News Releases

Treat nonviolent drug offenses as public health issue, Baker Institute paper recommends

Drug use among people arrested for nonviolent drug offenses should be treated primarily as a public health issue, according to drug policy experts at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition.

US confrontation with Iran: Energy experts from Baker Institute available for interviews

HOUSTON -- (Jan. 3, 2020) -- As tensions between the United States and Iran reach perilous levels, three experts in the Center for Energy Studies at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy are available to speak with media about the implications for the markets and geopolitics.

Trump 'playing a high-stakes game with Iran,' says Baker Institute expert

HOUSTON – (Jan. 2, 2020) – The United States could take preemptive military action if it gets sufficient warning that Iran or its proxy forces are planning further strikes on American interests in the Middle East, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said today. Joe Barnes, a foreign policy expert and the Bonner Means Baker Fellow at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is available to discuss this development and the state of U.S.-Iranian relations with the media.

Snake-like proteins can wrangle DNA

Theoretical simulations at Rice University suggest structural maintenance of chromosome proteins coil not only around each other but also around the strands of DNA they help manipulate. These strands are formed into loops that regulate transcription and other cellular processes.

Rice University launches bold climate change initiative with Shell

With initial support from Shell, Rice University has launched Carbon Hub, a climate change research initiative to fundamentally change how the world uses hydrocarbons. Carbon Hub's goal is a zero-emissions future in which hydrocarbons are not burned. Instead, they are split to make clean hydrogen energy and valuable carbon materials.

Physicists find first possible 3D quantum spin liquid

Rice physicists show cerium zirconium pyrochlore qualifies as the first possible 3D quantum spin liquid.

Feds fund creation of headset for high-speed brain link

A Rice University-led team of neuroengineers is developing nonsurgical headset technology for brain-to-brain communication "at the speed of thought."

Organ bioprinting gets a breath of fresh air

Bioengineers have cleared a major hurdle on the path to 3D printing replacement organs with a breakthrough technique for bioprinting tissues.

Rice University announces new program to dramatically expand scholarships for middle class

Rice University has unveiled a new initiative to make higher education more affordable by dramatically expanding financial aid provided to students from low-income families to those with incomes up to $200,000.

Most British scientists cited in study feel Richard Dawkins’ work misrepresents science

Controversial British evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins is well-known for his criticism of religion, but a new Rice University study of British scientists reveals that a majority who mentioned Dawkins’ work during research interviews reject his approach to public engagement

Nanotubes assemble! Rice introduces ‘Teslaphoresis’

Scientists at Rice University have discovered that the strong force field emitted by a Tesla coil causes carbon nanotubes to self-assemble into long wires, a phenomenon they call “Teslaphoresis.”

First worldwide survey of religion and science: No, not all scientists are atheists

Scientists at Rice University have discovered that the strong force field emitted by a Tesla coil causes carbon nanotubes to self-assemble into long wires, a phenomenon they call “Teslaphoresis.”

Revolution with a salad spinner

A simple salad spinner will save lives this summer, if everything goes as planned by two Rice University undergraduates.

‘Carol of the Bells’ wasn’t originally a Christmas song

Although “Carol of the Bells” has become a popular tune during the holidays, the original lyrics had nothing to do with Christmas.