
Pompeo playing politics with Hong Kong statement, says Baker Institute expert
HOUSTON – (May 28, 2020) – Following Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's declaration that "no reasonable person can assert today that Hong Kong maintains a high degree of autonomy from China," an expert from Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy is available to discuss the situation with the news media.

COVID-19 crisis hits Houston harder than other Texas cities
HOUSTON – (May 28, 2020) – Revenue losses related to COVID-19 will hinder city services in Houston, San Antonio and Dallas, with Houston likely to be the hardest hit of the three, according to a new report from Rice University's Kinder Institute for Urban Research.

Rice U. physicist Ming Yi wins coveted Moore Foundation grant
Rice physicist Ming Yi won $1.6 million from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation for high-risk, high-reward research into quantum materials.

Rice's COVID-19 research fund awards final grants
The Rice University COVID-19 Research Fund Oversight and Review Committee funds nine more faculty teams working to mitigate the effects of the new coronavirus.

Ocean virus hijacks carbon-storing bacteria
Rice scientists are analyzing the role of ferredoxin proteins produced when viral phages alter electron transfer in ocean-dwelling bacteria that produce oxygen and store carbon.

Blood flow recovers faster than brain in micro strokes
Work by a Rice neurobiologist shows that increased blood flow to the brain is not an accurate indicator of neuronal recovery after a microscopic stroke.

SpaceX launch 'historic,’ will pave way for NASA’s moon and Mars plans, Rice space expert says
HOUSTON -- (May 22, 2020) – The Crew Dragon space capsule made by Elon Musk's SpaceX faces a final big test when two astronauts climb aboard for a flight to the International Space Station on Wednesday. "This historic first launch of American astronauts from American soil since 2011 will mark the next stage in U.S. human spaceflight, paving the way for a more versatile and flexible access to the International Space Station," said astronomer David Alexander, director of the Rice Space Institute.

USMCA features new policies for the US
The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) includes clauses never before seen in a U.S. trade agreement, according to an expert at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.


Online conference to focus on how science and church communities can cooperate amid COVID-19
HOUSTON – (May 20, 2020) – Strengthening the faith of churches through science will be the focus of a virtual conferenceJune 5 hosted by Rice University's Religion and Public Life Program (RPLP).

Rice names campus grove in honor of Rev. William Lawson
Rice University has announced it will name part of its campus central quadrangle The Reverend William A. Lawson Grove.

Quantum Hall effect 'reincarnated' in 3D topological materials
U.S. and German physicists have found surprising evidence of a link between the 2D quantum Hall effect and 3D topological materials that could be used in quantum computing.

HOUSTON – (May 18, 2020) – When surveyed in February and early March — on the brink of the coronavirus pandemic — Houstonians expressed a deeper sense of mutual trust, empathy and solidarity than ever before, with growing numbers of people calling for policies to reduce inequalities and improve public schools, according to the 2020 Kinder Houston Area Survey.

Early Bird uses 10 times less energy to train deep neural networks
Rice engineers have found a way to train deep neural networks for a fraction of the energy required today. Their Early Bird method finds key network connectivity patterns early in training.

Internationally acclaimed soprano Nova Thomas named professor of voice at Rice
HOUSTON – (May 18, 2020) – Internationally acclaimed soprano Nova Thomas has been appointed a professor of voice at Rice University's Shepherd School of Music. She begins July 1.