Engineering

12 questions for Nichole Ayers, Rice’s newest astronaut

Rice alumna and fighter pilot Nichole Ayers joins NASA's astronaut corps.

NSF grant supports study of cells’ early decisions

Rice University receives National Science Foundation support to build a model of cell differentiation during the earliest stage of life. The model could help improve researchers’ ability to direct stem cells to a given fate.

Audubon project wins D2K Showcase

Students whose computer vision system can classify birds by species and count them from the air won the Data to Knowledge Lab Showcase.

Microplastic pollution aids antibiotic resistance

Microplastics dispersed in the environment may enhance antibiotic resistance. A study led by Rice University found the chemical-leaching plastics draw bacteria and other vectors and make them susceptible to antibiotic resistant genes.

Omicron mutations may help SARS-CoV-2 evade antibodies

Software under development at Rice University and its partners reveals mutations in the omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 that may help it evade antibodies, including those from vaccinations.

Rice profs among historic Greek heroes

Two Rice professors are among physicians and biomedical researchers honored on the Greece bicentennial.

Welch Institute names Sir Anthony Cheetham, Kristin Persson to Scientific Advisory Board

The Welch Institute for Advanced Materials names Sir Anthony Cheetham and Professor Kristin Persson to its Scientific Advisory Board.

Ultrathin solar cells get a boost

Rice University engineers boost the efficiency while retaining the toughness of solar cells made of two-dimensional perovskites.

Magnetene’s ultra-low friction explained

Rice scientists help make the first measurements of ultra-low friction in 2D magnetene.

Weak bonds a strength in making borophene

Rice University researchers show how borophene, the 2D form of boron, can be grown to simplify its use for applications.

Rice lab details conditions to decontaminate disposable masks

Researchers at Rice University and the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, establish a framework for properly decontaminating disposable facemasks.

Rice expert: Medical robots poised to become smaller, softer, smarter, more autonomous and more commercializable

Robotics expert Marcia O’Malley, associate dean for research and innovation in Rice’s Brown School of Engineering, co-authored a retrospective in this week’s Science Robotics about the past decade's advances in medical robotics.

Rice names Reginald DesRoches as next president

Reginald DesRoches, who is now serving as the university’s provost, has been named as the next president of Rice University.

Rice strategy refines genetic base editors

A new strategy by Rice University scientists seeks to avoid gene-editing errors by fine-tuning specific CRISPR-base editing parameters in advance.

Rice tapped to develop 3D-printed ‘smart helmets’ for the military

Rice University researchers have embarked upon a project to build the first printable “smart helmet” with funding from the Department of Defense.