Dateline Rice for March 29, 2013

FEATURED ITEMS

Even graphene has weak spots
Graphene, the single-atom-thick form of carbon, has become famous for its extraordinary strength. But less-than-perfect sheets of the material show unexpected weakness, according to researchers at Rice University in Houston and Tsinghua University in Beijing. Boris Yakobson, the Karl F. Hasselmann Chair of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science and professor of chemistry, and Vasilii Artyukhov, a postdoctoral research associate in mechanical engineering and materials science, are quoted.
Futurity.org
http://www.futurity.org/top-stories/even-graphene-has-weak-spots/

KRIV-TV
Rice University announced the first recipient of a generous scholarship geared toward attracting veterans to study for their MBA.
http://bit.ly/161gqsf

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Obama on his way from Washington to Tel Aviv, Israel
Edward Djerejian, founding director of Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted in an article about President Barack Obama’s trip to Israel. An English translation of this article is not available.
Xinhua (China)
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2013-03/20/c_115093896.htm

Behind Rollins College chief’s battle, a broader liberal-arts debate
An article discusses alumnus Lewis Duncan’s ’73 work as president of Rollins College and his efforts to expand massive open online courses.
Chronicle of Higher Education
http://bit.ly/XLJws4

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Rice Gallery opens new video cubicle, azaleas just plain open
An article discusses RG Cubicle, the Rice Art Gallery’s new dedicated video-viewing space.
Glasstire.com
http://bit.ly/YJzyHK

Campus from your computer screen
An article about online education at the University of Texas at Austin notes that Rice University is one of six global higher education institutions that were announced as new members of the online education provider edX.
DailyTexanOnline.com
http://bit.ly/XgbAso

Bush family political tree branching off to George P.
An op-ed discusses alumnus George P. Bush’s ’98 decision to run for land commissioner.
Abilene Reporter-News
http://bit.ly/10mUi9D

UTEP creates its own criteria for Tier One
An article about efforts by the University of Texas at El Paso to achieve Tier One status notes that Rice is one of Texas’ Tier One colleges.
UTEPProspector.com
http://bit.ly/172FQJg

BROADCAST/WEBCAST

KUHA-FM’s ‘The Front Row’
April DeConick, the Isla Carroll and Percy E. Turner Professor of Biblical Studies, is interviewed about "Easter in Memory of Her," a production written by DeConick. A link to this broadcast is not yet available.

WBEZ-FM (Chicago)
Anthony Pinn, the Agnes Cullen Arnold Professor of Humanities and professor of religious studies, is quoted in a story about atheism among African-Americans.
http://bit.ly/163CiD7

WHYY-TV (Philadelphia)
A story about artist Gunilla Klingberg mentions her Rice Gallery installation.
http://bit.ly/YO3nac

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Graphene hybrid material comes to the rescue of lithium-ion battery-powered vehicles
Hybrid ribbons thousands of times thinner than a sheet of paper could speed the development of powerful lithium-ion batteries, researchers report. 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, and Shubin Yang, a postdoctoral research associate in mechanical engineering and materials science, are quoted.
IEEE Spectrum
http://bit.ly/103O8wr
New material for lithium-ion battery electrode
OverclockersClub.com
http://www.overclockersclub.com/news/33918/

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Shocking news about batteries
An article about battery research notes Rice research to convert a plant extract into a highly effective, natural cathode for lithium-ion batteries. Arava Leela Mohana Reddy, a postdoctoral research associate in mechanical engineering and materials science, is quoted.
Brisbane Times (Australia) (This article also appeared in the Tenterfield Star, the Northern Daily Leader, the Cowra Guardian and the Ballarat Courier.)
http://bit.ly/11T7QLn

SPORTS

Tulane’s baseball team loses its series opener to Rice, 4-2
An article recaps a baseball game between Rice and Tulane University.
New Orleans Times-Picayune (This article also appeared on BayouBuzz.com and SportsNOLA.com.)
http://bit.ly/YO0YfD

Texas Relays results
Several Rice track-and-field athletes are mentioned in an article about results at the Texas Relays at the University of Texas.
Houston Chronicle (subscription required)
http://bit.ly/10jCrzh

Athletes shine brightly at Rice’s Lopez Relays
An article recaps the Victor Lopez Relays at Rice.
West University Examiner (Texas) (This article also appeared in the Memorial Examiner and the River Oaks Examiner.)
http://bit.ly/10mRFon

Gonzalez goes to AAA in final roster move
Former Rice baseball player Philip Humber is mentioned in an article about the Houston Astros.
Houston Chronicle (subscription required)
http://bit.ly/11Wxy1G

Scouting DuPage County boys track
Rice is mentioned in an article about student-athletes from the Chicago area.
Arlington Heights Daily Herald (Ill.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130328/sports/703289775/

NEWS RELEASES

Rice’s Laura Segatori wins NSF CAREER award
Some human cells forget to empty their trash bins, and when the garbage piles up, it can lead to Parkinson’s disease and other genetic and age-related disorders. Scientists don’t yet understand why this happens, and Rice University engineering researcher Laura Segatori is hoping to change that, thanks to a prestigious five-year CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation.
https://news2.rice.edu/?p=42507

Even graphene has weak spots
Graphene, the single-atom-thick form of carbon, has become famous for its extraordinary strength. But less-than-perfect sheets of the material show unexpected weakness, according to researchers at Rice University in Houston and Tsinghua University in Beijing.
https://news2.rice.edu/?p=42478