Rice University

E-waste is a major environmental hazard, full of valuable metals. Engineers at Rice University have now shown that precious metals and rare earth minerals can be recovered by flash-heating ground-up electronics with a zap of electricity.

What exactly does sleep do to the brain, and how could its benefits be boosted? To investigate, the US Army has awarded researchers a grant to develop a portable skullcap that can monitor and adjust the flow of fluid through the brain during sleep.

Rice University researchers have produced a "smart" shirt that uses interwoven carbon nanotube fibers to provide steady electrical contact with the skin, allowing for ongoing gathering of data on heart activity.

A new method converts carbon from a variety of sources straight into useful forms such as graphene or diamond. The technique uses a “flash” of electricity to heat the carbon, converting it into a final form determined by the length of the flash.

Researchers have engineered bacteria to sense pH levels in intestines and glow green in the presence of inflammation. The bacteria was tested in mouse models of inflammatory bowel disease, effectively indicating the beginning of a disease flare-up.

We've already seen wirelessly powered implants that are activated by an external transmitter. Taking things a step further, scientists are now able to activate multiple implants sequentially, still using just one transmitting device.

Researchers at Rice University have developed a new process to convert old tires into graphene, which can then be used to make concrete. Not only is it more environmentally friendly, but the team says the resulting concrete is substantially stronger.

Scientists have made a breakthrough in the way we study this plasma, managing to trap an ultracold form of it in a magnetic "bottle" for the first time, an achievement that could act as a springboard for research into nuclear fusion energy.

A new reactor converts carbon monoxide into acetic acid, using tiny copper cubes as a catalyst. The device is relatively simple and can operate for long periods, allowing the unwanted waste gas to be turned into an industrially useful product.

Engineers at Rice University have designed a new bandage-like microneedle device that could greatly improve access to malaria testing, with the ability to detect key markers of the disease without drawing any blood at all.

Some types of water are too salty for current desalination systems to handle. Scientists have now developed a potential solution to this problem, with a solar-powered desalination system that resists corrosion thanks to a special coating.

Heart attacks are a leading cause of death, largely because damage caused by one can lead to more. Now researchers at Rice University have developed a new way to repair heart tissue and reduce scarring, by implanting capsules loaded with stem cells.