Research on rice as a crop and staple food. Covers fertilizer and emissions trade-offs, biochar and heavy metals, and heat resilience.
Researchers at Rice University found that consistent superior e-service quality is key to winning the e-commerce battle between Amazon and Wal-Mart. The study identified four core dimensions of e-service quality, including website design, fulfilment, customer service, and security/privacy, which strongly impact overall e-service quality.
Researchers at Rice University have made a breakthrough in developing tunable carbon-capture materials by heating buckyballs to alter their properties. This process enables the creation of materials that can selectively capture carbon dioxide from various sources, including industrial flue gases and natural-gas wells.
Researchers developed a technology called WATCH, which allows wireless data transmissions over UHF channels without interfering with TV broadcasts. The system can provide at least six times more wireless data compared to traditional white-space spectrum.
Researchers discovered that bacteria time their sporulation decision with their cell-division cycle, using the location of genes on the circular chromosome. This timing allows for accurate determination of whether to reproduce or form spores.
Rice University researchers created a detailed model of cell signaling in blood vessels that feed tumors. The study found that jagged ligands play a major role in the chaotic vessel growth observed around tumors, suggesting that suppressing notch-jagged signaling may disrupt tumor angiogenesis.
A Rice University study found that smartphone users believed smartphones would improve their academic performance but ultimately reported detrimental effects on their ability to learn. The study suggests that providing access to smartphones without specific directed learning activities can be counterproductive to the learning process.
Researchers tested a five-dimensional commitment model, finding that affective commitment is the single largest contributor to customer loyalty. Habitual commitment also plays a significant role, with increased usage leading to developed habits and regimes that build commitment. The study provides insights into the nuanced ways custome...
Researchers at Rice University are developing gas-releasing microbial sensors to study microbe-driven processes that regulate Earth's environment. The sensors will allow researchers to test hypotheses about how microbes control environmental processes and build model ecosystems in the lab.
Rice University's HERC will explore new areas of education research in HISD, linking data with other sectors like early childcare and the workforce. The funding supports HERC's connection between research and policy/practice to improve educational services.
Researchers at Rice University have discovered that graphene can be controlled by twisting it, creating an electronic flexoelectric effect. This property can be manipulated to vary the work function and engineer the band-structure stacking in bilayers or multiple layers.
A recent study found that bisexual men and women experience poorer health outcomes compared to gay, lesbian, and heterosexual adults. The study discovered that bisexual individuals are more likely to be disadvantaged on socio-economic factors strongly linked to well-being, such as educational attainment and income levels.
Researchers at Yamagata University have developed a high-quality rice flour that can overcome issues associated with previous rice flours. The new flour's improved properties enable better dough formation, increased elasticity, and more consistent texture, making it suitable for those with wheat intolerance.
A new study by Rice University found that the legacy of slavery contributes to black-white education disparities through greater public-private school racial segregation. The research also shows a correlation between historical geographic slave concentration and modern-day K-12 school segregation, with white students being underreprese...
A new study assesses ecosystem service supply capacities for irrigated rice cropping systems in Southeast Asia, revealing differences between more and less intensively managed areas. The findings suggest that ES-based information can help provide alternative management options for decision-making in agricultural systems.
Research from Rice University and West Virginia University found that reading about scientist Francis Collins promotes a collaborative view of religion and science. In contrast, reading about Richard Dawkins had no impact on public perception.
The study analyzed rice straws using integrated analytical techniques, revealing the presence of cellulose and glucose. Glucose levels were found to be influenced by starch levels, paving the way for efficient production of biochemical and biofuels in the future.
A new study from Rice University and the University of Colorado at Boulder found that adults living in socio-economically disadvantaged cities are more than two times more likely to die by suicide. The research suggests that broader social climate factors influence suicide risk, rather than individual characteristics alone.
Rice University researchers have developed a new method to create valuable graphene nanoribbons by grinding carbon nanotubes, eliminating the need for harsh chemical solutions. This solid-state process enables strong chemical coupling between nanostructures and produces novel forms of nanostructured products with specific properties.
Researchers have discovered a soil microbe that mobilizes an "iron shield" to block the uptake of toxic arsenic in rice. The microbe, EA106, forms a plaque on the surface of roots that competes with arsenic, effectively blocking its pathway. Inoculations with EA106 improved iron uptake and reduced arsenic accumulation in plants.
Researchers at Rice University have discovered a new way to measure electrical transport properties of nanomaterials and structures at high frequencies. The technique produces unique optical signatures that can be used to identify the conductance of nanowires and other electronic components.
Researchers have identified glass formations on Mars that could preserve signs of ancient biological activity. The glass-rich impactites found by Kevin Cannon and John Mustard are preserved on billion-year timescales and could provide a promising target for searching for possible ancient Martian life.
A clinical trial involving women diagnosed with fibromyalgia showed significant improvements in symptoms after undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Brain scans revealed changes in brain activity that may be responsible for the syndrome's chronic pain sensation.
Researchers found that the low-cost, portable device could spare unnecessary biopsies for about 90% of patients with benign lesions. The study involved 147 U.S. and Chinese patients undergoing examination for potentially malignant squamous cell tumors.
Scientists from Rice University, Ohio State and Nebraska discovered diatoms in glacial ice from tropical regions, offering insights into conditions around the Andes when they were deposited. The study's findings suggest freshwater lakes or wetlands existed at high elevations on or near the mountain in earlier times.
A recent study published by Rice University researchers found that individuals generally prefer to locate their sense of self in the brain. This preference is stronger among those with an independent self-construal, who tend to assert autonomous goals and behaviors related to the brain. In contrast, people with an interdependent self-c...
Researchers at Rice University and Indian Institute of Science model seashells' ability to withstand pressure, discovering evolutionary optimization allows fractures to appear only where they're least likely to hurt the animal inside. The team found complex shapes make shells nearly twice as good at bearing loads than nacre alone.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a boron-infused graphene device that quadruples the supercapacitor's ability to store electrical charge while increasing its energy density. The technology has potential for electric vehicles and other heavy-duty applications.
Researchers at Rice University have discovered a way to simplify the manufacture of solar cells by employing electrodes as catalysts to create black silicon. The new process enables the production of black silicon with high efficiency and reflects little light, allowing more sunlight to reach the active elements of solar cells.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a method to fine-tune the acoustic response of nanoparticles by varying the thickness of their attachment layer, opening doors for new applications in photonics and wireless communications. This breakthrough uses ultrafast laser pulses to induce atomic vibrations in gold nanodisks.
Researchers at Rice University have found ways to make 2D molybdenum disulfide exhibit superplasticity by manipulating its gas environment, allowing it to deform without breaking. This breakthrough opens the possibility of tailoring the plastic properties of these materials for specific applications.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a new theory on chromosome folding, which is crucial for understanding gene regulation and other biological processes. The theory predicts the folding mechanisms and resulting structures of chromosomes using statistical tools and energy landscapes.
Research highlights silicon's importance in rice production, enhancing resistance to pests, pathogens, and abiotic stresses. Recycling of rice straw is crucial for maintaining silicon availability, particularly in regions with low soil weathering.
A new study finds that photosynthesis imparts a distinct biosignature on oxygen molecules, allowing scientists to trace biological processes. This discovery has the potential to measure productivity in the open ocean and assess the health of oceans.
A new study from Rice University suggests that therapies targeting the insulin signaling pathway in brain tumors may be ineffective if they target the wrong molecules. Researchers found that glioblastomas, the deadliest form of brain cancer, have a complex relationship with insulin and other growth factors.
Rice University researchers discovered that double-walled carbon nanotubes can be tuned for specific electronic properties by controlling their configuration and distance between walls. The study found that combining metallic with semiconducting nanotubes could lead to the creation of nanotube transistors.
Researchers at Rice University have discovered a cobalt-based thin film that can produce both hydrogen and oxygen from water to feed fuel cells. The film is highly porous, inexpensive, and scalable, making it a potential alternative to expensive metals like platinum in water-electrolysis devices.
Rice University and Texas Children's Hospital scientists successfully used amniotic stem cells to promote blood vessel growth in hydrogels, enhancing tissue repair for infants with birth defects. The study paves the way for biocompatible patches for congenital heart defects.
Rice University scientists have developed a technique called meniscus-mask lithography to create sub-10 nanometer wide wires from various materials. The method uses the curvy surface of water as a mask, enabling the production of ultra-nano structures that are crucial for miniaturizing electronic devices.
A new study published in BMC Systems Biology uses computational method corsoFBA to model cellular metabolism and discover how organisms adapt to changing environments. The researchers, led by Amina Qutub, aim to develop new treatments for diseases such as stroke and cancer.
Rice University engineers create a highly accurate, touch-free system that analyzes subtle changes in skin color to monitor patients' vital signs. The technique overcomes challenges of low-light conditions, dark skin tones and movement by averaging skin-color change signals from different face regions.
A new study led by UC Davis experts found that rice can receive receptor proteins from a different plant species to boost its immune system. This could lead to increased disease resistance and improved crop yields, benefiting the world's staple food population.
Researchers found high-value oil-rich algae strains can grow in wastewater while removing over 90% of nitrates and 50% of phosphorus. This method addresses nutrient pollution and makes algae production sustainable.
A new paper from Rice University's Baker Institute finds Saudi Arabia is reshaping itself as a supplier of refined petroleum products. The country's increasing domestic demand for crude oil poses geopolitical challenges to its traditional role as the world's 'swing supplier' of oil.
The carbon nanotube fibers have proven superior to metal electrodes for deep brain stimulation and reading signals from a neuronal network. They offer promise for treating patients with neurological disorders while monitoring the real-time response of neural circuits.
Scientists developed a new way to cook rice that increases resistant starch content, potentially reducing calories absorbed by the body by over half. This simple cooking method can transform digestible starch into indigestible resistant starch, lowering usable calories and addressing obesity rates.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a method to control the size-dependent band gap of coal-based graphene quantum dots, enabling specific semiconducting properties. The new process uses ultrafiltration or direct control of reaction temperature, producing smaller dots with different optical and electronic properties.
Brown planthoppers develop short wings for breeding and long wings for travel due to insulin receptor silencing, a major factor in their pest status. Researchers found that two insulin receptors determine alternative wing morphs in planthoppers.
Rice researchers Rouzbeh Shahsavari and Navid Sakhavand have created universal maps that predict the properties of natural and biomimetic platelet-matrix composites. The maps are dimensionless and can be applied to materials built with nanoscale blocks as well as brick walls, or bigger.
A team of researchers is working on a five-year program to create a bioreactor that more closely simulates the complex tissues and dynamic movements of the intestinal track. This project aims to deliver a simple, easy-to-use and relatively inexpensive system for infectious disease labs.
The study found that geometric relationships between graphene and the substrate determine island shapes, with triangular surfaces leading to more irregular structures. Understanding this process can help design grain boundaries with specific properties, useful for electronics applications.
New research from Rice University reveals that nearly 70 percent of evangelical Christians do not view the intersection of science and religion as being in conflict. A recent study found that only 21 percent of evangelicals see science and religion as entirely independent, while nearly half view them as complementary. The study's findi...
Research shows that eviction from housing can result in multiple negative consequences, including depression, poorer health, and higher levels of stress. Evicted mothers are more likely to experience depression, poor child health, and material hardship, highlighting the need for eviction-prevention initiatives.
A new survey of Carina Nebula helps astronomers understand the processes that may have contributed to the formation of our sun. The region contains dozens of examples of forming stars at various stages of development, providing insights into how solar-type stars evolve.
A team of researchers from Rice University has developed a metal-free aerogel catalyst that outperforms platinum in fuel cells. The new material, made from graphene nanoribbons with boron and nitrogen, provides an abundance of active sites for oxygen reduction reactions.
Asphaltene analysis takes a giant step with the development of an indirect method that detects and measures particles as small as 100 nanometers. This technique can accurately quantify asphaltene precipitation and account for water presence, offering valuable insights into preventing clogs in oil production lines.
Rice University researchers found that motor proteins collaborate to regulate cell-transport systems by favoring slow and steady movement. Weak repulsions led to maximum movement along microtubules, while strong attractions caused clusters that stopped motors.
A team of researchers at Rice University has successfully simulated superconducting materials using ultracold atoms, observing antiferromagnetic order in the process. The simulation is based on the Hubbard model, a set of mathematical equations that could explain high-temperature superconductivity.
Scientists develop shorter-growing-season lentil varieties to accommodate between two rice growing seasons. The approach has already proven its potential in Bangladesh, increasing annual income by $26.6 million and improving small-scale farmers' livelihoods.
A new study by Rice University economists found that the US natural gas market would be resilient to potential local policy interventions aimed at limiting access to shale gas resources. The efficiency of the market, driven by deep liquidity and robust infrastructure, renders local policies largely irrelevant to the broader market.
Researchers at Rice University have discovered that treated carbon-60 molecules can remove metals from water and other liquids, with the ability to reserve them for future use. The process also shows promise for separating specific metals from complex fluids, potentially addressing contaminated water issues.