.
Researchers at the John Innes Centre have identified a protein in rice plants that can increase yields by up to 54% and improve nitrogen efficiency. The 'b' protein, OsNRT2.3b, allows rice plants to buffer themselves against pH changes, enabling them to take up more nutrients.
Researchers at Rice University have created 'missing tooth' hydrogels that can trap and slowly release hydrophobic small-molecule drugs, making them ideal for targeted delivery. The biodegradable gel can be injected where needed and releases medication over time.
A three-year study found that corals are declining worldwide due to a combination of threats including overfishing, nutrient pollution and pathogenic disease. The study reveals that even modest temperature increases make corals more vulnerable to bacteria, leading to increased algal cover and coral mortality.
Researchers at Rice University found a link between emotional stress and Type 2 diabetes, with low inhibition leading to increased pro-inflammatory cytokines like IL-6. The study showed that individuals with poor inhibition were more likely to develop diabetes due to the pathway from high anxiety to inflammation.
Researchers found that web panel participants made 17% more purchases and increased cross-buying by 14%. The profit per customer also rose by 36%, demonstrating the economic benefits of these panels.
A new study from Washington University in St. Louis finds that genetically modified Golden Rice is still years away from field introduction due to scientific challenges. The research suggests that GMO opponents have not been the problem, but rather the rice's inability to yield well and meet its nutritional goals.
Researchers at Rice University tested nanocars in ambient conditions, finding they stuck to surfaces due to hydrophobicity. The vehicles slowed down as molecules absorbed from the air created obstacles that acted like sticky foam, eventually trapping them.
Archaeologists uncover evidence that settlers from South Asia colonized Madagascar over a thousand years ago, using long-distance voyages across the Indian Ocean. The discovery provides the first archaeological signature of Austronesian expansion and challenges historical understanding of the island's settlement.
Researchers at Rice University have discovered a giant planet, CI Tau b, orbiting a young star in the constellation Taurus. The planet, at least eight times larger than Jupiter, orbits its 2 million-year-old star every nine days and is thought to have formed rapidly, with surrounding gas and dust still present.
The Genome Analysis Centre (TGAC) is training the next generation of rice breeders in Vietnam in advanced bioinformatics and genomics. The programme aims to characterise genetic diversity in Vietnamese native rice lines to accelerate crop breeding and improve yields, addressing climate change threats such as drought and rising sea levels
Researchers at Rice University have developed a graphene-based de-icer that can prevent ice formation above 7 degrees Fahrenheit, making it suitable for large applications like aircraft and power lines. The material is also conductive and can be heated with electricity to melt ice and snow in colder conditions.
Bacterial spore formation is triggered by the slowdown of cellular growth, according to a new study published in Molecular Systems Biology. The research reveals that stressed-out bacteria make life-or-death decisions to form spores due to the concentration of a key protein, which builds up during starvation.
The Rice University lab has developed a streamlined total synthesis of delta12-prostaglandin J3, a molecule with potential as an anti-cancer agent. The new method requires only six steps from commercially available starting materials, making it more efficient and desirable for large-scale synthesis.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a new cancer-imaging technique that uses carbon nanotubes tagged with antibodies to pinpoint the location of tumors. The technique, known as spectral triangulation, uses non-invasive optical measurements to determine the depth and coordinates of the nanotube beacons in tissue.
Cancer cells use notch signaling pathways, particularly jagged, to communicate and coordinate their decisions to become motile and form clusters. This discovery offers a new target for disrupting metastasis and potentially diagnosing tumor severity.
Researchers found that the decline in childhood obesity rates between 2003-2004 and 2011-2012 cannot be attributed to changes in maternal or child health behaviors. Despite differences in demographics and lifestyle factors, the main reason for the drop was the lower likelihood of older children being obese compared to younger ones.
A University of Oklahoma team has developed a new antibiotic formulation that combines traditional antibiotics with polymer BPEI to revive efficacy in obsolete drugs. This approach aims to improve patient outcomes and reduce economic burdens by treating MRSA infections.
Research at the University of Illinois found that adding microbial xylanase to diets containing rice bran can increase its energy value for pigs. The study confirmed that xylanase increased the concentrations of digestible and metabolizable energy in full fat rice bran and defatted rice bran.
A new study published in Nature Geoscience proposes that the rise of oxygen in Earth's atmosphere was linked to the formation of continents and life. The researchers suggest that a reduction in the efficiency of the oxygen sink, coupled with an increase in volcanic activity and carbon inputs into the atmosphere, led to two rises in atm...
Researchers at Rice University developed a method to treat composite materials with microwaves, increasing their stability and strength in wellbores for oil and gas production. The treatment involved combining graphene nanoribbons with thermoset polymers and heating them with low-power microwaves.
Researchers create natural polymer-based scaffolds to grow spongiosa tissue, mimicking the middle layer of heart valve leaflets. The study finds that these scaffolds can be tuned to match the stiffness of natural tissue and may offer a promising alternative to existing mesh-based polymers.
Rice University researchers have developed a new photoreversible tool using photosynthetic bacterial proteins, allowing for faster and more precise control of gene expression
Rice experts unveil a submicroscopic tunable, optical amplifier that generates infrared light and boosts the output of one light by capturing energy from a second light. The innovation is a single nanoparticle serving as an optical parametric amplifier, with potential applications in chemical sensing and molecular imaging.
Researchers at Rice University have successfully absorbed 35-37% of incident light in atomically thin MoS2, paving the way for efficient and inexpensive photovoltaic solar panels. The team's findings enhance light absorption by 5.9 times compared to using MoS2 on a sapphire substrate.
Researchers from RMIT University and NSW Department of Primary Industries define processing conditions that increase micronutrient retention in white rice. Soaking in water at 90°C followed by steaming proves most effective for retaining nutrients, with potential to address iron deficiency and malnutrition worldwide.
A new study led by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center found that even low levels of air pollution can harm children's lung function. Children living close to major roadways had decreased lung function by age 8, with exposure to fine particulate matter and soot being the main factors.
A study by Rice University researchers found that the relationship between hospital volume and patient outcomes may be overstated. Advanced statistical modeling showed that only four of six complex cancer operations have a significant volume-outcome effect.
A study of 759 infants found that eating rice and rice products increased their exposure to arsenic. The highest levels were detected in babies consuming baby rice cereal or rice snacks.
Researchers at Rice University suggest that actin filaments play a key role in forming and storing long-term memories by stabilizing soluble cytoplasmic polyadenylation element binding proteins (CPEB) into longer, insoluble prion-like fibers. This process is thought to aggregate and encode memories in neurons' synaptic regions.
Researchers at Rice University have discovered 'Teslaphoresis', a phenomenon where carbon nanotubes self-assemble into long wires using a Tesla coil's force field. The team, led by Paul Cherukuri, reported their results in ACS Nano and demonstrated the ability to assemble and power circuits using the force field.
The Mexican rice borer infestation causes significant crop loss, with potential losses of over $200 million annually in Louisiana. A new article provides information on the pest's biology and life cycle, as well as management suggestions.
A team of scientists has identified a mechanism responsible for delivering zinc into crop seeds, paving the way for breeding plants with enhanced zinc content. The discovery could lead to improved nutritional value in a large part of the human diet.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a combined electrolyte and separator for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that can operate at high temperatures, including 150 degrees Celsius, with negligible loss of efficiency. The 'white graphene' composite eliminates the need for conventional plastic or polymer separators and is desi...
Rice University scientists have discovered that certain types of tricalcium silicates are more efficient to produce cement due to their structural properties. These findings could lead to lower energy consumption and reduced greenhouse gas emissions associated with concrete production, a major contributor to climate change.
David Zhang's lab at Rice University is developing novel therapeutic tools and diagnostic methods using next-generation sequencing, including probes that identify disease-causing DNA sequence variants and a platform capable of detecting rare single nucleotide variants in biological samples.
Researchers at Rice University have discovered a way to make highly aligned, wafer-scale films of densely packed single-walled carbon nanotubes. The thin films offer possibilities for making flexible electronic and photonic devices, such as bendable computer chips.
Rice University bioengineer Jeffrey Tabor has developed next-generation sensors using bacterial two-component systems to probe the gut for early signs of inflammation. The technology aims to revolutionize diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases.
A recent study found that CEOs who experience an independent director's death engage in significantly fewer acquisitions, with a decrease of nearly 4% and lower acquisition values. This may be due to increased mortality awareness, prompting CEOs to pursue a quieter life and scale back on extrinsic goals.
A critical regulator of EUI1 gene expression in rice, HOX12, has been identified as a central regulator of panicle extension. This discovery holds promise for fine-tuning panicle extension and improving hybrid rice seed production.
Researchers at Rice University have determined that 2D boron is metallic and can transmit electrons with no resistance, making it a promising material for superconductivity. The discovery may lead to breakthroughs in small-scale superconducting circuits.
The Sterile Box, a mobile container, sterilizes surgical instruments to minimize risk of infections in patients. The system's performance was nearly perfect in trials, and it addresses issues with unreliable power and inadequate quality control in developing countries.
A sustainable farming initiative is launched at Conaway Ranch in California, leveraging Israel's water technology expertise to reduce rice-crop water use. The project aims to improve yield and reduce fertilizers and weed control using subsurface drip irrigation.
A new study by Rice University researchers found that obese women, even those with higher education, are double the risk of depression compared to normal-weight women. The study used a large population-based sample of healthy women and controlled for various factors, including diet and lifestyle.
New research reveals significant gaps in the world's genebanks for crop wild relatives (CWR), which possess valuable genetic diversity to adapt to climate change. CWR of vital staples like rice, wheat, and potato are under threat due to urbanization, pollution, deforestation, and war.
Researchers found that consistent treatment of customers and employees amplifies positive impact on firm valuation, while inconsistency weakens it. Companies with narrow business scopes benefit from coordinated activities, as investors can better judge management of key stakeholders.
A Rice University analysis reveals that Prophet Muhammad's covenants with Christians emphasize the importance of religious pluralism and civic rights in a 'Muslim nation.' The covenants protected and defended peaceful Christian communities, not attacked them, according to researcher Craig Considine.