Research

Rice lab grows macroscale, modular materials from bacteria

Rice bioscientists have created bacteria that self-assembles into a material like putty that could soak up pollutants.

Bird’s enzyme points toward novel therapies

Rice University chemists find a rare genetic pathway that helps mammalian cells become drug factories or sensors by synthesizing noncanonical amino acids. The clues came from an uncommon bird.

Solvent study solves solar cell durability puzzle

Rice engineers simplify the manufacture of high-efficiency perovskite solar cells.

Physicists demo method for designing topological metals

Rice physicists and collaborators have demonstrated a new method for predicting whether metallic compounds are likely to host topological states that arise from strong electron interactions.

​​​​​​​Interwoven: Charge and magnetism intertwine in kagome material

Rice physicists have discovered a quantum material where electrons engage in a collective dance that appears to be governed by both their electronic and magnetic natures.

Optical rule was made to be broken

Engineers at Rice University find a way to identify nanophotonic materials with the potential to improve screens for virtual reality and 3D displays along with optical technologies in general.

Department of Energy unveils geothermal ‘Earthshot’ at Ion

Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, at the Ion, announces the government’s latest “Earthshot” initiative on enhanced geothermal energy.

Three NSF grants support future of wireless

Rice engineer Ashu Sabharwal is part of three new National Science Foundation-backed projects to advance future generations of wireless communications.

Onuchic wins top Biophysical Society honor

José Onuchic wins the 2023 Founders Award presented by the Biophysical Society.

Can fungi help Texas’ grasses cope with climate change?

Rice biologists are using Texas as a living lab to study how symbiotic fungi help grasses tolerate drought.

Research teams win Dunn Awards to fight cancer

Researchers at Rice University will team with counterparts at MD Anderson to improve cancer therapy with the support of seed funding from the John S. Dunn Foundation.

SU(N) matter is about 3 billion times colder than deep space

Physicists from Rice and Kyoto University are using the uni­­verse’s coldest fermions to explore quantum magnets.

Wearables take ‘logical’ step toward onboard control

Rice University engineers design fluidic logic into garments to help people with functional limitations perform tasks without electronic assistance.

NSF grant supports ballot integrity research

Rice computer scientists are part of team that is studying the robustness and security of election systems that read hand-marked paper ballots.

ROBE Array could let small companies access popular form of AI

A breakthrough by Rice computer scientists could allow more labs and companies to use artificial intelligence.