Rice Catalyst

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Rice Catalyst We are a peer-edited publication dedicated to fostering discussion of the sciences at Rice University.

We provide an avenue for students to present their own research or provide commentary on topics of interest.

"Whoever solves one of the “Millenium Problems” is entitled to receive a whopping $1,000,000 for their work."
02/03/2021

"Whoever solves one of the “Millenium Problems” is entitled to receive a whopping $1,000,000 for their work."

Math seems like such a well-defined subject that it is difficult to believe that there are still any big questions left unanswered. After all, for a subject that’s been studied extensively for at least 3000 years and one that builds on itself so easily, how can there be anything left unknown? Howe...

"Scientists already have a pretty good understanding of brain activity patterns and perception — but the connections bet...
16/12/2020

"Scientists already have a pretty good understanding of brain activity patterns and perception — but the connections between these concepts are still largely unknown."

Scientists have already established a relatively strong connection between certain sensory inputs and their corresponding brain activity patterns [1]. With the use of devices like functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), they can directly measure electrical changes in the brain as a person is s

"According to a study on Psychodermatology ... one-third of patients who’ve suffered from dermatologic diseases have und...
14/12/2020

"According to a study on Psychodermatology ... one-third of patients who’ve suffered from dermatologic diseases have underlying psychiatric conditions and the field of psychodermatology could suggest that the two conditions may be directly related, where one causes or worsens the other."

What is Psychodermatology? Psychodermatology is a field of medicine that explores the effect of psychocutaneous conditions or disorders on the health of your skin, hair, and/or nails. The field is not yet widely researched, but is reported to be somewhat common. In fact, according to a study on Ps

"What do experimental cancer-fighting drugs, inkjet printing, and a small lineage of alpine plants have in common? Appar...
12/12/2020

"What do experimental cancer-fighting drugs, inkjet printing, and a small lineage of alpine plants have in common? Apparently, they share a rare and enigmatic mineral called vaterite."

What do experimental cancer-fighting drugs, inkjet printing, and a small lineage of alpine plants have in common? Apparently, they share a rare and enigmatic mineral called vaterite. In the past few years, scientists at Cambridge University have made an esoteric but potentially game-changing discov

"To a country about to leave the Paris Climate Agreement, this record should be especially terrifying. The more steps we...
01/12/2020

"To a country about to leave the Paris Climate Agreement, this record should be especially terrifying. The more steps we take away from changing our habits, the closer we are to this type of future."

Forty-five years ago, scientists J.P. Kennett and N.J. Shackleton found that deep-sea microscopic plankton (benthic foraminifera) could provide a reliable isotope record of Earth’s fluctuations in global carbon emissions, sea water composition, and deep-sea temperature [1]. Ever since, scientists ...

"Hypnotherapy not only alleviates IBS symptoms, but also can have long-lasting beneficial effects on patients’ wellbeing...
28/11/2020

"Hypnotherapy not only alleviates IBS symptoms, but also can have long-lasting beneficial effects on patients’ wellbeing."

If you have seen Dracula or The Jungle Book , this scene may seem familiar: a creepy hypnotist stares deeply into someone’s eyes, causing them to fall into a trancelike state. However, despite its over-romanticization in popular media, hypnotism is a legitimate phenomenon with proven psychologica

"It might seem unusual that such a large population of East Asians specifically are affected by this odd condition. How ...
27/11/2020

"It might seem unusual that such a large population of East Asians specifically are affected by this odd condition. How would something like this start? The answer may be quite simple: rice."

Turning red after drinking an alcoholic beverage with some friends is not a good thing. In fact, it indicates that your body is unable to efficiently process alcohol. Often referred to as the “Asian Glow” or the “Asian Flush,” this condition is due to a deficiency of the aldehyde dehydrogena...

"The newfound successful promotion of PrEP among transgender is a lesson that emphasizes the idea of reaching to minorit...
27/11/2020

"The newfound successful promotion of PrEP among transgender is a lesson that emphasizes the idea of reaching to minority communities and understanding their struggles when implementing health policies."

Back in 2018, Vietnam announced a national PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) program to curb the rising number of HIV cases in the country, making it the second Asian country to implement a nationwide PrEP program right after Thailand [1]. PrEP is a daily medicine that allows individuals who are negat

For the upcoming Black Friday, take these tips into account:
25/11/2020

For the upcoming Black Friday, take these tips into account:

Shopping is a pastime that many people turn to when they feel stressed or overwhelmed, which can lead to regrettable purchases. Thankfully, there are ways you can engage in retail therapy and feel great about what you buy–here are three ways that you can spend money to boost your happiness, with e...

How can we explain certain patterns seen in plants?
24/11/2020

How can we explain certain patterns seen in plants?

Ever wondered how your middle school algebra lessons could possibly apply to real life? It turns out that math is ever-present in the world around us, and your garden may be the first place to start looking. Studies of phyllotaxis, the arrangement of leaves on plants, have led to discoveries that

Have you heard of the "Paleo Diet"?
06/11/2020

Have you heard of the "Paleo Diet"?

In today’s world, everyone seems to be searching for a simple, sustainable, and healthy, yet tasty diet. Often, there are advertisements that claim that they have discovered a “new secret formula” that makes weight loss and good health quick and easy, yet as most people know, these diets are o...

What does "flattening the curve" mean to you?
04/11/2020

What does "flattening the curve" mean to you?

A few weeks ago, my family decided to do something outside the house together for once. Picking a wide, outdoor venue to minimize the risk of contracting COVID-19, we wore our masks and drove to our destination— a cute little café called “Mozart’s Coffee Roasters” in Austin, TX. However, it...

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