Research on rice as a crop and staple food. Covers fertilizer and emissions trade-offs, biochar and heavy metals, and heat resilience.
A new study published in Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes found that experts are more effective when making intuitive decisions, especially in tasks with less structure. In two studies, researchers compared expert and non-expert participants on basketball shot difficulty and designer handbag authenticity tasks. Resu...
Researchers at Rice University have created a method to trigger biochemical reactions remotely on demand by exposing plasmonic gold nanoparticles to near-infrared light, enabling chemical processes to occur at lower temperatures. This technology has great potential for industrial applications, including energy savings and more sustaina...
Researchers have developed a biocompatible patch that can support the growth of healthy new tissue and potentially replace current patches used to repair congenital heart defects. The patch, seeded with living cardiac cells, is designed to degrade over time, leaving a repaired heart.
Researchers at Rice University have discovered that the madder plant's purpurin can be used as a natural cathode for lithium-ion batteries, offering an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional batteries. The team has built a half-battery cell with a capacity of 90 milliamp hours per gram after 50 charge/discharge cycles.
Researchers from City College of New York have developed a non-toxic and sustainable lithium-ion battery powered by purpurin, a natural plant dye extracted from the madder plant. The battery's production process is simpler and less expensive than traditional Li-ion batteries, with fewer environmental risks.
A University of Colorado Cancer Center review suggests rice bran offers anti-cancer properties due to its synergistic bioactive compounds. The clinical trial tests rice bran's effectiveness in preventing colon cancer recurrence, with researchers exploring the optimal composition and daily intake for chemoprevention.
Researchers successfully grew forests of carbon nanotubes on a sheet of graphene, creating a seamless three-dimensional structure with a massive surface area. This hybrid material offers great potential for electronic components like fast supercapacitors.
A new study from Rice University explores the effects of firm actions and industry spillovers on media coverage following wrongdoing. The research found that companies directly responsible for wrongdoing face more damaging media backlash than those not directly involved but affected by industry-wide scandals.
A Rice University-led study has uncovered an elaborate mechanism allowing bacteria to begin preparing for survival even as it delays the decision to form a spore. The research found that nested 'feedforward' loops enable cells to process information while executing the program, making an accurate decision without delay.
Rice University scientists have developed a super-efficient solar-energy technology that converts sunlight into steam directly, with an overall energy efficiency of 24 percent. The 'solar steam' method uses nanoparticles to heat water instantly vaporizing it and creating steam from nearly frozen water.
Researchers at Rice University have created a new type of nanoparticle called lava dots, which are hollow and coated versions of quantum dots. The particles were discovered using a 'molten-droplet synthesis' technique and can be used as catalysts for hydrogen production, chemical sensors, and solar cells.
The Rice team's device can modulate a signal at more than 10 gigabits per second, making it suitable for real-time video processing and high-speed data throughput. This breakthrough has the potential to scale up the capability of optical information processing systems by several magnitudes.
Joint BioEnergy Institute researchers identify a gene in rice plants that improves extraction of xylan and release of sugars needed for biofuels by over 60%. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient production of advanced biofuels.
A new study by Rice University sociologists reveals that children living in poorer neighborhoods are nearly 30% more likely to be obese than those in more affluent areas. The research found that neighborhood poverty and lower education levels are associated with increased child obesity risk, while a higher proportion of foreign-born re...
The Carnegie Institution has received a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to engineer broad-spectrum resistance against rice bacterial blight through genetic engineering. The project aims to create durable and environmentally friendly solutions to combat this disease in developing countries.
Rice University chemist Zachary Ball and collaborators aim to create a drug that's effective against an 'undruggable' protein by using metal-based pins. They're attempting to answer whether new technologies can inhibit traditionally undruggable target molecules, including transcription factors required for cancer.
A new study explains the connection between Kilauea and Mauna Loa by proposing an upper-mantle link that can account for their competition over a deep magma supply. The research suggests that increased pressure in the upper mantle is transmitted through a partially molten region, causing simultaneous inflation at both volcanoes.
A recent study found that rice paddies are a significant source of the potent greenhouse gas methane. The research team discovered that increasing carbon dioxide levels and rising temperatures boost rice yields but also increase methane emissions, highlighting the need for mitigation efforts to ensure a secure global food supply.
The partnership will focus on measurement and characterization of nanomaterials for enhanced optical, electrical and mechanical properties. The research aims to kickstart advances in energy, healthcare, materials science and national security.
A VCU study found evidence of fall spawning by Atlantic sturgeon in the James River, a finding that may lead to guidelines and protections for future management and recovery. The research also highlights the need to understand unique ecological traits of the James River population.
Researchers at Rice University have made a breakthrough in doping graphene with light, allowing for the creation of simple, graphene-based diodes and transistors on demand. The discovery uses plasmonics to manipulate light and inject electrons into the material, enabling novel security and cryptography devices.
Researchers at Rice University and MIT developed a thin-film polymer metamaterial that changes color in response to ions, enabling the creation of inexpensive sensors for food spoilage detection, security, and high-contrast displays. The sensors can be tuned to react in specific ways by adjusting the solvent used.
A study from Rice University found that women are twice as likely as men to use emoticons in text messages. The study also revealed that while women may use emoticons more frequently, men used a larger variety of emoticons to express themselves.
Rice University biochemist James McNew is probing the key protein atlastin in the genetic disorder HSP. The study aims to build up a better understanding of how atlastin works and why its defects cause HSP.
A study by Rice University researchers found that states without Certificate of Need regulations for open-heart surgery experienced a 4% decrease in average patient care costs. The deregulation led to increased competition among hospitals, driving up the quality of care and resulting in cost savings.
Researchers at Rice University have designed transparent, two-terminal, three-dimensional computer memories using silicon oxide and graphene. The devices show promise for electronics and sophisticated heads-up displays, with a working yield of about 80 percent.
Tadpole shrimp have been identified as a new pest of rice production systems in the midsouthern United States. The shrimp feed on rice seedlings and uproot them during foraging, causing water to become muddy and reducing light penetration.
Scientists at Rice University and UTHealth discovered a simple formula that enables Myxococcus xanthus bacteria to create waves to spread and devour other bacteria. The formula involves side-to-side contact between cells, a reversal time interval, and physical interactions, allowing the waves to move outward in unison.
Rice scientists created a computer program that predicts the most stable structures of nanometer-sized collagen, a crucial step toward synthesizing custom collagen. This breakthrough has significant implications for treating diseases and designing drugs, as collagen plays a vital role in holding cells together.
Rice University researchers create new process to manufacture stronger glass through chemical vapor deposition, enabling materials with twice the strength of current glass.
A recent study found that the abandonment of rice cultivation in Taiwanese paddies has led to an increase in disease-carrying ticks and chiggers, resulting in higher incidence rates of scrub typhus. This demonstrates the potential for global commodities pricing to drive the spread of infections.
Researchers at Rice University and three other US institutions are embarking on a five-year study to uncover the causes of hemoglobin toxicity in blood plasma. The study aims to develop strategies to prevent, reduce or reverse acellular hemoglobin toxicity.
Researchers have identified three genes responsible for hybrid sterility in rice, controlling fertility in indica-japonica hybrids by targeting female gametes and stabilizing cell membranes. The study may lead to the development of non-lethal hybrid combinations, improving crop genetics.
Researchers have identified genes that can be used to select low-cadmium accumulating crop varieties, offering a potential solution to reducing toxic levels in food. By understanding the mechanisms of Cd uptake in plants, scientists aim to develop targeted breeding strategies for crops like rice, wheat, and potatoes.
Researchers at Rice University developed a methodology to optimize the sensitivity of photoluminescent probes using time-resolved spectroscopy. Their technique gave results nearly twice as good as standard fluorescence spectroscopy when probed for specific DNA sequences, improving signal-to-background noise ratio.
Rice University researchers have developed a nanoreactor theory to predict graphene formation, which can advance the material's quality and electronic properties. The team found that the shape of the graphene edge pattern is dictated by the most efficient use of energy, with skewed edges growing fastest.
Researchers have developed a method to make flexible lithium-ion battery components from discarded silicon, which can prolong their usefulness. The new material is made by creating nanowires from high-value but hard-to-recycle silicon and then encasing them in an electrically conducting copper and ion-conducting polymer electrolyte.
Researchers from Rice University unveiled a new multi-antenna technology dubbed Argos, which aims to dramatically increase network capacity by allowing cell towers to simultaneously beam signals to more than a dozen customers on the same frequency. The technology could result in a six-fold increase in network capacity and energy savings.
Researchers at Rice University have discovered a nanoparticle that can restore balance to the brain's vascular system after an injury. The PEG-HCC nanoparticles immediately quench superoxide activity and allow the autoregulatory system to regain its balance, potentially treating mild brain trauma by preventing further damage.
A new robotic exoskeleton and EEG-based neural interface are being developed to help stroke patients regain upper-limb function. The system will interpret brain waves to control the exoskeleton, allowing patients to willingly operate it with their thoughts.
A Rice University researcher has received a National Institutes of Health grant to study the effects of delay in gene transcription on cellular processes. The goal is to create techniques for generating and analyzing models of gene networks that incorporate delay, which can help predict how genetic networks function and fail.
A team of researchers aims to grow whole salivary glands using patient's own cells to replace those destroyed by cancer radiation therapy, benefiting thousands of cancer patients with dry mouth. The regenerative method could also help those with Sjögren's syndrome, a chronic disease that affects moisture-producing glands.
OpenStax College's free physics and sociology textbooks have been adopted by 55 colleges, saving students at least $1 million this fall. The publisher expects to reach its five-year goal of saving 1 million college students $95 million.
Researchers at Rice University will study how bacterial decision-making occurs at the molecular level, aiming to improve medical applications and environmental remediation. The project combines computational and experimental techniques to bridge the gap in understanding biological systems.
Researchers at Rice University and Lockheed Martin have developed a process to create multiple high-performance anodes from a single silicon wafer for lithium-ion batteries. The new method uses electrochemical etching to extract the sponge-like structure, which can store more than four times its weight in lithium.
Researchers at Rice University have discovered that plasmonic chains exhibit properties similar to polymers, with the arrangement of nanoparticles influencing their optical behavior. The study found that the addition of nanoparticles along the chain can alter the energy of super-radiant modes and affect the interaction between particles.
Researchers at Rice University detail the exact mechanism of how carbon nanotubes bend and break when subjected to ultrasonic vibrations in a liquid. The study reveals that long and short nanotubes behave differently, with shorter tubes stretching and longer ones bending before snapping.
A study analyzing 235 types of rice found its glycemic index (GI) varies greatly among types, with most scoring a low to medium GI. This allows consumers, including those with diabetes or at risk, to select rice varieties for a healthy diet.
A new study by Utpal Dholakia at Rice University found that daily deals are becoming increasingly successful for businesses, with three-quarters reporting profits after seven or more deals. The study also reveals that newer and smaller businesses tend to perform better in the long term, with sustainability rates of up to 40%.
A team of researchers, including a Rice astrophysicist, used Doppler measurements to observe loops of plasma flowing up from the sun's surface at high speeds. These findings may help predict solar flares and coronal mass ejections that threaten satellites and power grids.
Rice researchers have developed a paintable lithium-ion battery with a five-layer structure, consisting of spray-painted components. The batteries were tested on various substrates and showed remarkable consistency in their capacities, making them suitable for energy-harvesting applications.
A new type of paint made with carbon nanotubes can help detect strain in buildings, bridges, and airplanes. This method provides a big advantage over conventional strain gauges, which must be physically connected to their read-out devices.
A new study by Rice University and the University of Colorado at Boulder found that US life expectancy has stagnated over the past century, with the poorest citizens living approximately five years less than more affluent persons. The study also found that despite moderate gains in coming years, the US still trails its developed counte...
Electronic asymmetry was discovered in iron-based high-temperature superconductors, providing new insights into their behavior. The study found that this asymmetry is a result of collective electronic behavior and may be essential for the material's superconductivity.
The study found that iron is the best and quickest catalyst to heal topological defects in nanotubes, which are critical for advanced materials. The researchers determined that healing occurs in a small zone near the catalyst and can happen in a fraction of a millisecond.
Researchers create DCA-fold tool to spot subtle interactions between amino acids in proteins, refining methods for predicting protein form and function. The new method uses genomic sequence information to eliminate possibilities from the range of forms a protein might take.
A new study finds strongly conserved parts of proteins responsible for knotted portions display remarkable similarities among species separated by more than a billion years. Slipknotted proteins, rare but essential for cell membrane stability, are also widely distributed across different families and species.
A new study by Rice University and Long Island University found that corporate political activity is negatively associated with market performance. Firms' political investments also worsen both market and accounting performance.
The new encoding method takes advantage of PCM's asymmetric physics, reducing energy consumption and 'memory wear'. Researchers from Rice University and UCLA unveiled a breakthrough at the IEEE/ACM Design Automation Conference.
Researchers at Rice University have created a tiny coaxial cable that is about a thousand times smaller than a human hair and has higher capacitance than previously reported microcapacitors. The nanocable, made with carbon and copper, could be used to build next-generation energy-storage systems.