Physics and Astronomy

Rice, Rutgers developing inhalable COVID-19 vaccine spray

Scientists at Rice and Rutgers developing two COVID-19 vaccine strategies that do not require cold storage, one of which can be inhaled.

Six Rice-TMC research teams earn seed grants

Rice's Educational and Research Initiatives for Collaborative Health has announced six seed grants for research collaborations between faculty from Rice and the Texas Medical Center.

Nightside radio could help reveal exoplanet details

Rice scientists enhance models that could be used to detect magnetosphere activity on exoplanets. The Rice model adds data from nightside activity that could increase signals by at least an order of magnitude.

Rice welcomes teachers for in-person physics workshop

QuarkNet returned to Rice last week for the first in-person workshop on campus since the start of the pandemic.

Odd angles make for strong spin-spin coupling

HOUSTON – (May 25, 2021) – Sometimes things are a little out of whack, and it turns out to be exactly what you need.

Time crystals' time is coming

A recently arrived Rice University professor preparing to study quantum systems assembled from the ground up with individual atoms has two significant papers on which to build his reputation.

People, papers and presentations Jul 7, 2021

Physics and astronomy graduate student Asa Stahl is gaining international attention for his children’s book, “The Big Bang,” illustrated by his collaborator in England, Carly Allen-Fletcher. The book was nominated for the Ezra Jack Keats Award, is a finalist for Japan’s Sakura Medal, won an honor in the 2021 International Literacy Association's Children's and Young Adults' Book Awards and was named an Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students by the National Science Teachers Association and Children's Book Council.

Biologists construct a ‘periodic table’ for cell nuclei

A team of biologists studying the tree of life has unveiled a new classification system for cell nuclei, and discovered a method for transmuting one type of cell nucleus into another.

Pristine quantum criticality found

U.S. and Austrian physicists searching for evidence of quantum criticality in topological materials have found one of the most pristine examples yet observed.

Thin is now in to turn terahertz polarization

Rice lab’s discovery of ‘magic angle’ builds on its ultrathin, highly aligned nanotube films

Rice physicist Stanislav Sazykin dies at 49

Stanislav Sazykin, an associate research professor of physics and astronomy who was highly respected in his field of space science, died suddenly on May 3 at 49. The cause of his death has not yet been determined.

Students’ model could help avoid costly natural gas compressor shutdowns

A student project to predict the need for maintenance in natural gas compressors and avoid unexpected shutdowns has won this year’s Data to Knowledge Lab Showcase.

Rice names architect for new engineering and science building

With the imminent demolition of Rice University’s Abercrombie Engineering Laboratory, the space will soon be cleared for a new engineering and science building, according to Rice administrators. International architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) has been selected as lead architect for the new building. Houston’s Scientia Architects will consult on laboratory design.

Teamwork makes light shine ever brighter

If you’re looking for one technique to maximize photon output from plasmons, stop. It takes two to wrangle.

Seven research teams win Carbon Hub funding

Carbon Hub, Rice University's zero-emissions research initiative, has awarded seed grants for seven projects that will rapidly advance its vision for transforming the oil and gas sector into a leading provider of both clean hydrogen energy and solid carbon products that can be used in place of materials with large carbon footprints.