News Releases

Study aims to help governments maximize profits from oil and gas auctions

Federal and state governments auction leases to oil and gas companies to extract natural resources from public land. A revamp of the auction system — utilizing a new model developed by a Rice University economist — could lead to more competitive bids and, ultimately, more money for governments.

Christopher Tunnell wins NSF CAREER Award

Rice University computational astroparticle physicist Christopher Tunnell is getting help in his search for the nature of the universe through a National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award.

Physics camp has proven benefits for high school girls

HOUSTON – (March 5, 2021) – Even a small effort up front can boost the abilities and confidence of girls as they anticipate taking challenging science courses.

Camera traps reveal newly discovered biodiversity relationship

In one of the first studies of its kind, an analysis of camera-trap data from 15 wildlife preserves in tropical rainforests revealed a previously unknown relationship between the biodiversity of mammals and the forests in which they live.

Rice University experts to be featured at CERAWeek

Rice is an academic partner of CERAWeek, with the university's Energy and Natural Resources Initiative spearheading its involvement. The annual conference, which usually takes place in Houston, will be held online this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rice offering undergraduate major in business starting this fall

HOUSTON – (March 1, 2021) – Rice University will offer an undergraduate major in business beginning this fall.

Bottling the world's coldest plasma

Rice University physicists have discovered a way to trap the world's coldest plasma in a magnetic bottle, a technological achievement that could advance research into clean energy, space weather and astrophysics.

Quantum quirk yields giant magnetic effect, where none should exist

In a twist befitting the strange nature of quantum mechanics, physicists have discovered the Hall effect — a characteristic change in the way electricity is conducted in the presence of a magnetic field — in a nonmagnetic quantum material to which no magnetic field was applied.

Rice team forges path toward geothermal future

Rice scientists have joined a federal project to accelerate breakthroughs in geothermal systems for unlimited, inexpensive energy.

Cerium sidelines silver to make drug precursor

Rice scientists have developed a simplified method to make fluoroketones, a drug precursor that typically requires an expensive silver catalyst.

Bioinformatics tool accurately tracks synthetic DNA

A Rice computer science lab challenges -- and beats -- deep learning in a test to see if a new bioinformatics approach effectively tracks the lab of origin of a synthetic genetic sequence.

Chip simplifies COVID-19 testing, delivers results on a phone

Programmed magnetic nanobeads paired with an off-the-shelf cellphone and plug-in diagnostic tool can diagnose COVID-19 in 55 minutes or less.

Theory could accelerate push for spintronic devices

A theory by Rice scientists could boost spintronics, a key to creating faster and more powerful electronic devices, including quantum computers.

Why hasn’t President Biden delivered his first joint session address? Rice expert available to discuss delay

HOUSTON – (Feb. 25, 2021) – New presidents normally address a joint session of Congress the month after their inauguration, but President Joe Biden's speech is still on hold.

Farmers in developing countries can protect both profits and endangered species

HOUSTON – (Feb. 23, 2021) – Low-income livestock farmers in developing countries are often faced with a difficult dilemma: protect their animals from endangered predators, or spare the threatened species at the expense of their livestock and livelihood.