Elevate Research

The National Institutes of Health is backing a Rice University project to continue the development of flexible nanoelectronic thread to gather information from neurons. The miniaturized implants could ultimately help find therapies for neurological disorders. (Credit: Xie Laboratory/Rice University)

Gentle probes could enable massive brain data collection

The National Institutes of Health is backing a Rice project to continue the development of flexible nanoelectronic thread to gather information from neurons. The implants could help find therapies for neurological disorders.

Haotian Wang

Funding flows into liquid fuel strategy

The National Science Foundation awards a $2 million collaborative grant for the development of methods to convert carbon dioxide into liquid fuels.

Rice University’s optical detection system reveals small structural defects in a gold nanowire that may appear to be a perfect crystal under a scanning electron microscope. The discovery has implications for making better thin-film electronic devices. (Credit: Charlotte Evans/Rice University)

Boundaries no barrier for thermoelectricity

Rice researchers show how thermoelectricity hurdles some defects, but not others, in gold nanowires. The discovery has implications for making better thin-film electronic devices.

Someone micro-pipetting liquid into a test tube

Three research teams earn Dunn Awards

Three teams of Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine researchers have been named winners of the 2020 John S. Dunn Collaborative Research Awards.

Atoms in the crystal lattice of tantalum disulfide arrange themselves into six-pointed stars that can be manipulated by light, according to Rice University researchers. The phenomenon can be used to control the material’s refractive index. It could become useful for 3D displays, virtual reality and in lidar systems for self-driving vehicles. (Credit: Weijian Li/Rice University)

Ambient light alters refraction in 2D material

Microscopic crystals in tantalum disulfide have a starring role in what could become a hit for 3D displays, virtual reality and even self-driving vehicles.

José Onuchic

Pope picks Rice professor for science academy

Rice University physicist José Onuchic has been appointed by Pope Francis to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences.

Welch Foundation

Largest gift in Rice history establishes The Welch Institute

The Robert A. Welch Foundation announces the largest single gift in the history of Rice University, $100 million, to establish The Welch Institute for world-leading advanced materials research.

3DML

NSF backs first community platform for smarter wireless

Rice University researchers, with National Science Foundation backing, develop a community platform, 3DML, to accelerate machine learning for next-generation wireless networks and mobile applications.

Scientists at Rice University and the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) uncovered new clues in the protein CPEB3 as part of their dogged pursuit of the mechanism that allows humans to have long-term memories. Researchers at Rice University modeled the binding structures of actin and associated proteins they believe are responsible for the formation of longterm memory. Here, the beta hairpin form of zipper sequence is a potential core for the formation of intramolecular beta she

Protein ‘chameleon’ colors long-term memory

Researchers model the binding structures of actin and associated proteins they believe are responsible for the formation of longterm memory.

An overview by the U.S. Geological Survey shows the location of the Nuugaatsiaq landslide (yellow star) relative to five broadband seismic stations (pink triangles) within 500 km of the landslide. Nuugaatsiaq (NUUG) was impacted by the resulting tsunami the reached a height of 300 feet at sea, though it was much lower before it reached the village. The inset shows the geometry of the fjords relative to the landslide and Nuugaatsiaq. (Source: USGS)

Small quake clusters can’t hide from AI

A deep learning algorithm developed at Rice University analyzes data from a deadly landslide in Greenland to show how it may someday predict seismic events like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

The cross-section of a fiber produced at Rice University contains tens of millions of carbon nanotubes. The lab continually improves its method to make fibers, which tests show are now stronger than Kevlar. Courtesy of the Pasquali Research Group

No limit yet for carbon nanotube fibers

Rice University researchers report advances in their quest to make the best carbon nanotube fibers for industry.

José Onuchic, left, and Peter Wolynes, co-directors of the Center for Theoretical Biological Physics at Rice University. (Credit: Jeff Fitlow/Rice University)

NSF renews Rice biological physics center

$12.9 million in funding backs Center for Theoretical Biological Physics research into mysteries at the intersection of biology and physics.

Rice University graduate student Shuyuan Yang, left, and postdoctoral researcher Fanglong Zhao check samples as they work to isolate molecular drug scaffolds from fungus. (Credit: Jeff Fitlow/Rice University)

Engineers enlist fungi to advance against disease

Rice University engineers find the mechanism in fungus that produces a potential drug scaffold. The National Institutes of Health awards a multiyear grant to the lab to continue its work.

Martí named fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry

Vicky Yao

Cells may tell if arthritis flare-ups are coming

Rice computer scientist Vicky Yao and colleagues find unique early warning marker