BioSciences

Rice scholars offer insight on life signature discovery from planet K2-18b

The finding, reported by The New York Times April 16, builds on generations of inquiry into whether life exists beyond Earth.

Senior Spotlight: Zoe Griffin ’25

As Rice prepares to celebrate the Class of 2025 at commencement May 9-10, Rice News is spotlighting a collection of standout seniors.

Rice biosciences students take lab to Brazos Bend State Park to study local ecology

For students in Introductory Lab in Ecology and Evolution, the classroom stretches far beyond campus walls into the heart of one of Texas’ most ecologically rich landscapes: Brazos Bend State Park.

Beason-Abmayr honored with Arthur C. Guyton Distinguished Educator Award

Beth Beason-Abmayr has been awarded the Arthur C. Guyton Distinguished Educator Award by the American Physiological Society.

Sustainable practices can be based in nature, expert says

Rice biogeochemist Carrie Masiello was a headliner in CERAWeek’s “lyceum” where experts from industry and academia present research and technical expertise at the annual energy conference in Houston.

Rice research team creates universal RNA barcoding system for tracking gene transfer in bacteria

An interdisciplinary group of researchers at Rice University has developed an innovative RNA “barcoding” method to track these genetic exchanges in microbial communities, providing new insights into how genes move across species.

Scientists gain insight into RNA-editing protein that could lead to improved treatment for cancer, autoimmune diseases

A research team led by Rice's Yang Gao has uncovered new insights into the molecular mechanisms of ADAR1.

Study reveals how rising temperatures could lead to population crashes

Researchers at Rice have uncovered a critical link between rising temperatures and declines in a species’ population, shedding new light on how global warming threatens natural ecosystems.

Nobel laureate Whittingham engages with Rice researchers, leaders on battery research and innovation during campus visit

Nobel laureate M. Stanley Whittingham shared insights from his pioneering work on lithium-ion batteries and addressed the future of energy storage during the Adams-Hauge Fund Smalley Lecture in Materials Science and Nanoengineering delivered at Rice.

McCary earns NSF CAREER Award to address invasive plants’ disruption to native ecosystems

Matt McCary, assistant professor of biosciences at Rice, has been awarded a Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award from the National Science Foundation.

Luay Nakhleh reappointed as dean of Rice’s George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing

Luay Nakhleh was reappointed as dean of Rice’s George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing.

New method developed to dramatically enhance bioelectronic sensors

In a breakthrough that could transform bioelectronic sensing, an interdisciplinary team of researchers at Rice University has developed a new method to dramatically enhance the sensitivity of enzymatic and microbial fuel cells using organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs).

Rice researchers discover new way to customize living materials for tissue engineering, drug delivery and 3D printing

Rice researchers have revealed novel sequence-structure-property relationships for customizing engineered living materials (ELMs), enabling more precise control over their structure and how they respond to deformation forces like stretching or compression.

Rice SynthX and MD Anderson team awarded Kleberg medical grant for brain metastasis research

Rice’s Han Xiao has received a $1.5 million grant from the Robert J. Kleberg Jr. & Helen C. Kleberg Foundation.

Polygamy is (not) for the birds

Researchers at Rice have uncovered new insights into the evolution of bird behavior, revealing why certain mating systems persist while others disappear over time.