Research on rice as a crop and staple food. Covers fertilizer and emissions trade-offs, biochar and heavy metals, and heat resilience.
The John S. Dunn Foundation awards seed grants to researchers at Rice University's BioScience Research Collaborative to support new collaborations in cancer diagnosis and treatment, vascular health, and plant-inspired energy conversion. The grants aim to foster interdisciplinary and multi-institutional research.
Researchers at Rice University have discovered a new catalyst that can rapidly break down nitrites, a harmful contaminant found in drinking water. Gold-palladium nanocatalysts are up to 15 times more efficient than pure palladium nanocatalysts in breaking down nitrites.
Rice University researchers used computer models to study the behavior of misfolded proteins, finding that they can form branching structures similar to those found in spider silk. These structures may be an early stage in the formation of amyloid plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease.
A new study by Erin Cech at Rice University found that engineering students leave college less concerned about public welfare than when they entered. The research suggests that engineering education may foster a culture of disengagement regarding public welfare issues.
Researchers found that two types of iron-based superconductors employ similar coupling between electrons in their superconducting state. Understanding this mechanism may help create even better superconductors with higher transition temperatures.
Researchers are creating new statistical tools to analyze massive amounts of cancer data and identify hidden relationships between biomarkers. The goal is to develop a framework that can combine continuous and noncontinuous variables, allowing for more accurate insights into the complex nature of cancer.
A low-cost device invented by Rice University students to help premature babies breathe more easily will be expanded to teaching hospitals in three African nations. The technology, known as bubble CPAP, has been shown to increase survival rates of newborns with respiratory distress by 27 percent.
Researchers at Rice University discovered that imperfections in two-dimensional materials can create nanoscale magnetic fields. The study suggests a new degree of freedom for electronics, allowing for enhanced efficiency and enriched functions.
Researchers found that individuals with high conscientiousness traits are more likely to exhibit effective behavior in customer service situations. The study suggests that personality plays a significant role in shaping customers' experiences.
Researchers found that plants with semi-dwarfism in wild Arabidopsis species have a mutated GA20ox1 allele, similar to those in rice and barley varieties bred for high yields. The mutation alters the gibberellin biosynthesis pathway, but other genes compensate for its effects.
A new computational method at Rice University accurately predicts the adsorption of gases by porous zeolites, enabling labs to screen potential materials before expensive experiments. The method could aid in developing fuels that meet Department of Energy standards and improve zeolite properties.
Researchers at Rice University discovered that the accumulation of von Willebrand factor (VWF) in heart valve tissues contributes to their progressive hardening with age. As tissues from pig valves are commonly used to make human heart-valve replacements, VWF helps regulate blood clotting in both pigs and humans.
A team of geoscientists is building a whole-Earth model to understand long-term climate change on Earth. They will examine how carbon moves between the planet's external and internal systems, including the oceans, atmosphere, and deep Earth.
A new study by sociologists at Rice University and the University of Pennsylvania found that divorced individuals are more than twice as likely to die from preventable causes such as fire, poisoning, and smoke inhalation. Single people and those with low educational attainment also face a higher risk of accidental death.
Researchers found that flooded Yolo Bypass rice fields create productive aquatic food webs for salmon, with high growth rates and minimal mortality. The findings suggest farm managers can use these agricultural fields to mimic natural processes, benefiting both fish and farmers.
Physicists at Rice University have deciphered the operating principles of a genetic switch that cancer cells use to decide when to metastasize and invade other parts of the body. The research found a three-way genetic switch that explains previously confusing experimental results, opening new avenues for cancer treatment.
Rice chemist Vicki Colvin led a team that created small, uniform spheres of cerium oxide with biocompatible coatings, enhancing its natural antioxidant properties. The nanoparticles can absorb and release oxygen ions to protect against radiation-induced side effects and may slow aging.
Researchers at Rice University have created an 'artificial nose' that can detect dangerous fumes from solvents by trapping metallic compounds inside zeolite cages. The technology uses a 'ship in a bottle' type of chemical assembly, with each gas having a unique photoluminescent fingerprint.
Researchers at Rice University have created a polymer material infused with graphene nanoribbons that can contain pressurized gases for extended periods. The material has potential applications in the automotive industry, food packaging, and beverage containers.
Carbyne nanorods or nanoropes have a host of remarkable and useful properties, including surpassing the tensile strength of any other known material and having twice the tensile stiffness of graphene. Stretching carbyne alters its electronic band gap significantly, making it suitable for applications such as sensors and energy storage.
Scientists at Rice University have created a method to locate specific sequences along single strands of DNA, which could help diagnose genetic diseases. The 'motion blur point accumulation' technique resolves structures as small as 30 nanometers by capturing images of fluorescent probes binding to target DNA.
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.
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.
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.
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.