Rice University faculty and researchers are making headlines with advancements in battery technology, dark matter detection, and insightful commentary on national politics and economic issues.
Collaborative Rice research has unveiled a stretchable battery powered by air moisture, capable of matching commercial cells. This innovative technology also features a self-destruct mechanism, dissolving when opened, making it suitable for sensitive devices and spy gear. Co-authors of this research include Raudel Avila, assistant professor of mechanical engineering.
In another scientific breakthrough, Rice researchers theoretically outlined a strategy to detect axions, a candidate for dark matter, using quantum semiconductor design. This work involved Junichiro Kono, Shengxi Huang, and doctoral student Jaanita Mehrani. Additionally, Rice contributed to research on room-temperature superconductors, which received a significant boost from AI, with Emilia Morosan among the contributors.
Douglas Brinkley, the Katherine Tsanoff Brown Professor in Humanities and professor of history, provided insights into President Donald J Trump's presidency and America's 250th Anniversary in various national media outlets. Other Rice experts, including those from the Baker Institute for Public Policy and Kinder Institute for Urban Research, commented on topics ranging from North American trade deals and Saudi oil's influence on the World Cup to Texas flood warning systems and the proposed ban on rural data centers. Research also highlighted the near invisibility of climate change in modern fiction.