Natural Sciences

Molecular machines could treat fungal infections

Rice scientists show that light-activated nanoscale drills can kill pathogenic fungi.

Naomi Halas named University Professor

Rice University has promoted nanotechnology pioneer Naomi Halas to its highest academic rank, University Professor. Halas, a 33-year member of Rice’s faculty, becomes only the 10th person and second woman to earn the title in Rice’s 111-year history.

Nanoparticles make it easier to turn light into solvated electrons

Chemists from Rice, UT Austin and Stanford have uncovered the long-sought mechanism of a light-driven process that creates solvated electrons, inherently clean chemical reactants that are attractive for green chemistry.

Rice University scientists get fungi to spill their secrets

As anyone who has ever attended a cocktail party can tell you, shedding inhibitions makes you more talkative and possibly more prone to divulging secrets. Fungi, it turns out, are no different from humans in this respect.

DNA repair scheme gets closer look for cancer therapy

Rice bioscientists took a close look at one of the ways cells repair broken DNA and made a discovery about a promising target for cancer therapy.

​​​​​​​Lab lights way to simple chemical synthesis

Rice University scientists have developed a photochemical process to simplify the synthesis of drug and chemical precursors known as diamines.

​​​​​​​Climate warming reduces organic carbon burial beneath oceans

A first-of-its-kind study suggests climate warming could reduce organic carbon burial and increase the amount of carbon that’s returned to the atmosphere.

​​​​​​​More links aren’t necessarily better for hybrid nanomaterials

Chemists from Rice and the University of Texas have found more isn’t always better when it comes to packing charge acceptors atop nanocrystals.

DesRoches outlines 2023 goals to faculty

President Reginald DesRoches delivers his inaugural State of the University

Rice flashes new life into lithium-ion anodes

Rice chemists use flash Joule heating to recover graphite anodes from spent lithium-ion batteries.

Pathogenic sensor’s surprising capabilities revealed

Rice synthetic biologists have uncovered new capabilities of a genetically encoded sensor that allows salmonella, E. coli and other pathogens to sicken millions of people each year.

US names two Rice students inaugural Quad Fellows

Two Rice graduate students are among the inaugural recipients of the Quad Fellowship.

Evelyn Tang wins CAREER Award

Evelyn Tang, an assistant professor of physics and astronomy and a member of Rice University’s Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, has won a prestigious National Science Foundation CAREER Award.

Tropical wildlife follow the same daily patterns worldwide

A massive study of rainforest species across three regions of the world finds striking similarities in how animals spend their days.

Rice lab’s catalyst could be key for hydrogen economy

A light-activated catalyst efficiently converts ammonia into clean-burning hydrogen using only inexpensive raw materials.