Current News

People, papers and presentations for Aug. 30, 2021

Rice ranked by Niche as one of nation’s top 10 universities

Rice University wins an “A+” grade and ranks as one of the nation’s top 10 universities in the latest ratings of American colleges compiled by Niche.

Bilayer borophene is a first

Scientists make bilayer borophene for the first time. The versatile 2D material shows promise for quantum electronics, energy storage and sensors.

Ethics survey shows a campus unafraid to speak up

A recent survey of Rice employees found that 99% of respondents were comfortable reporting ethical concerns to at least one resource on campus.

‘Smart’ shirt keeps tabs on the heart

Carbon nanotube thread woven into athletic shirts gathered electrocardiogram and heart rate data that matched standard monitors and beat chest-strap monitors. The fibers are flexible and the shirts are machine washable.

New book explores the different — and surprising — types of atheism in science

A newly published book argues that a significant part of the public wrongly sees scientists who are atheists as immoral elitists who don’t care about the common good.

Paper: Wealth inequality shrinking after Trump-era tax reform, but progress at risk

Wealth inequality dropped in 2019 in the U.S. for the first time in almost three decades, but proposed tax legislation is threatening to reverse the progress, according to an expert at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.

Rice lab dives deep for DNA’s secrets

Structural biologist Yang Gao receives a five-year National Institutes of Health grant to detail how complex protein chains replicate DNA and fix errors on the fly. What they find could help treat genomic disease, including cancer.

Night of the Owl goes virtual to honor athletic achievement

Cross country and track and field athlete Adolfo Carvalho and basketball player Erica Ogwumike claimed the night's biggest awards.

Owl swimmer Lettenberger takes silver medal at Paralympics

Rice swimmer Ahalya Lettenberger's late surge earned her a silver medal in the 200-meter individual medley SM7 final Aug. 27 at the Paralympics in Tokyo.

US must take responsibility for Afghan refugees, says expert

As some Afghan refugees fleeing the chaos in their home country head to the United States, Kelsey Norman, fellow for the Middle East and director of the Women’s Rights, Human Rights and Refugees Program at Rice's Baker Institute for Public Policy, argues that the U.S. is dodging responsibility by distributing most refugees across the globe, which will force them to wade through more bureaucracy.

Chetna Koshy named chief compliance officer

Transnational Asian Studies expands its offerings with three new faculty members

‘A true pioneer,’ the department works across boundaries in space, time and discipline.

Under my umbrella

Pool hopping