Dateline Rice for May 23, 2014

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Diamonds AREN’T forever! Scientists create microscopic jewels that fade away within seconds
Some nanodiamonds formed in hydrogenated coal can disappear when hit with an electron beam, according to Rice University scientists. Ed Billups, professor of chemistry, is quoted. Yanqiu Sun, former postdoctoral researcher, is mentioned.
Daily Mail
http://dailym.ai/RZWGEZ
Not all diamonds are forever: Researchers see nanodiamonds created in coal fade away in seconds
Phys.org (This article also appeared in AZoNano.com and 21 other publications.)
http://bit.ly/1m1jnC1
When diamonds are not a girl’s best friend!
Odisha Sun Times
http://bit.ly/1mdSCMc

The MacGyver cure for cancer
Duke University global health professor David Walmer recalls his volunteer mission in Haiti, where he witnessed surgeries performed with minimal equipment. Rice is mentioned for its development of medical equipment for Third-World hospitals and clinics.
New York Times
http://nyti.ms/1vS23pN

Japanese company makes moon next frontier for branding
John F. Kennedy’s speech given at Rice in 1962 is referenced.
Chicago Tribune
http://trib.in/1gpntG6

3 ways to make your kids millionaires
Parents Eileen and Gerard Connolly invested in stocks for their children. A Rice study on using money-saving language at home is referenced.
Yahoo! Finance (This article also appeared in Credit.com.)
http://yhoo.it/1jKMWe3

Take 2 minutes to see 4 of the most mind-bending optical illusions of the year
Graduate student Kimberley Orsten and James Pomerantz, professor of psychology, took third place in the optical illusion contest with their image called “A Turn in the Road.”
The Blaze
http://bit.ly/1gpmW76

Money to burn: OPEC’s wasteful energy subsidies
Oil consumption has risen among exporting countries, which has led to a need for reform. Jim Krane, the Wallace S. Wilson Fellow for Energy Studies at the Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.
Jakarta Globe
http://bit.ly/1kaXq5t

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Ag commissioner will be chosen by urban voters
Mark Jones, the Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies, professor and chair of political science and fellow in political science at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted about city dwellers voting on Texas’ agriculture commissioner and the Texas primary runoff.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required. This appeared on the front of the City/State section. This article also appeared in San Antonio Express-News.)
http://bit.ly/1m1xMOt
Texas lt. gov. runoff hits new low with release of psych records
Newsmax
http://nws.mx/1onYJ16
Dewhurst border surge stalled by Straus
San Antonio Express-News
http://bit.ly/1lIrDVV
Texas brawl GOP race gets nasty with release of psych records
Irascible Musings
http://bit.ly/1oocr4e
106.3 Word
http://bit.ly/1t2Bie1

Native Houstonian elected Houston Hillel president
Junior Leah Topper is on the Houston Hillel board of directors.
Jewish Herald-Voice
http://bit.ly/1gWN89C

Meet the valedictorians, salutatorians
Martel College sophomore Ly Nguyen is mentioned.
Bryan County News
http://bit.ly/1pjf8DU

TWCPHS grads headed into medicine, computer science
Woodlands College Park High School valedictorian Manasi Joshi will attend Rice as part of the Rice/Baylor Medical Scholar’s program.
Montgomery County Courier
http://bit.ly/1kwwblq

Conroe High grads headed to Rice, West Point
Conroe High School valedictorian Tien Nguyen plans to study anesthesiology at Rice.
Montgomery County Courier
http://bit.ly/1r0PPex

BROADCAST

Critics may launch recall effort targeting Parker, council members
Opponents of Houston Mayor Annise Parker’s ’78 proposed Houston equal rights ordinance are discussing a recall election to remove her and some council members from office. Bob Stein, the Lena Gohlman Fox Professor of Political Science, is quoted.
KHOU-TV
http://bit.ly/1hgunsw

Rice U. students develop ‘smart seat’ for toddlers
A group of Rice engineering students created a device that alerts parents if they forget their child in the car. Baker College senior Margaret Dieudonne and Will Rice College senior Mengwei Ni are quoted.
WJBK-TV (Detroit) (This also appeared in WAGA-TV, KTBC-TV, KDFW-TV, WOFL-TV, KMSP-TV, WFLD-TV and KSAZ-TV.)
http://bit.ly/TCekQN

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Self-expression helps reinforce occupational sex segregation
New research from Rice found that sex segregation by occupation persists due to gendered self-expression. Erin Cech, assistant professor of sociology, is quoted.
Phys.org (This article also appeared in HealthCanal.)
http://bit.ly/1njm3A0

Researchers develop new hydrogel with enhanced degradation kinetics
Rice University bioengineers have created a hydrogel that instantly turns from liquid to semisolid at close to body temperature — and then degrades at precisely the right pace.
Health Point Capital
http://bit.ly/1t2qkFf

TX: Houston boasts strong growth but still outpaced by suburbs
Though Houston gained more residents last year than any other American city except New York, its growth is still slower than surrounding cities. Steve Murdock, the Allyn and Gladys Cline Professor of Sociology and director of Rice’s Hobby Center for the Study of Texas, is quoted.
Mass Transit
http://bit.ly/RisN2e

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Inaugural Mies Crown Hall Americas Prize goes to cliffside cube in Chile
Sarah Whiting, dean of the Rice School of Architecture, is a finalist for the Mies Crown Hall Americas Prize.
ArchPaper.com
http://bit.ly/1kwDFoz

Looking beneath Mount St. Helens
Scientists will set off a series of underground explosions across southwest Washington to map the plumbing system beneath Mount St. Helens. Alan Levander, the Carey Croneis Professor of Earth Science, is quoted.
Sacramento Bee (This article also appeared in McClatchy D.C.)
http://bit.ly/1gpfV6f

Swansea University’s students chance to study in Texas
Students at Swansea University will have the opportunity to study in the United States, thanks to a new partnership with the University of Houston. Swansea University is already working with Rice.
UK Wired News
http://bit.ly/1jKUtt8

LTC to present tenor in guest recital May 31
Alumnus Zachary Devin ’10 will perform at Lincoln Trail College.
TribStar.com
http://bit.ly/1ttxftj

Coronado lifeguard Carter Graves makes waves on the international paddleboard scene
Alumna Carter Graves ’14 is featured.
Coronado Eagle & Journal
http://bit.ly/1onZ9od

Strike Brewing Company to open brewery and tap room
Alumna Jenny Lewis ’05 developed her brewery from inspiration from her sports background at Rice.
SanJose.com
http://bit.ly/1r0IED4

Laguna Blanca senior Ian Bankhead invited to perform with Santa Barbara Symphony
Laguna Blanca School senior Ian Blankhead will attend Rice’s Shepherd School of Music.
Noozhawk.com
http://bit.ly/1ibqIfA

NAAAP Boston celebrates young Asian leaders at 2014 gala
North Quincy High School senior Yi Ren Fung plans to study computer science or biomedical engineering at Rice.
Sampan.org
http://bit.ly/RifYVC

SPORTS

College baseball: Fox runs record to 12-0 as Rice rolls in C-USA tourney
Rice baseball won against Middle Tennessee State University 8-2 in Hattiesburg, Miss. Head coach Wayne Graham is quoted.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1namPgp
Rice Owls baseball advance in winners bracket game with 8-2 victory over Middle Tennessee
Boxscore
http://bit.ly/1jCNhOq
TCU baseball advances with 6-2 win over WVU
Boxscore
http://bit.ly/1oo66py
Rice cruises past Middle Tennessee, 8-2
Hattiesburg American
http://hatne.ws/1gpdfWg
Middle Tennessee loses to Rice 8-2, falls into losers bracket at C-USA tourney
WZTV
http://bit.ly/1nalZju
Blue Raiders fall to losers bracket
DNJ.com
http://on.dnj.com/1m1FIPF
Rice steamrolls Blue Raiders
SunHerald.com
http://bit.ly/1pj9MIN
MTSU moves into winners bracket in C-USA Tournament
SunHerald.com
http://bit.ly/1t2rqkt
MTSU faces elimination at C-USA baseball tournament
The Tennessean
http://tnne.ws/1gpjg5k
MT meets top-seeded Rice in C-USA Championship
Go Blue Raiders
http://bit.ly/1r0Megu
ODU falls 3-2 in C-USA baseball tournament opener
PilotOnline.com
http://bit.ly/1r0MEU3
Wednesday’s multisport college and local roundup: ODU drops first-round thriller in Conference USA baseball tournament
Daily Press
http://bit.ly/1pjaOop
MTSU baseball edges ODU in C-USA tourney
The Post
http://bit.ly/1naonH7

Baseball eliminated from Conference USA tournament
Rice’s defeat of Florida International University during the first game of the 2014 Conference USA baseball tournament is mentioned.
FIUSM
http://bit.ly/1nab8WS

Out-of-towners enjoy baseball action
Rice baseball fan Bruce Chase is featured for his devotion to attending almost every home and away game.
Hattiesburg American
http://hatne.ws/1mdXilh

More than one lifestyle change for Brian Ching
Alumnus Jeffrey Niemann ’05 is mentioned.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1r0K9Bl

NEWS RELEASES

Self-expression helps reinforce occupational sex segregation
Decades after the passage of equal rights legislation and an influx of women into the workforce, why does sex segregation by occupation persist? New research from a sociologist at Rice University finds that one factor that perpetuates this segregation is gendered patterns of self-expression – whereby efforts to express one’s unique sense of individuality can often end up reinforcing collective societal gender differences.
http://bit.ly/1jdsoET

Not all diamonds are forever
Images taken by Rice University scientists show that some diamonds are not forever. The Rice researchers behind a new study that explains the creation of nanodiamonds in treated coal also show that some microscopic diamonds only last seconds before fading back into less-structured forms of carbon under the impact of an electron beam.
http://bit.ly/1jcNAuT