‘New era in planet hunting’: Rice astronomers help capture striking images of planet formation
Astronomers, including Rice’s Andrea Isella and Charlie Gardner have unveiled new mages of planets.
Scientists observe exotic quantum phase once thought impossible
A team of Rice researchers reported the first direct observation of a surprising quantum phenomenon predicted over half a century ago known as a superradiant phase transition, which occurs when two groups of quantum particles begin to fluctuate in a coordinated, collective way without any external trigger, forming a new state of matter.
‘Oscars of Science’ Breakthrough Prize honors Rice physicists
An international team of physicists, including Rice’s Paul Padley, Frank Geurts, Karl Ecklund, Wei Li and Darin Acosta, was awarded the 2025 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics.
Researchers unlock hidden pathway to tunable magnetic devices
Led by Pengcheng Dai, researchers uncovered the cause behind a vanishing electronic phenomenon in a class of crystalline materials known as kagome lattice.
Rice physicists use quantum entanglement to crack mystery of strange metals
Led by Qimiao Si, a research team has shown that electron entanglement peaks at a quantum critical point.
Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore set to return to Earth
Rice experts are available to discuss NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore's return to Earth.
Texas-France space hub aims to innovate space commerce and research
The Texas-France Space Hub aims to unite academic institutions and private enterprises, expanding commercial space presence in both countries.
Rice scientists and collaborators at Baylor College of Medicine have demonstrated a new method for detecting the presence of dangerous chemicals from tobacco smoke in human placentas with unprecedented speed and precision.
Halas awarded Benjamin Franklin Medal in Chemistry
Rice’s Naomi Halas is the recipient of the 2025 Benjamin Franklin Medal in Chemistry, awarded “for the creation and development of nanoshells — metal-coated nanoscale particles that can capture light energy — for use in many biomedical and chemical applications.”
Emilia Morosan on team awarded Kavli Foundation grant for quantum geometry-enabled superconductivity
Rice physicist Emilia Morosan is part of an international research collaboration that has been awarded multimillion-dollar funding from The Kavli Foundation to develop and test next-generation superconductors.
Rice researchers lead project using quantum phenomenon to transform super-resolution imaging
A multidisciplinary team of researchers from Rice and Texas A&M has received a $1.2 million award from the W.M. Keck Foundation to advance super-resolution imaging and single-molecule tracking by harnessing super-radiance, a quantum optical phenomenon with transformative potential for research and innovation in medicine, engineering and the physical sciences.
Mathematical methods point to possibility of particles long thought impossible
New research by Rice physicists shows the possibility for particles that are neither bosons nor fermions.
Researchers at Rice University have made a meaningful advance in the simulation of molecular electron transfer — a fundamental process underpinning countless physical, chemical and biological processes.
New Rice-TMC research projects drive advances in health and medicine
Seven research partnerships involving Rice, the Baker Institute for Public Policy and various institutions within the Texas Medical Center (TMC) received seed grants in 2024 through the Provost’s TMC Collaborator Fund. These grants were facilitated by Rice’s office for Educational and Research Initiatives for Collaborative Health (ENRICH).
Researchers uncover strong light-matter interactions in quantum spin liquids
In a paper recently published in Nature Physics , an international group of researchers have found evidence of a quantum spin liquid in a material known as pyrochlore cerium stannate.