Dateline Rice for Dec. 20, 2012

FEATURED ITEM

New genomes hint at evolution’s slimy past
Scientists have unveiled the genomes of a leech, an ocean-dwelling worm and a limpet and more than doubled the number of genomes from a vast, under-studied swath of the animal kingdom. Nicholas Putnam, assistant professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, is quoted.
Futurity.org
http://bit.ly/WrT3ok

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

How to (actually) make a difference in the legislative process
Mark Jones, the Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies, professor and chair of political science and fellow in political science at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted in an article about ways an average citizen can influence policy. Jones is also quoted in news items about Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, a proposal to arm Texas teachers and the debate over gun control and the "fiscal cliff." An English translation of the KXLN-TV report is not available.
USA Today College
http://usat.ly/VP43tP
KUHF-FM
http://bit.ly/Ufc3rC
KXLN-TV
http://bit.ly/UaLh2H
KTRK-TV
http://bit.ly/UQv680

MSNBC-TV’s ‘The Ed Show’
Douglas Brinkley, professor of history and fellow in history at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is interviewed about President Barack Obama’s selection as Time’s Person of the Year.
http://bit.ly/RGbVCu
‘ED Show’ playbook: Dec. 19
NBCNews.com
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/50253005#.UNMXGKzJ86s

Soybean can replace petrol as versatile chemical
The soybean could become an inexpensive new source of a widely used chemical for plastics, textiles, drugs, solvents and as a food additive. George Bennett, the E. Dell Butcher Professor of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, and Chandresh Thakker, research scientist in biochemistry and cell biology, are quoted. Ka-Yiu San, the E.D. Butcher Professor of Bioengineering and professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, is mentioned.
Khaleej Times (India) (This article also appeared on NetIndia123.com, Mangalorean.com, NewsTrackIndia.com and Sify.com.)
http://bit.ly/UaMF5c
Soybeans a source of valuable chemical
FoodIngredientsFirst.com
http://bit.ly/VTGIHu

Soon, battery created from plant dye to charge your cellphone
Researchers say a plant extract can be turned into a highly effective, natural cathode for lithium-ion batteries. Arava Leela Mohana Reddy, a postdoctoral research associate in mechanical engineering and materials science, and Pulickel Ajayan, the Benjamin M. and Mary Greenwood Anderson Professor in Engineering, professor of mechanical engineering and materials science, professor in chemistry and professor in chemical and biomolecular engineering, are quoted.
MSN.com (This article also appeared in the Deccan Herald and Bernama.com.my.)
http://news.in.msn.com/international/article.aspx?cp-documentid=251762488

He’ll be using his education to combat cancer, strokes
Sid Richardson College senior Rahul Rekhi is one of 34 students across the U.S. selected for a 2013 Marshall Scholarship. An article profiles Rekhi for his life and academic career.
Rediff.com
http://bit.ly/SYDZB8

Is intelligence fixed?
Frederick Oswald, professor of psychology, co-authored a letter to the editor about memory.
Scientific American
http://bit.ly/V7T6T9

HOUSTON/TEXAS

80-year-old Houstonian publishes first book, ‘Aging with Class’
An article discusses the book "Aging with Class" by alumnus Clarke Newlin ’54.
Tomball Potpourri
http://bit.ly/T9rCAn

UH-Clear Lake to host physics and space science seminar series
Rice is mentioned in an article about the University of Houston-Clear Lake’s 2013 Physics and Space Science Spring Seminar Series.
Bay Area Citizen
http://bit.ly/SXSyoA

BROADCAST/WEBCAST

KTRK-TV
A good Samaritan returned a stolen viola to alumna Eva Sheie ’00.
http://bit.ly/12C8EVI

KUHF-FM
Rice’s Shepherd School of Music is mentioned in a story about a Medieval music manuscript exhibit at the University of Houston.
http://bit.ly/12rxyIE

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Metallic probe detects fibrils from misfolded proteins in living cells news
Rice University scientists have discovered a new way to look inside living cells and see the insoluble fibrillar deposits associated with Parkinson’s disease. Laura Segatori, the T.N. Law Assistant Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, and Angel Martí, assistant professor of chemistry and of bioengineering, are quoted.
Domain-B.com
http://bit.ly/UTkJRT

Always go with your gut, but only if you’re an expert
A new study from researchers at Rice says that you should trust your gut instinct as long as you are an expert. Erik Dane, assistant professor of management at the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business, is quoted.
BusinessInsider.com
http://read.bi/UQSZgK

Should the US export liquefied natural gas?
Rice research is cited in an article discussing whether the U.S. should export liquefied natural gas.
DailyFinance.com
http://aol.it/R5rpyl

What’s next for social marketing? Looking ahead to 2013
Alumnus Dilip Venkatachari ’84 authored this op-ed about the next year in social media marketing.
ClickZ.com
http://bit.ly/YjXJk8

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Marketers could help motorists curb fuel use
A new paper from Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy proposes a national marketing campaign to better inform consumers about measures they can take to decrease fuel use, particularly during a rapid increase in fuel prices. Joe Barnes, the Bonner Means Baker Fellow at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, and James Coan, research associate for the Energy Forum at the Baker Institute, are mentioned.
SmartBrief.com
http://bit.ly/XOTx7c

SPORTS

Rice 63, Chicago St. 60
An article recaps a men’s basketball game between Rice and Chicago State University.
CBSSports.com
http://cbsprt.co/SWz1VK

2012 Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl preview: Rice vs. Air Force
An article previews the 2012 Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl between Rice and Air Force.
Examiner.com (A similar article appeared in the Colorado Springs Gazette.)
http://exm.nr/VRQNom

Vikings’ Adrian Peterson misses Percy Harvin, Chuck Foreman says
Martel College senior Klein Kubiak is mentioned in an article about the Minnesota Vikings.
St. Paul Pioneer Press (Minn.) (This column also appeared in the Chicago Tribune and the Allentown Morning Call.)
http://bit.ly/TZoWlW

Texas is most valuable in college football
An article about Forbes’ calculation of the monetary value of college football teams includes a photo of Wiess College senior Phillip Gaines at a game between Rice and the University of Texas.
KHOU.com
http://bit.ly/ZluKOy

NEWS RELEASE

Genomic frontier: The unexplored animal kingdom
A new report in the journal Nature unveils three of the first genomes from a vast, understudied swath of the animal kingdom that includes as many as one-quarter of Earth’s marine species. By publishing the genomes of a leech, an ocean-dwelling worm and a kind of sea snail creature called a limpet, scientists from Rice University, the University of California-Berkeley and the Department of Energy’s Joint Genome Institute have more than doubled the number of genomes from a diverse group of animals called lophotrochozoans.
https://news2.rice.edu/?p=38584