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Black and brilliant? A female genius? Not according to RateMyProfessors, study finds

A study analyzing over 14 million RateMyProfessors reviews found that male professors are described as brilliant and genius in fields with low female and African-American representation. The researchers suggest that the emphasis on brilliance and genius may contribute to the underrepresentation of women and African-Americans in these f...

Nanotube letters spell progress

The Rice researchers used experiments and simulations to study the stiffness of joined nanotubes and found that some types are tougher than others, with all having potential uses in macroscale structures. The team discovered that the X's were the stiffest and most able to bounce back to nearly their original shapes.

SourceRice University·JournalNano Letters·DateDec 7, 2015

People who rely on their intuition are, at times, less likely to cheat

A study by University of Missouri graduate student Sarah Ward found that people who trust their gut feelings are less likely to cheat after considering past immoral behavior. Participants in the experiment were asked to imagine acting immorally and then complete an unsolvable IQ test, with results showing that up to 23% cheated. The re...

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalPersonality and Individual Differences·DateNov 24, 2015

What counts as fair?

A new study found that counting ability was a strong predictor of whether children would distribute resources based on merit, not age or education. Children as young as 3 can understand the concept of rewarding more effort, but struggle to translate it into an accurate distribution.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalDevelopmental Science·DateNov 10, 2015

Faster optimization

Researchers have developed a new cutting-plane algorithm that improves upon existing methods, offering huge efficiency gains for specific optimization problems. The algorithm has been applied to various types of problems, including submodular minimization and semidefinite programming, resulting in significant speedups.

Self-assembling, biomimetic membranes may aid water filtration

Researchers have developed a second-generation synthetic water channel that improves on earlier attempts to mimic natural aquaporins. The peptide-appended pillar[5]arenes (PAP) membranes are more stable and easier to manufacture, making them suitable for highly efficient water purification membranes.

SourcePenn State·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 31, 2015

The peaks and valleys of silicon

USC Viterbi researchers have developed new layered semiconducting materials that can be adjusted to achieve unique electronic and optical properties. These materials have potential applications in LIDAR systems, infrared thermal imaging technology, and flexible night vision glasses.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateJun 26, 2015

Cloud security reaches silicon

The new chip features a data structure known as a tree, where every address is randomly assigned to a path through the tree -- a sequence of nodes stretching from the top of the tree to the bottom, with no backtracking. This approach improves efficiency by minimizing extra data needed between the chip and memory.

Archeologists discover Maya 'melting pot'

Archeologists discover that mobile and sedentary Maya groups co-existed and collaborated on construction projects, participating in public ceremonies. This finding challenges the idea that sedentary and mobile communities were separate.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 23, 2015

'Sticky' ends start synthetic collagen growth

Researchers at Rice University have made significant breakthroughs in the study of synthetic collagen fibers, demonstrating how they self-assemble through their sticky ends. The discovery could lead to improved synthetic collagens for tissue engineering and cosmetic medicine.

SourceRice University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateOct 27, 2014

Tilted acoustic tweezers separate cells gently

Researchers have developed a device that uses tilted-angle standing surface acoustic waves to separate cells with minimal energy. The method is gentler than traditional methods like centrifugation and can efficiently sort cells with high purity.

SourcePenn State·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 25, 2014

Nanoreporters tell 'sour' oil from 'sweet'

Rice University scientists have created a nanoscale detector that checks for and reports on the presence of hydrogen sulfide in crude oil and natural gas while they're still in the ground. The detection method is sensitive enough to detect low concentrations, making it an important tool for improving safety and efficiency in oil fields.

SourceRice University·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·DateApr 22, 2014

Flying the not-so-friendly skies

A new MIT study found that passengers of low-cost upstarts tend to complain less about service quality than network carriers. In a study published in the Journal of Air Transport Management, Michael Wittman tallied airline-related complaints made to the U.S. Department of Transportation from 2002 to 2012.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalJournal of Air Transport Management·DateJan 30, 2014

Never forget a face

Researchers developed an algorithm that subtly modifies facial features to make a face more memorable. The system uses machine learning to analyze subtle trends in facial features and applies these changes to produce a new image. In tests, the algorithm succeeded in making faces more or less memorable in around 75% of cases.

5 Michigan universities awarded NSF partnership grant to improve academic success

A collaborative project between five Michigan universities aims to increase the academic success of underrepresented minority graduate students and postdoctoral scholars in STEM fields, as well as women graduate students. The project will strengthen mentoring relationships and engage students in interdisciplinary learning communities.