Dateline Rice for July 23, 2013

FEATURED ITEMS

‘Solar steam’ kills germs while off the grid
Naomi Halas, the Stanley C. Moore professor in electrical and computer engineering and director of Rice’s Laboratory for Nanophotonics and professor of physics and astronomy, chemistry and biomedical engineering, and Peter Nordlander, professor of physics and astronomy and in electrical and computer engineering, are quoted in an article about a solar-powered autoclave.
Futurity.org
http://bit.ly/15FDePd
Off-grid sterilization with nanotechnology ‘solar steam’ system
Nanowerk.com (This article also appeared in Infection Control Today, e! Science News, Democratic Underground.com and Solar Daily.)
http://www.nanowerk.com/news2/newsid=31474.php
Solar steam sterilization system could clean up in the developing world
Gizmag.com
http://www.gizmag.com/solar-steam-sanitizing-autoclave/28415/
Nanotechnology researchers develop solar-powered sterilization system
Azonano.com
http://www.azonano.com/news.aspx?newsID=27888

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Ex Presidents club: lots of life after White House
Douglas Brinkley, professor of history and fellow in history at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted in an article on U.S. presidents and the lives they lead after leaving office.
Atlanta Journal Constitution (This article also appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, Dayton Daily News, Boston.com, KTVN-TV, KREM-TV, Central Florida News 13, Yahoo!News and more than 20 other news outlets.)
http://bit.ly/13acOCW

Peace talks offer rare opportunity
Rice is mentioned in an article about Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.
Asia Times
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/MID-01-220713.html

HOUSTON/TEXAS

The Affordable Health Care Act: What to expect in 2014
Vivian Ho, the James A. Baker III Institute Chair in Health Economics at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and professor of economics, is quoted in an article about the Affordable Care Act.
Cypress Creek Mirror
http://bit.ly/15dfEdG

George P. Bush starts small amid high expectations
Alumnus George P. Bush ’98 is quoted in an article about his campaign to become Texas’ next land commissioner.
MSN.com (This article also appeared in the Abilene Reporter-News, Bryan-College Station Eagle, Daytona Beach News, St. Paul Pioneer Press, KTEN-TV, Breitbart.com and more than 15 other news outlets.)
http://news.msn.com/us/george-p-bush-starts-small-amid-high-expectations

Texas needs hurricane plan
Rice’s Severe Storm Prediction Education and Evacuation from Disasters Center is mentioned in an article about hurricane preparedness.
Denton Record Chronicle
http://bit.ly/13YhPO5

Rice researchers create new material
James Tour, the T.T. and W.F. Chao Chair in Chemistry and professor of mechanical engineering and materials science and of computer science, and graduate student Changsheng Xiang are mentioned in a story about graphene oxide flakes.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/11bAaur

New clues illuminate Alzheimer’s roots
Angel Martí, associate professor of chemistry and bioengineering, is mentioned in an article on how synthetic molecules designed at Rice latch onto the amyloid peptide fibrils thought to be responsible for Alzheimer’s disease.
Houston Chronicle (This article also appeared in Phys.org and Health Canal.)
http://bit.ly/1600UQu
New clues illuminate Alzheimer’s roots
Phys.org
http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-07-clues-illuminate-alzheimer-roots.html
How to prevent Alzheimer’s disease and dementia
MediLexicon.com
http://www.medilexicon.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=263769

BROADCAST/WEBCAST

Dr. Rafael Verduzco, Rice University – stiffening silicone
Rafael Verduzco, the Louis Owen Assistant Professor and the Junior Faculty Chair of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, explains the development of a new silicone material that becomes stronger with repeated use. This story appeared on the “Academic Minute” segment on this Northeast Public Radio station.
WAMC.org (This article also appeared in Inside Higher Ed.)
http://www.wamc.org/post/dr-rafael-verduzco-rice-university-stiffening-silicone

How much the proposed property tax for early education will cost, and why it’s likely to pass
Stephen Klineberg, professor of sociology and co-director of the Kinder Institute for Urban Research, is quoted in an article about a new property tax to fund early education.
KUHF-FM
http://bit.ly/1aGAkNi

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

New LHC discovery impacts physicists’ hunt for dark matter
Paul Padley, professor of physics and astronomy, is quoted in an article about a discovery facilitated by Rice University’s contribution to the Large Hadron Collider that will impact scientists’ search for dark matter in the universe.
Science World Report
http://bit.ly/1dSfUR0
New Large Hadron Collider discovery: Measurement of predicted particle decay with implications for dark matter search
Science Daily (This article also appeared in My Biologica.)
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/07/130719135959.htm

Graphene ‘onion rings’ have delicious potential
James Tour, the T.T. and W.F. Chao Chair in Chemistry and professor of mechanical engineering and materials science and of computer science, is quoted in an article about synthesized graphene nanoribbons.
R&D Mag.com (This article also appeared in Electronics Online.)
http://bit.ly/18z0LXM
Graphene ‘onion rings’ grown bottom up — atom by atom
Kurzweil Accelerating Intelligence
http://bit.ly/13ZyQPb

Exploring Latino identities: Michael Wellen
Artist Michael Wellen is partnering with Rice University to bring art critic Gerardo Mosquera to give a free public lecture at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.
Glasstire
http://glasstire.com/2013/07/19/exploring-latino-identities-michael-wellen/

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Now Playing Onstage in Houston – Week of 7/21/2013
“Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” is being performed at Hamman Hall.
Houston.broadwayworld.com
http://bit.ly/162dv5t

Naples Christian academy welcomes a new headmaster
Former Rice doctoral student Randy Down is appointed headmaster of the Naples Christian Academy.
Naplesnews.com (Fla.)
http://bit.ly/12cT72w

SPORTS

Dynamo weekly: The physics behind Moffat’s rocket
Paul Padley, professor of physics and astronomy, discusses some of the science behind soccer player Adam Moffat’s rocket volley versus New England.
Comcast Sportsnet
http://bit.ly/13ZtCms