Chemistry

Models by Rice University chemists calculate the chemical and mechanical energies involved in “bursty” RNA production in cells. Their models show how RNA polymerases create supercoils of DNA that allow production of RNA that goes on to produce proteins.

Cells’ springy coils pump bursts of RNA

Models by Rice chemists calculate the chemical and mechanical energies involved in “bursty” RNA production in cells.

Carbon black powder turns into graphene in a burst of light and heat through a technique developed at Rice University. Flash graphene turns any carbon source into the valuable 2D material in 10 milliseconds. (Credit: Jeff Fitlow/Rice University)

Rice lab turns trash into valuable graphene in a flash

Scientists at Rice University are using high-energy pulses of electricity to turn any source of carbon into turbostratic graphene in an instant. The process promises environmental benefits by turning waste into valuable graphene that can then strengthen concrete and other composite materials.

PPP

People, papers and presentations Jan 13, 2020

George Abbey, senior fellow in space policy at the Baker Institute for Public Policy, was elected to the Lone Star Flight Museum's Texas Aviation Hall of Fame. He will be inducted at a luncheon May 8 at Houston's Ellington Airport.

Rice University researchers boosted the stability of their low-energy, copper-ruthenium syngas photocatalysts by shrinking the active sites to single atoms of ruthenium (blue). (Image by John Mark Martirez/UCLA)

Gasification goes green

Rice University engineers have created a light-powered nanoparticle that could shrink the carbon footprint of syngas producers.

Richard Smalley

Nanotech pioneer, Nobel laureate Richard Smalley dead at 62

Nobel laureate Richard Smalley, co-discoverer of the buckyball, died from cancer in Houston. He was 62.