Nano-drills that kill bacteria and are powered by light
The traditional approach to defeating infectious bacteria has been chemical and biological, using antibiotics to beat some life-threatening microorganisms. Evolution is relentless, however, and we’re seeing more and more bacteria develop immunities to antibiotics quicker than we can develop new Read More...
Wireless video could make intubation safer
Intubation is a drastic yet necessary procedure that medical professionals perform to open patients’ airways. While it can be a real lifesaver, intubation is difficult to perform, and sometimes the tube can be placed incorrectly. A specialized, 3D-printed device with a small wireless camera Read More...
This chemical treatment makes plastic waste absorb CO2
A huge focus of research in scientific fields is to make things more efficient. This can mean simplifying designs, and reducing energy consumption, or it can mean doing two things at once. In the case of researchers from Rice University, they are doing two things at once in what they’re calling a Read More...
A new discovery about algae reproduction could help save coral reefs
The type of algae known as dinoflagellates are valuable for improving the health of corals in warming waters, and now, researchers from Rice University have discovered that they reproduce via sex, meaning that algae sex could be critical for the survival of coral reefs. The algae reproduce by Read More...
Scientists turn old tires into graphene for more sustainable concrete
Concrete is one of the most widely used materials in the world and is responsible for as much as nine percent of total carbon emissions. Scientists at Rice University have figured out a way to reduce that impact by converting waste from rubber tires into graphene that can, in turn, be mixed with Read More...
These colorful windows capture energy from indoor and outdoor light
What if we could build solar panels that aren’t an addition on top of buildings, but an actual part of the structural construction of homes and offices? This is the idea behind luminescent solar concentrators developed by researchers from Rice University. The technology transforms Read More...
New AI microscope could improve tumor removal accuracy
When it comes to tumor removal, the main goal is to remove all cancerous cells from the body, but the only way to know if this was successful is to look at the tumor under a microscope after surgery. Fortunately, there may soon be a more effective technique to ensure patients are cancer cell-free Read More...
This egg-based solution keeps produce stay fresh longer
Produce at your local grocery store is likely coated in carnauba wax to keep it from perishing, but now, researchers at Rice University have discovered a new way to keep fruits and veggies fresh for longer with an innovative egg-based wash. The new coating is great for vulnerable produce like Read More...
This new process turns all kinds of waste into valuable graphene
In a classic case of ‘two birds, one stone’, scientists at Rice University have come up with a clever solution for food waste and plastic waste. The solution comes in the form of a new process that can turn bulk quantities of carbon-based materials such as food waste into flash graphene—a Read More...