It's easier to get valuable metals from battery waste if you ‘flash’ it
A battery recycling process developed by Rice scientists can retrieve valuable metals from mixed cathode and anode waste with a yield exceeding 98% in less time than normal using low-concentration acid, reducing both the cost and negative environmental impact.
Tiny CRISPR tool could help shred viruses
Rice scientists mapped out the three-dimensional structure of one of the smallest known CRISPR-Cas13 systems then used that knowledge to modify its structure and improve its accuracy.
Rice graduate students win NASA Future Investigator awards
Rice graduate students Aindrila Pal and Gregory Szypko have won NASA FINESST Awards, merit-based future investigator awards that include three-year grants to conduct research in Earth and space sciences.
Split gene-editing tool offers greater precision
To make a gene-editing tool more precise and easier to control, Rice University engineers split it into two pieces that only come back together when a third molecule is added.
Preston, four others win Ig Nobel Prize for ‘necrobotic’ spider study
Mechanical Engineering’s Daniel Preston, three graduate students and a postdoctoral fellow have won a 2023 Ig Nobel Prize for their “necrobotic” robot arm that incorporated a dead spider.
SCI Summer Research Colloquium awards; Applied physics students study in France
You can leave your gloves on: Rice-developed material burns viruses, safe for skin
A new material that packs deadly heat for viruses on its outer surface while staying cool on the reverse side could be used to make sustainable, multiuse personal protective equipment. Marquise Bell, a Rice graduate student who is the lead author of the research, was also part of this year’s NextProf Nexus workshop, a national, competitive faculty development program for engineering students from underrepresented groups.
Mental health a key priority at Rice University
Rice University’s efforts to support mental health and wellness go beyond advocating for individual self-care. The university fosters a culture of community care that enhances mental wellness in classrooms, offices and social settings.
Rice wraps up successful O-Week for Class of 2027
Rice University wrapped up an energetic and lively O-Week 2023 with the annual Welcome Back Day Festival Aug. 19.
Graduate Owls enjoy barbecue with president
Rice University President Reginald DesRoches welcomed new graduate students with a tasty barbecue meal Aug. 15.
Protective particles allow engineered probiotics to report gut disease
Rice U. bioengineers developed a platform that enhances survival and function of probiotics engineered to diagnose inflammatory bowel disease in animals. The technology holds promise for minimally invasive disease monitoring and advanced smart therapeutics.
When D turns to F, quantum matter is A-plus
In a potential boon for quantum computing, Rice physicists have shown that topologically protected quantum states can be entangled with other, highly manipulable quantum states in some electronic materials.
Rice U. program in Costa Rica promotes medical innovation
Rice University’s Global Medical Innovation program combines engineering, business and clinical training to help students solve real-world medical needs.
Rice engineers’ storage technology keeps nanosurfaces clean
Rice mechanical engineers improved on a 50-year-old idea to create container technology that keeps volatile organic compounds from accumulating on the surfaces of stored nanomaterials.
Cellular process that fuels plant growth yields surprising insights
A new study by Rice University bioscientists explains how structures inside plant cells collaborate to fuel germination. The findings could shed light on corresponding mechanisms in human cells.
