Rice engineers tackle sunlight intermittency in solar desalination
A team of Rice engineers has developed a system that could transform desalination practices, making the process more adaptable, resilient and cheaper. The new system is powered by sunlight and uses a creative approach to heat recovery for extended water production ⎯ with and without sunshine.
Spotlight from The Franklin Institute Awards Ceremony: Celebrating Naomi Halas
Rice scientist and engineer Naomi Halas was awarded the 2025 Benjamin Franklin Medal in Chemistry May 1 at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia.
‘Creating new knowledge:’ Rice congratulates more than 250 doctoral graduates
Rice conferred more than 250 doctoral degrees during its 112th commencement May 10 at Tudor Fieldhouse. Doctoral candidates along with friends, family and loved ones gathered for the ceremony, which included the awarding of doctoral regalia, congratulatory remarks, cheers and a few moments to reflect on this milestone.
Machine learning powers new approach to detecting soil contaminants
A team of researchers at Rice and Baylor College of Medicine has developed a new strategy for identifying hazardous pollutants in soil ⎯ even ones that have never been isolated or studied in a lab.
Rice workshop unites global physicists to explore quantum frontiers
More than 80 scientists from around the globe gathered at Rice for the School on Electron Correlations and Topology.
Light-based data made clearer with new machine learning method
Rice researchers have developed a new machine learning algorithm that excels at interpreting optical spectra, potentially enabling faster and more precise medical diagnoses and sample analysis.
A team of Rice researchers has developed a new way to control light interactions using a specially engineered structure called a 3D photonic-crystal cavity that could enable transformative advancements in quantum computing, quantum communication and other quantum-based technologies.
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.
Wade Adams, former director of the Richard E. Smalley Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology at Rice, passed away Feb. 12 at the age of 78. A self-described “technical optimist,” Adams was not only an experienced researcher and educator but also an enthusiastic advocate of nanotechnology, which he defined as “making small stuff do big things” and viewed as offering potential solutions to pressing challenges, particularly in energy but also in clean water and medicine.
Nobel laureate M. Stanley Whittingham shared insights from his pioneering work on lithium-ion batteries and addressed the future of energy storage during the Adams-Hauge Fund Smalley Lecture in Materials Science and Nanoengineering delivered at Rice.
New method developed to dramatically enhance bioelectronic sensors
In a breakthrough that could transform bioelectronic sensing, an interdisciplinary team of researchers at Rice University has developed a new method to dramatically enhance the sensitivity of enzymatic and microbial fuel cells using organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs).
Rice-led study finds 2D carbon material is 8 times tougher than graphene, resists cracking
Rice researchers found that a carbon material known as monolayer amorphous carbon is eight times tougher than graphene.
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.
Rice Continuing Studies prepares Houston teachers, students for success
The Susanne M. Glasscock School of Continuing Studies is building relationships and connections in the greater Houston area that are resulting in novel learning opportunities for both students and teachers.
Rice researchers unlock new insights into tellurene, laying the foundation for next-gen electronics
Rice researchers have published a study describing how quasiparticles called polarons behave in tellurene, a nanomaterial first synthesized in 2017 that is made up of tiny chains of tellurium atoms and has properties useful in sensing, electronic, optical and energy devices.
