In This Series

1. Water From Urine

   Teaching Materials | 30 Jan 2019 | Contributor(s): Christina Crawford, Krystal Dunn, NEWT Center

   The average person on Earth uses about 80 gallons of water per day, however, in space astronauts only use about 3 gallons of water per day.  Because water is a limited resource in space, NEWT scientists are working on a solution to recycle water from urine using nanotechnology. ...

2. Nanosilver and DBPs

   Online Presentations | 01 Feb 2019 | Contributor(s): Christina Crawford, Taylor Miller, NEWT Center

   Chlorine is a common chemical used to disinfect water. The addition of chlorine provides a benefit by killing pathogenic organisms, but it can be also harmful to humans by producing Disinfectant ByProducts (DBP). In this video, middle school and high school student will learn how...

3. Selective Microbial Control in Drinking Water Systems Using Bacteriophages Conjugated with Superparamagnetic Nanoparticles

   Online Presentations | 12 Jan 2021 | Contributor(s): Laurel Bingman, NEWT Center

   This whiteboard video is designed to engage K-12 students in high-level nanotechnology research. Bacteriophages have been studied for decades as a possible treatment for bacterial diseases. Now, scientists are trying to use them for the purpose of water treatment. Show students this...

4. The Effect of Sulfidation on Solubility of Silver Nanoparticles On Water Treatment Membranes

   Online Presentations | 12 Jan 2021 | Contributor(s): Richard Daines, NEWT Center

   This whiteboard video is designed to engage K-12 students in high-level nanotechnology research.  Biofouling hinders water treatment membranes. Coating them with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) increases their antimicrobial biofouling resistance.  Unfortunately, AgNPs are soluble,...

5. Liquid Crystal Elastomer: A Stimuli Responsive Polymer

   Online Presentations | 12 Jan 2021 | Contributor(s): Selene Reyes Verhofstad, NEWT Center

   This whiteboard video is designed to engage K-12 students in high-level nanotechnology research. Liquid Crystals (LCs) Commonly used in LCDs, calculator screens, tabletsState of matter between solid and liquidContains molecules shaped like rods to encourage...

6. PhotoBleaching

   Animations | 20 Aug 2022 | Contributor(s): Jessica Dupa, Rice University, NEWT Center

   What is PhotoBleaching?    Is this shorting video, we will learning about pigments and how color can be lost due to photobleaching. 

7. Boron Nitrate Nanotubes

   Animations | 20 Aug 2022 | Contributor(s): Robert Black, Rice University

   What are Boron Nitrate Nanotubes?This project focuses on the development of pristine Boron Nitrate Nanotubes (BNTs). BNTs exhibit properties of insulating, sustaining high temperatures, and strength, all promising for engineering and medical applications.

8. Removal of PFOAS & Nitrate From Waste Water

   Animations | 20 Aug 2022 | Contributor(s): Sheena Carbaugh, Arizona State University, NEWT Center

   How do per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs or PFOAs) and nitrates affect the food we consume? This study focuses on how naturally occurring PFAs/PFOAs and nitrates, which are harmful when consumed in large quantities, can be removed via biodegradation.

9. Using UV-C LEDs for Water Disinfection

   Animations | 20 Aug 2022 | Contributor(s): Scott Currier, Arizona State University, NEWT Center

   Biofilms can develop over treated water causing harm to humans. This project focuses on utilizing UV-C LEDs for disinfection of stored water.

10. Desalination and Brackish Water

    Animations | 20 Aug 2022 | Contributor(s): Christina Pasillas, University of Texas- El Paso, NEWT Center

    What is Electrocoagulation? This study focuses on utilizing Electrocoagulation in the removal of colloidal silica particles and thus improving the Reverse Osmosis (RO) recovery rate in brackish water.

11. Why Lithium is Important?

    Animations | 20 Aug 2022 | Contributor(s): Mallam Phillips, Rice University, NEWT Center

    How is lithium obtained from the environment? Lithium is a highly reactive metal with unique properties including a high degree of heat and electric conductivity. This research focuses on using Electrodialysis to obtain lithium from brine reservoirs.

12. Size Matters

    Animations | 20 Aug 2022 | Contributor(s): Michael Sang, Yale University, NEWT Center

    How can Iron nanoparticles be used for cleaning water? This research focuses on utilizing 8nm Iron (Fe) nanoparticles for cleaning water by testing different surfactants to stop these nanocrystals (NCs) from aggregating and thus keeping small and separate as possible.

13. TiO2 Everywhere!

    Animations | 20 Aug 2022 | Contributor(s): Tabatha Schacht, University of Texas - El Paso, NEWT Center

    How much Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) is present in the water we drink? This research focuses on terephthalic acid (TPA) and UV light in order to detect the levels of TiO2 present in drinking water and thus ensuring the levels are within the safe parameters of consumption.

14. Neutral Pattering of Stem Cells

    Animations | 20 Aug 2022 | Contributor(s): Donna Booker, Rice University

    How do cells pattern and establish the complex structures of the brain? How does a cell know that it will be part of the forebrain or the hindbrain? By using embryonic stem cells, this project focuses on researching how proteins and genes interact with each other to establish instructions...

15. A Boron Solution

    Animations | 20 Aug 2022 | Contributor(s): Carl Boyd, Rice University, NEWT Center, Mariana Quinn

    What is a hexagonal Boron Nitride hBNs coating? This project focuses on developing a method for layering hBN coats on materials for their ability to prevent corrosion and abrasion.

16. Plasmonic Gold Nanoparticles

    Animations | 20 Aug 2022 | Contributor(s): Rafferty Deeds, Rice University

    Plasmonics has proven applications in improving photocatalysis, photothermal and photovoltaic cells. There are some issues with optimizing energy transfer and the decay of the plasmon oscillation in conjunction with semiconductors. Direct charge transfer results in chemical interface...

17. Building & Testing a Component of Synthetic Genetic Circuit in Mammalian Cells

    Animations | 20 Aug 2022 | Contributor(s): Ariel Delos Reyes, Rice University

    Oscillations in protein levels within cells help facilitate a variety of biological processes, from circadian rhythm to cell cycle progression. This research focuses on developing a platform for creating oscillatory circuits in mammalian cells by using several interrelated DNA constructs....

18. Optical Property of Single Wall Carbon Nanotube

    Animations | 20 Aug 2022 | Contributor(s): Usha Devathosh, Rice University

    What are the optical properties of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes? Single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are 1D cylindrical nanomaterials that resemble a rolled up graphene sheet and have many interesting properties, including the strong fluorescence emission of semi-conducting SWCNTs in the...

19. Nanocomposite Hydrogels

    Animations | 21 Aug 2022 | Contributor(s): Francisco Padron, Rice University

    What are Nanocomposite Hydrogels? Sodium alginate (SA) is a natural hydrophilic biopolymer, typically obtained from marine brown macroalgae, and suitable for making hydrogels for biomedical applications due to its biocompatibility, chelating ability, water solubility, and low-cost. The...

20. Aggregation Effect of Near-Infrared Boron Difluoride Formazanate Dyes

    Animations | 21 Aug 2022 | Contributor(s): Jessica Robicheaux, Rice University

    How are near-infrared (NIR) dyes used for their enhanced capability in fluorescence detection and imaging, tissue penetration depth and low background with minimal fluorescence from surrounding tissues? This research focuses on Aggregation Induced Emission (AIE) in order to utilize boron...

21. Why You Should Care About Crystals

    Animations | 21 Aug 2022 | Contributor(s): Aerielle Rodriguez, Rice University

    Why are Crystals important for material engineering? This project tested different crystals with varying band gaps in order to demonstrate the relationship between observable optical properties and physical properties of crystals.

22. The Vital AMP

    Animations | 21 Aug 2022 | Contributor(s): Emanuel Byas, Rice University

    Antimicrobial Peptides (AMP)s are naturally produced in nature by organisms and have been known for a while to aid in the combat of fighting off harmful microbes. AMPs alone, however, have their own limitations in nature such as becoming toxic to individuals at certain concentrations, low...

23. The Importance of Fish Poop

    Animations | 21 Aug 2022 | Contributor(s): Julie Cooper, Rice University, NEWT Center

    Stony corals engage in symbiotic relationships with photosynthetic dinoflagellates (Family Symbiodiniaceae). As corals become more susceptible to bleaching events the rate at which they reacquire Symbiodiniaceae into their framework is key to their survival. Symbiodiniaceae can be dispersed...

24. Terahertz Materials for 3D Printing

    Animations | 21 Aug 2022 | Contributor(s): Ariel Delos Reyes, Rice University

    Terahertz (THz) represent the portion of the electromagnetic radiation between the microwave and the infrared region. Potential applications range from communication, pharmaceutical, medical and dental. However, the fabrication of photonic devices are challenging due to the limited choices...

25. Detecting Cancerous Pollutants

    Animations | 21 Aug 2022 | Contributor(s): Julia Dolive, Rice University, NEWT Center

    Developments in machine learning software and nanoparticles-assisted Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) techniques have remarkable potential in improving the detection accuracy and sensitivity of pollutants molecules. A cancerogenic class of environmental and biological pollutants of...

26. Forever Chemical Gone Forever Using Nanotechnology By Converting PFAS Into Graphene Nanoparticles

    Animations | 21 Aug 2022 | Contributor(s): Robert Garza, Rice University

    Forever chemicals are in a class of chemicals commonly known as PFAS (Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances). These chemicals are found in items such as microwave popcorn and fast food containers. Consequently, they are now being found in drinking water causing health problems such as a...

27. Designing a System that will Prevent Membrane Fouling in the Event of a Power Outage

    Animations | 21 Aug 2022 | Contributor(s): Enrique Gomez, University of Texas - El Paso, NEWT Center

    This project focuses  on finding a solution to prevent membrane fouling in the CERRO units located at the lower valley plants in the event of a power outage. Power outages are common in the 79907 area of El Paso, Texas especially during the summer season. In the event of a power...

28. Your Smart Brain

    Animations | 21 Aug 2022 | Contributor(s): Rubiona Grainger, Rice University, NEWT Center

    Researchers have differentiated hESCs into forebrain, midbrain and hindbrain. However, observing cell interpretation of signals to form dorsal-ventral patterning tissues with sonic hedgehog (SHH) gene is necessary. We used micropatterning within different timeframes to determine how cell fates...

29. Cleaning Household Greywater for Reuse as Toilet Water

    Animations | 21 Aug 2022 | Contributor(s): Elliot Hall, Arizona State University, NEWT Center

    Freshwater is becoming scarce while we use it as a limitless resource. Roughly 30% of our daily water usage is from toilets. Our project, funded by Gate Foundation is to recycle household greywater, clean it, and reuse it in toilets. In this work, the physical foam fractionation is...

30. BNNTs

    Animations | 21 Aug 2022 | Contributor(s): Shawna Lee-Paul, Rice University

    Boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) are nano particles with unique properties, including high mechanical strength, high thermal conductivity, and neutron shielding capacity. These properties are beneficial for numerous applications, such as aerospace, electronics, and energy-efficient...

31. How to Remove Metals from Water with Polymers

    Animations | 21 Aug 2022 | Contributor(s): Gerardo Lopez, Arizona State University, NEWT Center

    Heavy metals in our water sources have been an ongoing contamination issue that has been growing, especially since the industrialization era. Methods such as adsorption have been previously developed to try to remove these metals from the water in the most cost-effective and as efficiently...

32. Mr. Waters Takes a Bath at the NEWT Water Treatment Facility

    Animations | 21 Aug 2022 | Contributor(s): Melissa Mason, Rice University, NEWT Center

    Antimicrobial drinking water has improved over the years with less deaths from water contamination. Scientists and engineers have developed methods to produce larger volumes of water. However, to produce volumes of purified drinking water to accommodate billions of people is an everyday...

33. Keep Our Dirty Clean

    Animations | 21 Aug 2022 | Contributor(s): Leonel Resendiz, Rice University, NEWT Center

    Pyrolytic treated of contaminated clay (bentonite) impregnated with iron and copper have shown promise as a viable route to the treatment of crude-oil contaminated soils including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). PAHs are a class of chemicals that occur naturally in coal, crude oil,...

34. Adaptations to Convection Cells

    Animations | 21 Aug 2022 | Contributor(s): Chris Winkler, Rice University, NEWT Center

    Changing temperature differences between the poles and the equator, and the rate of the Earth’s spin, create unique atmospheric patterns. These movements help to transfer heat from the equator to the poles thus creating weather. Deep Learning is used to help predict the changes due to...

35. Making a Self-Cleaning Anti-Scale Coating for Water Treatment Systems

    Animations | 21 Aug 2022 | Contributor(s): Mariana Quinn, Rice University, NEWT Center

    How are Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) used in water treatment? This research focuses on harnessing the electrical properties of Carbon Nanotubes in order to create a coat that prevents scale and biofilm buildup in water treatment systems.

36. Photovoltaic Performance of Perovskite Solar Cells Based on Hole Transport Layer

    Online Presentations | 31 Aug 2023 | Contributor(s): Chika Okolo, Mariana Quinn, Rice University

    Heatwaves are responsible for more deaths across the world than floods, tornados, or hurricanes. The problem, and the potential solution is the Sun. Every hour, it emits enough energy to power our entire world for a year. However, we need an efficient, green, and cost effective way to harness...

37. Unveiling the Journey of Making Single Crystals

    Online Presentations | 31 Aug 2023 | Contributor(s): Ritu Gandhi, Karthik Rao, Rice University

    Growing crystals in saturated solution is a fundamental technique for obtaining well-ordered crystals with controlled properties. This process involves a method called “flux growth”, where single crystals are grown by employing a flux, which is a solvent that facilitates the...

38. Investigating Biomolecular Size Effects on the Performance of Organic Electrochemical Transistors

    Online Presentations | 31 Aug 2023 | Contributor(s): Mariana Prado, Erin Porter, Rice University

    Organic Electrochemical Transistors (OECTs) use biomolecular sensor technology in order to detect biomolecules. These sensors have many advantages such as low cost, ability to amplify molecular binding, and their stability in aqueous environments. OECTs have shown high sensitivity, but there is...

39. Nature of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes' Interactions with Differing Photosensitizers

    Online Presentations | 31 Aug 2023 | Contributor(s): Rubiona Grainger, Nima Soltani, Rice University

    It was recently discovered that when Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (SWCNTs) wrapped with single-stranded DNA are exposed to singlet oxygen the singlet oxygen reacts with the guanine nucleotides embedded in the DNA. The singlet oxygen is produced by irradiation of a photosensitizer. However,...

40. Sustainable and Energy Efficient Removal of PFAS-Saturated Granular Activated Carbon

    Online Presentations | 31 Aug 2023 | Contributor(s): Melody Jenkins, Sara Denison, Rice University, NEWT Center

    Currently water treatment plants remove toxic PFAs using granular activated carbon (GAC) but have no sustainable process for disposing PFAS. Our approach focuses on the successful removal and destruction of PFAs in GAC preventing contaminants from entering back into the environment & uses...

41. Cell Factory for Small Molecule Inducible Delivery of Low Dose IL-2

    Online Presentations | 31 Aug 2023 | Contributor(s): Celsa Pachlhofer, Yafet Arefeayne, Rice University

    Autoimmune and inflammatory diseases are characterized by insufficient regulatory T cells (Treg), which play a central role in maintaining peripheral tolerance, preventing autoimmunity, and limiting chronic inflammation.  Treg cells depend on IL-2 for survival and maintenance of their...

42. Food Web Differences in Primary Versus Secondary Growth in a Lowland Tropical Rainforest

    Online Presentations | 31 Aug 2023 | Contributor(s): Patricia Juarez Swan, Annie Finneran, Rice University

    Biodiversity of wildlife can be seen in interactions between species, such as predation. One way to understand predation between animals such as mammals and birds are food webs, which documents which animals eat each other. Understanding how humans can impact these food webs, and therefore the...

43. Surface Modification of Aluminum Nanocrystals with Biologically Relevant Ligands

    Online Presentations | 01 Sep 2023 | Contributor(s): Carla Dagher, Oara Neumann, NEWT Center, Rice University

    This approach allowed the exploration of the use of Aluminum Nanocrystal's functionalized ligands in biomedicine utilizing cost effective procedures.

44. UV-C Inhibition of Biofilm in Space Habitation Water Systems

    Online Presentations | 01 Sep 2023 | Contributor(s): Milton Johnson, Ken Niimi, NEWT Center, Rice University

    Bacterial biofilms occur everywhere water sources as present, including the international Space Station (ISS). These can lead to water contamination and potential health effects for astronauts. This study utilized an inexpensive and chemical free approach to sanitazing space habitats by...

45. Reducing Toxicity, Sequestration, and Degradation of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAs)

    Online Presentations | 01 Sep 2023 | Contributor(s): Gokhan Mutcali, Daniel Rivera, NEWT Center

    Per- and Polyflyoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large, complex group of synthetic chemicals that are commonly used everyday. Consumers are exposed to these by consuming contaminated water or food, using products made with PFAS or breathing contaminated air. This project focuses on the...

46. Transfer of CO2 Into Organics by Au-Biofilm

    Online Presentations | 01 Sep 2023 | Contributor(s): Ashley Fauss, Min Long, NEWT Center, Rice University

    There is currently an increase in urbanization and deforestation causing an abrupt increase of CO2 in the atmosphere. This project focuses on reducing carbon emissions in an effort to mitigate the effects of climate change by utilizing a membrane biofilm reactor which diffuses the CO2 across...