Researchers at Rice University have successfully synthesized a group of natural compounds known as fusicoccanes. The molecules, found in various living organisms, exhibit diverse biological activities, including the ability to modulate protein-protein interactions within biological systems.
Aligned peptide ‘noodles’ could enable lab-grown biological tissues
A team of Rice researchers and collaborators have developed peptide-based hydrogels that mimic the aligned structure of muscle and nerve tissues, which could enable the development of functional lab-grown tissue.
Faculty, staff, students honored for excellence in teaching, mentoring, service
Each year, Rice honors members of the university community who have served students through outstanding teaching, dedication and service.
Rice alumna wins prestigious merit-based fellowship for new Americans
Rice University alumna Minjung Kim is one of 30 recipients of the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans, a merit-based graduate school program for immigrants and children of immigrants.
Chemical reactions can scramble quantum information as well as black holes
A team of researchers from Rice University and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has shown that molecules can be as formidable at scrambling quantum information as black holes by combining mathematical tools from black hole physics and chemical physics and testing their theory in chemical reactions.
Rice Emerging Scholars Program receives $2.5M NSF grant to boost STEM education
Rice University’s Emerging Scholars Program (RESP) has received a five-year, $2.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation. The funding aims to bolster achievements in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) among students from under-resourced families and communities.
Rice’s new Synthesis X Center has winning formula for cancer innovation
Rice has created the new Synthesis X Center to bring together clinicians treating cancer and researchers looking for cures to help spur drug discovery make precision adjustments to drug properties and translate fundamental research discoveries into clinical applications.
Rice’s Naomi Halas awarded Optica’s C.E.K. Mees Medal
Rice University’s Naomi Halas has been selected as the 2024 recipient of the C.E.K. Mees Medal by Optica for her “original use of optics across multiple fields.”
Aluminum nanoparticles make tunable green catalysts
The Rice lab of nanotechnology pioneer Naomi Halas has uncovered a transformative approach to harnessing the catalytic power of aluminum nanoparticles by annealing them in various gas atmospheres at high temperatures.
Rice’s Wiess School launches Center for Nanoscale Imaging Sciences
The Wiess School of Natural Sciences at Rice University has launched the Center for Nanoscale Imaging Sciences to improve the capture, analysis and interpretation of images at the nanometer scale. The center will push the frontiers of nanoscale imaging, contributing to breakthroughs in fields such as nanotechnology, materials science, biology and biomedicine.
Rice lab finds better way to handle hard-to-recycle material
Rice researchers have developed a new, energy-efficient upcycling method to transform glass fiber-reinforced plastic (GFRP) into silicon carbide, widely used in semiconductors, sandpaper and other products.
Advancing materials science, Rice professors examine chirality in nearly 2D
Hanyu Zhu and Boris Yakobson shared their perspective on chirality in 2D materials in Nature Materials.
Rice’s James Tour named to National Academy of Engineering
Rice chemist James Tour was named to the National Academy of Engineering, one of the highest professional distinctions accorded “in recognition of distinguished contributions” to the field.
Bruce Weisman wins Electrochemical Society’s Richard E. Smalley Research Award
Rice University chemist Bruce Weisman’s three-decade career in nanocarbons research has been honored with the namesake award of the Rice colleague who founded the field and sparked Weisman’s interest in it.
Rice research unveils key dynamics of 2D nanomaterials with view to larger-scale production
A team of Rice researchers mapped out how flecks of 2D materials move in liquid ⎯ knowledge that could help scientists assemble macroscopic-scale materials with the same useful properties as their 2D counterparts.