Articles tagged with Rice
Rice University scientists have discovered two novel mechanisms for bubble formation in foam, known as pinch-off behaviors. This discovery could improve the efficiency of enhanced oil recovery methods by making gas act more like a liquid and increasing its contact with reservoir rock.
Researchers have discovered that sheets of hexagonal boron nitride can protect metals from oxidizing even at very high temperatures, such as 1,100 degrees Celsius. The ultrathin films are made of just a few atoms thick and have potential applications in industries like turbines, jet engines, and oil exploration.
A study published in Psychological Science found that humans rely on non-facial cues like body shape and build to identify people in challenging viewing conditions. Participants accurately identified images of the same person even when only their bodies were shown.
Researchers found that when facial features were ambiguous, participants used body cues such as the nose and face shape to accurately identify individuals. The study suggests that computer-based recognition systems can be improved by incorporating body information, especially in low-quality facial images.
Liver transplant recipients who receive substance abuse treatment before and after transplantation have lower alcohol relapse rates than those untreated or only treated prior to transplantation. Continued alcohol abuse post-transplantation also decreases graft survival and increases organ scarring.
A new study by researchers at Rice University and others found that restricting the Voting Rights Act of 1965 could negatively impact black political representation on city councils. The study analyzed data from 1981-2006 and found that cities protected by Section 5 of the VRA saw stronger gains in African-American representation.
Researchers at Rice University used synthetic biology to study how biochar affects microbial communication. Biochar was found to interfere with certain conversations between microbes, potentially impacting plant growth.
Researchers at Rice University and UTHealth will advance tissue-engineering technologies with a $75 million grant. The goal is to restore or replace damaged tissue and organs, benefiting both military and civilian populations.
Researchers have developed a numerical simulation to study wind-sand movement in straw checkerboard barriers (SCB) and their surrounding area. The results show that SCBs can decrease sand transport rates and reduce the strength of wind-sand flow eddies, leading to increased sand fixation.
A new study from researchers at Rice University found that a school outreach program reduced the mobility of African-American students by 29 percent. The program enhanced relationships between families and school personnel, improving trust and reducing negative outcomes such as lower test scores and substance abuse.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a secure system to protect wireless implantable medical devices from unauthorized access. The technology uses the patient's unique heartbeat as a password, which can only be accessed through touch with a programmer device. This provides a secure way to monitor patients and prevent potential...
Researchers found that modifying rice crops to resist herbicide triggers gives weedy neighbors a fitness boost, enabling them to grow faster and produce more offspring. The study suggests this method could be used to enhance crop yields, but raises concerns about potential problems with weedy relatives.
Rice University researchers are developing a customized, energy-efficient optical network called BOLD to handle the growing amounts of data in various scientific fields. The new network will utilize optical switches with high capacity and low power consumption, enabling faster processing and analysis of large datasets.
Cancer cells exploit a vicious cycle of mucus production to protect themselves from the immune system and promote tumor growth. Researchers at Rice University have identified a potential therapeutic target in rosiglitazone, a diabetes medication that can attenuate this cycle.
A new study from Rice University finds that women are more likely to disapprove of and participate in anti-corruption efforts in countries where corruption is publicly condemned. However, the relationship between gender and corruption depends on institutional context.
Rice University's Multi-Robot Systems Laboratory researchers gather data from online game SwarmControl.net to develop new control algorithms for robotic swarms. They demonstrate complex behaviors with simple commands, showcasing potential for massive populations of robots to perform coordinated tasks.
Rice University has been awarded a $2.8 million National Science Foundation grant to establish a multidisciplinary training program in neuroengineering for graduate students. The program, led by bioengineer Robert Raphael, will focus on problem-based learning and the development of online educational resources.
A government-run clean water program in Beijing has improved water quality and quantity, benefiting millions. Farmers were paid to switch from rice to corn, reducing fertilizer runoff and increasing the amount of water available to city residents.
Rice University scientists have developed bismuth-filled nanotubes as a contrast agent for CT scans, producing brighter images than common iodine-based agents. The nanotube capsules are small enough to diffuse into cells and aggregate to produce high-contrast images.
Researchers at Rice University have created a supercapacitor that operates reliably at temperatures of up to 200 degrees Celsius, overcoming key limitations of conventional energy storage devices. The device uses a clay-based membrane electrolyte, which provides high thermal stability and conductivity.
The LEGATO project aims to advance long-term sustainable development of irrigated rice fields. New insights were presented on the future of rice ecosystem services, highlighting the importance of continuous discourse and local knowledge integration.
Researchers at Rice University and MD Anderson Cancer Center will analyze protein networks in stem cells using a combination of technologies. The goal is to understand how cells change their status and behaviors, which could lead to new insights into cancer development.
A study by an international consortium of researchers found that reducing the expression of NEET proteins significantly reduced cancer cell proliferation and tumor size. The overabundance of these proteins is linked to the progression of the disease, making them a prime target for anticancer drugs.
The technique, dubbed 'multiple-dimensional vibrational spectroscopy,' captures the conformation of small molecules with great accuracy, measuring vibrations and determining angles between bonds. This method could revolutionize the study of catalysis, energy storage, and biomembranes.
Researchers have gained a comprehensive understanding of melittin's molecular-level action, which involves opening pores in cell membranes to attack cancer and bacteria. The study sheds light on how melittin forms transient pores at low concentrations and stable pores at higher concentrations.
A recent study by Rice University researchers found that altering the dynamics of a population can have measurable consequences on complex ecosystems. The study's results suggest that changing the structure of populations can alter entire food webs and ecosystems, highlighting their fragility.
Researchers at Rice University have made strides toward creating a set of rules to design custom viral capsid proteins for gene therapy. By combining pieces of different adeno-associated viruses, they can create new, benign viruses that deliver DNA payloads to specific cells. This research has the potential to treat diseases such as ge...
Researchers developed a strain of rice that produces a rotavirus-specific antibody, protecting both normal and immune-deficient mice. The engineered rice maintains its efficacy even after long-term storage and heat exposure.
Researchers have developed a strain of engineered rice that produces a rotavirus-specific antibody, protecting both normal and immune-deficient mice from the disease. This study provides a low-cost strategy for preventing rotavirus infection.
Rice University researchers have discovered a novel technique to create sub-10-nanometer graphene nanoribbons by utilizing the meniscus effect of water. This breakthrough enables the formation of long wires only a few nanometers wide, which is crucial for the development of microelectronics devices.
A study by Rice University and Louisiana State University found that court-mandated prison reforms led to a 22% decrease in welfare spending. The researchers discovered that states that were ordered to improve living conditions spent significantly more on correctional facilities, but less on social programs.
Researchers at Rice University developed a solar-powered sterilization system using nanomaterials to kill microbes and viruses in human waste. The 'solar steam' technology has an overall energy efficiency of 24 percent, making it suitable for off-grid use and sanitation for billions of people.
A new study has found a link between high levels of arsenic in rice and elevated genetic damage in humans. Researchers discovered that people consuming rice with more than 0.2 mg/kg arsenic showed higher frequencies of micronuclei, a sign of chromosomal damage.
Researchers at Rice University have made a significant contribution to the Large Hadron Collider's (LHC) latest discovery, confirming the Standard Model's prediction of the rare B-sub-s meson decay. This finding eliminates any possibility that the decay is related to dark matter theories, such as supersymmetry.
Researchers at Rice University have successfully synthesized graphene nanoribbons on metal from the bottom up, a process that could lead to breakthroughs in electronics and energy storage. The 'onion rings' of graphene were grown using a new method that relies on hydrogen pressure and controlled growth conditions.
Evolutionary biologist Kenneth Olsen has examined the genetics of hull color in rice, finding that different mutations underlie the emergence of traits in both cultivated and weedy forms. The findings suggest that crops reverted to wild forms by reversing genetic changes, but with a more complex history than initially thought.
Rice University and Sandia National Laboratories have created a solid-state electronic device that detects polarized light across the visible and infrared spectrum. The new photodetector uses aligned carbon nanotubes to provide intrinsic polarization sensing, unlike traditional methods which rely on filters or gratings.
Rice University scientists have developed a 1-kilobit rewritable silicon oxide device with diodes that eliminate data-corrupting crosstalk. The technique creates a channel of pure metallic phase silicon, allowing for high on/off ratio and multibit switching.
Researchers at Rice University developed a new type of carbon fiber with unique properties, achieving '100% knot efficiency' where the fiber is equally likely to break anywhere along its length. The fibers were created by spinning large graphene oxide flakes into fibers, resulting in enhanced strength and flexibility.
Researchers at Rice University analyzed thousands of mutant worms to identify genes controlling movement, revealing 87 new links in the process. The study also uncovered evidence for a protein-signaling pathway regulating locomotion, with implications for prioritizing genetic tests in humans.
The longitudinal Rice University Portraits of American Life Study found that Americans are more respectful towards religious traditions, but also more divided on key social issues like marriage and abortion. The study also revealed shifts in moral reasoning and religious affiliation, with significant implications for politics and society.
Scientists found they could use light to coax postharvest vegetables to produce more cancer-fighting antioxidants at certain times of day. This study suggests that storing fruits and vegetables in dark conditions may reduce their ability to keep daily rhythms.
Rice University researchers have developed a new method to boost the efficiency of lithium-ion batteries using graphene nanoribbons and tin oxide. The new anodes showed initial capacities of more than 1,520 mAh/g, settling into 825 mAh/g after repeated charge-discharge cycles.
Researchers at Rice University and Oak Ridge National Laboratory have advanced on the goal of two-dimensional electronics by controlling the growth of uniform atomic layers of molybdenum disulfide. The material is a semiconductor, one of three needed to make functioning 2-D electronic components.
A new study published by Rice University and the University of California at Davis predicts that US corn yields will decline by 7% and irrigation needs will increase by 9% due to climate change. This could sharply hinder the nation's ethanol production targets, leading to a re-evaluation of biofuel policies.
Researchers have captured the first three-dimensional crystalline snapshot of the initial step in actin filament formation, crucial for understanding cell shape and cancer. The study's dual-mutant approach helped overcome challenges in forming crystals, revealing critical contacts involved in nucleation.
Researchers at Rice and Penn State universities have created solar cells using block copolymers, which outperform other polymer compounds as active elements. The new cells reach about 3% efficiency, surprisingly better than previous labs have achieved.
Scientists at Rice University and Honda Research Institute have created a hybrid material that combines diamonds, nanotubes, and graphene for superior thermal management. The researchers successfully grew vertically aligned carbon nanotubes on diamond using graphene as a middleman, demonstrating its potential as a heat sink.
Research from Rice University found that children living in traditional two-parent married households have a lower obesity rate (17 percent) compared to those living with cohabitating parents or other non-traditional family structures. This study highlights the impact of family structure on childhood obesity, suggesting that marriage a...
A Rice University study found that regulatory patterns in E. coli cells can arise from mutation, genetic drift, and neutral evolution, challenging the idea that environmental factors drive such patterns. The researchers generated computer models of random regulatory networks, which evolved through millions of generations without progra...
Researchers at Rice University have developed a novel approach to arrange metal nanoparticles in geometric patterns, enabling control of light with light. The breakthrough enables the creation of optical devices that can transform incoming light signals into output of a different color.
Researchers have discovered evidence of ancient agriculture in southern China, predating the arrival of domesticated rice. The use of a new analysis technique on grinding stones revealed starch from tropical palms, indicating that people may have cultivated these plants around 5,000 years ago.
Researchers at Rice University found that adding boron to graphene improves its ability to store lithium ions, resulting in a capacity two times larger than graphite. The discovery also enables the material to hold a proper voltage, making it suitable for commercial use.
Researchers analyzed starch granules from Neolithic stone tools and found they resembled those of sago-type palms, indicating a reliance on sago palms as a primary food source. The study also suggests that people ate bananas, acorns, and freshwater roots and tubers before rice cultivation began.
Researchers at Rice University have discovered a way to create liquid crystals from negatively charged carbon nanotubes, allowing for easier functionalization and potentially leading to stronger, more conductive fibers. This breakthrough could significantly improve the creation of macro materials out of microscopic nanotubes.
Rice University bioengineering professors Rebecca Richards-Kortum and Maria Oden have won the $100,000 Lemelson-MIT Award for Global Innovation. They will donate their prize money to build a new neonatal ward at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Malawi, which has implemented Rice's low-cost health care technologies since 2007.
Rice University research finds that professional culture in engineering contributes to gender wage inequality, with women underpaid for technical work and overpaid for social activities. The study highlights the importance of understanding how professional cultures shape judgments of competence and excellence.
Rice University researchers have discovered that the liquid crystal phase of silicone becomes significantly stiffer when subjected to repeated compression. This breakthrough could lead to new strategies for self-healing materials, as well as biocompatible materials that mimic human tissues. The stiffening effect is reversible and occur...
A team of Kansas State University researchers, led by Barbara Valent, has been awarded $5.5 million to develop resistant varieties and diagnostic tools for two deadly diseases: wheat blast and rice blast. The project aims to improve U.S. rice production and protect the nation's wheat crop.
The symposium brought together experts to discuss arsenic contamination in food and water, highlighting its dangers for human health. Experts focus on remediation methods, regulatory issues, and analysis techniques to address this ongoing global health threat.