Dateline Rice for June 17, 2014

FEATURED ITEMS

Space coffee options are out of this world
Italian espresso company Lavazza and space-food maker Argotec created the first espresso machine to work in microgravity for coffee-craving astronauts. The article mentions a project by Rice engineering students in which they designed a system of pouches, rollers and injectors for astronauts to add cream and sugar. The article includes a video produced by Public Affairs’ Brandon Martin.
CBS News (This article also appeared on Design & Trend.)
http://cbsn.ws/1ydwOXq

How I started a pole-vaulting museum on Facebook
Assistant pole vault coach David Butler authored an essay about the Facebook pole-vaulting community he created, which includes Olympians and former greats.
Parade (This article also appeared in Herald-Mail, Reporter-Times, Daily American and Bedford Times-Mail.)
http://bit.ly/1uAGR45

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

ACA causing employers to shift health costs, but workforce changes unlikely, survey finds
Elaine Britt, assistant vice president for human resources and director of benefits/compensation, is interviewed about the Affordable Care Act and its effect on Rice.
Bloomberg BNA
http://bit.ly/UIx5CE

Despite Ukraine, Exxon’s Tillerson to appear with Rosneft’s Sechin
Exxon Mobil Corp.’s Rex Tillerson is scheduled to speak at the World Petroleum Congress months before Exxon drills its first well in Russia’s Arctic waters. Jim Krane, the Wallace S. Wilson Fellow for Energy Studies at the Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.
NASDAQ (This article also appeared in 4-Traders.)
http://bit.ly/1ye0wvn

Now carbon nanotubes can be used to extract water from thin air
A Rice researcher’s device that harvests water from the air like the Namib Desert beetle is mentioned.
Yahoo! Voices
http://yhoo.it/1q8MGpk

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Climate change and national security: A house divided
Ron Sass, the Harry C. and Olga Keith Wiess Professor Emeritus of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, authored a blog post about climate change.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1i7VQ5I

Institute promotes peace in diverse communities
Despite Houston being one of the top 100 most diverse large cities, there is more wealth and income segregation than in any other part of the country. The Kinder Institute’s Connecting Communities project is referenced.
Cypress Creek Mirror (This article also appeared in Spring Observer.)
http://bit.ly/1iE0Vx7

Local residents earn degrees, place on dean’s list
Students from the Dayton, Ohio, area graduated from Rice.
Dayton News
http://bit.ly/1q8v6C7

BROADCAST

WTEN-TV (Albany, N.Y.)
The family of missing Rice student Reny Jose is asking attorney general Eric Holder for federal involvement in their search.
http://bit.ly/1i7YOXM

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Rice University scientists apply new theory to learn how and why cells differentiate
Peter Wolynes, the D.R. Bullard-Welch Foundation Professor of Science and a professor of chemistry, and postdoctoral fellow Bin Zhang are quoted about their mathematical tool to analyze large gene networks.
News-Medical (This article also appeared in Phys.org, Innovations Report, Bio-Medicine, Science Newsline, Health Canal, Science Daily and Science Codex.)
http://bit.ly/1pciwQA

Mexican energy reform must not be hindered by weak regulatory governance, expert says
Miriam Grunstein, contributing expert and scholar in the Mexico Center at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, authored a new issue brief, “Coordinated Regulatory Agencies: New Governance for Mexico’s Energy Sector,” about Mexico’s budding energy reform.
Phys.org
http://bit.ly/1lB1L2a

Researchers developing terahertz detectors with eye on improving certain imaging applications
Junichiro Kono, professor of electrical and computer engineering and of physics and astronomy, co-authored a study on terahertz detectors based on carbon nanotubes to improve medical imaging, airport passenger screening, food inspection and other applications.
Vision Systems (This article also appeared on Semiconductor Engineering.)
http://bit.ly/U6sZUd

Nanoscale composites improve MRI
Scientists from Rice and the Houston Methodist Research Institute led an international team of researchers to create composite particles that can be injected into patients to kill malignant tissues or trigger the release of drugs. Graduate student Ayrat Gizzatov is quoted. Lon Wilson, professor of chemistry, and alumnus Adem Guven ’11 are mentioned.
ECN Mag (This article also appeared in Product Design & Development, Science Codex, R&D Magazine, Innovations Report, Science Newsline, Med India and Nanotechnology Now.)
http://bit.ly/U6ut0T
KTRH-AM
http://bit.ly/1qoILqN

Studying human-computer interaction at Microsoft research
Former Adjunct Professor of Psychology Mary Czerwinski is interviewed.
Science Magazine
http://bit.ly/1r1dGHl

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Florida’s research universities top noted Research Triangle for patent awards
Florida’s three major universities were granted patents to become a more innovative powerhouse. Rice is mentioned.
Bradenton Herald
http://bit.ly/1uAD3jm

Texas school district plans $55M school security upgrade
Cypress-Fairbanks ISD will spend $55 million on school security. Rice is mentioned.
Security Info Watch (This article also appeared in Security Technology Executive.)
http://bit.ly/1pcX3sV

Relationship study: Women prefer taller men when choosing a mate
According to research from Rice and the University of North Texas, the height of a potential partner matters more to women than to men, and mostly for femininity and protection.
Eurweb.com
http://bit.ly/1ye2D2j

SPORTS

Search for new baseball coach underway
Former assistant coach Mike Taylor is being considered to be the next Sam Houston State baseball coach. Head baseball coach Wayne Graham is mentioned.
Houstonian Online
http://bit.ly/1i5CmOT

Birchmount Park grad Karakolis 7th in javelin in US collegiate national championships
Rice junior Evan Karakolis finished seventh at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Ore. Rice men’s track coach Jon Warren is quoted.
InsideToronto.com (This article also appeared in MyKawartha.com.)
http://bit.ly/1iE2yLk