Nano Deemed Best Long-Term Energy Alternative
Breakthroughs in nanotechnology could open up the possibility of moving beyond the United States’s current alternatives for energy supply by introducing technologies that are more efficient, inexpensive, and environmentally sound, according to a new science policy study by Rice University.

Small Cables, Big Power
Early in their research on carbon nanotubes, scientists realized that these elongated molecules of buckminsterfullerene could conduct electricity considerably more efficiently than copper wires. Now, NASA has teamed up with Rice on an $11-million project to create the first nano power cables.

Road Map to Peace Needs Multilateral Action Plan
With the election of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the intended implementation of Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon’s disengagement plan, the Bush administration has a unique opportunity to define the strategic direction of the Road Map [to Peace] Implementation Process (RMIP) and can take a leadership role in that effort, according to a policy recommendation report by an international group of experts convened by Rice’s James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy.

It’s a Zoo Out There
After years of informal collaboration between Rice researchers and the Houston Zoo, the relationship recently was formalized with the establishment of the Houston Zoo and Rice University Consortium in Conservation Biology.

Advice to Companies Before Going Offshore
Global outsourcing—or offshoring—affords U.S. firms tremendous opportunities for transforming themselves by opening new markets and tapping labor forces overseas. But, while other countries represent significant opportunities for U.S. businesses, a Rice expert on international joint ventures in China cautions companies to think about their long-term competitive strategy before going global.

Hang Up and Drive
Several states have laws requiring drivers to use “hands-free” devices when they talk on a cell phone while driving a car. The theory is that a driver has a slower reaction time while holding a phone and operating a car at the same time, which could cause potential dangers. But ongoing research by a Rice University professor suggests those new laws may not be effective.

A New Device Predicts the Onset of Fractures
Doctors may soon be able to specifically predict if and where fractures are likely to occur in patients with osteoporosis or other types of bone disease thanks to a portable, noninvasive device developed at Rice. Called the OsteoSonic, the device allows physicians to measure the actual structural integrity of bone tissue—something current imaging technology like X-rays or MRIs cannot do.

Airline Service with a Smile Still Matters
Air travel in the 21st century is an ordeal: endless security lines, constant delays, cramped seats, and shrinking or disappearing food service. Recent research shows, however, that an airline still can make the flying public happy by offering well-trained, friendly faces because nothing matters to travelers as much as the way they are treated.

The Smell of Fear, or, How Donald Trump Decides Who to Fire
Scientists have long known that mammals, as well as invertebrates and fish, communicate fear through changes in their body odors. Recent studies at Rice now confirm for the first time that natural human body odors also provide information about human emotions that is detectable by other people.

Celebrity Spokespersons
We’ve all seen and heard them on television—celebrity spokespersons appearing in person or as voiceovers in commercials to promote everything from financial services to cosmetics to cars.

Does Ethnic Difference Breed Distrust?
Prevailing theories suggest that there is less trust among people in diverse communities than in more ethnically homogeneous societies. However, studies of highly diverse former Soviet republics show that a strong attachment to one’s own group do not necessarily mean a lack of trust toward another group, especially where groups share experiences.

Liberal or Conservative, It’s All in the Genes
The phrases “Once a Democrat, always a Democrat” or “Once a Republican, always a Republican” may be truer than we realize. Our identification with a political party, which we acquire from early childhood socialization, often does last a lifetime. And according to a Rice political scientist, Americans’ political orientation—liberal or conservative—is a genetic trait almost as unlikely to change as our eye color.

Icon - A Partnership for Nanotechnology Stewardship and Sustainability
The Center for Biological and Environmental Nanotechnology (CBEN) at Rice University has announced the formation of the International Council on Nanotechnology (ICON), a collaboration among academic, industry, regulatory, and nongovernmental interest groups that will work to assess, communicate, and reduce potential environmental and health risks associated with nanotechnology.

Library’s Rare Collections Accessible Electronically
Fondren Library users no longer have to make a trip to the library to view some of the rare sheet music, architectural drawings, photos, letters, articles, speeches, and other reference materials, thanks to the new Fondren Digital Collections.

Past Sea-Level Rise Points to Troubling Future
New research by Rice geologists indicates that a rise in sea levels of as little as a half-meter per century has been sufficient to dramatically change the shoreline of the U.S. Gulf Coast within the past 10,000 years. That’s not good news, because half-meter increases are within the moderate range of predictions for the Gulf Coast during the century to come.

Taking MRIs to the Next Level
More than 25 million patients in the United States undergo magnetic resonance imaging procedures annually, and while MRIs are valuable tools, there also can be dangers. In almost one-quarter of those procedures, doctors use contrast agents, which are substances induced into the body to increase its sensitivity to the scans. Contrast agents can make it easier for doctors to deliver a diagnosis, but the most effective and commonly used contrast agent, the metal gadolinium, is toxic.

Top Rankings for Rice
The university was ranked ninth by Hispanic magazine among the best colleges for Latinos, and it was listed by the Princeton Review as one of the best 81 universities in the country for value. The 81 schools were selected from more than 350 colleges and universities, and each of them are profiled in the Princeton Review book America’s Best Value Colleges, which was released in April.

Jump for Joy
Sonja Thoms stands in front of about 100 Houston elementary school students. She is leading an activity designed to introduce them to the joys of classical music, and some of the children are so anxious to participate, they are popping out of their seats. “Ooh, ooh! Me, me, me!” exclaims one student. Others whisper and giggle excitedly in the audience.

Documentary Sends Students on Journey of Discovery
Rice University seniors Will Thompson and Stephen Fell began their documentary on the pro-life movement almost by accident. The two were required to create a portrait of a person they did not know as part of Brian Huberman’s Documentary Production course. For this project, they interviewed a pro-life activist in northwest Houston who constructed artificial graveyards representing aborted children.