Dateline Rice for July 1, 2014

FEATURED ITEMS

Carbon nanotubes ‘unzipped’ by shooting them at 15,000 mph
Rice scientists have found a chemical-free way to unzip graphene nanoribbons. Pulickel Ajayan, the Benjamin M. and Mary Greenwood Anderson Professor in Engineering, professor of mechanical engineering and materials science, of chemistry and of chemical and biomolecular engineering; Enrique Barrera, professor of mechanical engineering and materials science; and Robert Vajtai, senior faculty fellow in mechanical engineering and materials science, are mentioned. Graduate student Sehmus Ozden is quoted.
Science Codex (This article also appeared in Nanotechnology Now, Engineering.com, Hispanic Business, ECNMag.com, R&D Magazine, BioPortfolio and Science Daily.)
http://bit.ly/1qN7nHG

25 colleges with superfast Internet
ValoreBooks collaborated with TestMy.net to analyze the Internet speed of upload and download rates at colleges in universities. Rice is listed as No. 9 for fastest Internet speed.
Examiner.com
http://exm.nr/1pGWhH8

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Wendy Davis battles to revive stalled campaign for Texas governor
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 Wendy Davis’ strategy to win over Republicans.
Metro.us
http://bit.ly/1ka7lV7

Scotch-tape technique for making 2-D graphene-like nanosheets
The use of Scotch tape as a mechanical cleavage technique resulted in the Nobel-awarded discovery of graphenes. It is now being used worldwide for assembling graphenes and other 2-D graphene-like structures. Rice is mentioned.
EET India
http://bit.ly/1qNn6GL

HOUSTON/TEXAS

HIV in the Middle East: Women at risk
Ariana Marnicio, research assistant for the Women and Human Rights in the Middle East Program at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, authored a blog post about the threat of HIV spreading among women in the Middle East.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1rcdkR4

Google Maps gets sharper images
Digital Globe is seeking government permission to double the resolution and quality of images on Google Maps. Alumnus Aaron Sankin ’06 is quoted.
KTRH-AM (This article also appeared in KODA-FM.)
http://bit.ly/1qNuli5

BROADCAST

Some military veterans say marijuana is saving lives
William Martin, the Harry and Hazel Chavanne Senior Fellow in Religion and Public Policy at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is interviewed about the benefit of medical marijuana for veterans.
My Fox Houston
http://bit.ly/1sUbRAJ

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Turning biodiesel byproduct into valued chemicals
Rice researchers examined whether palladium-gold nanocatalysts could convert glycerol into high-value chemicals. Michael Wong, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering and of chemistry, and graduate student Zhun Zhao are quoted.
DomesticFuel.com (This article also appeared in Bellaire Examiner, Fort Bend Sun, Terra Daily, Biomass Magazine and BioFuelsDigest.com.)
http://bit.ly/1o3lgPs

UT Austin prof collaborates in genetic investigation of electric fish’s evolutionary mysteries
Rice computational biologist George Phillips is co-author on a new paper in Science detailing a 10-year effort that determined a variety of fish with electric organs evolved those organs by similar means.
BioNews-Texas
http://bit.ly/1nZdIvV

Terahertz tech gets a major push at Rice University
Rice scientists received a grant to develop terahertz-based technology to advance wireless communications and other disciplines.
PCB Design 007
http://bit.ly/V7ERWz

I3P, Incubatore di Startup del Politecnico di Torino nella Global Top 25
The Swedish research initiative UBI Index named the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship No. 1 among top university business incubators.
Professione Finanza (An English translation is not available. This article also appeared in DiariodelWeb.it and La Stampa.)
http://bit.ly/1z4Borh

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

IBM reveals Android security flaw
Researchers released a warning about a high-risk security issue for Android users with version 4.3 or lower. Dan Wallach, professor of computer science and of electrical and computer engineering, is quoted.
ValueWalk (This article also appeared in Computer Business Review and Tom’s Hardware Guide Italia.)
http://bit.ly/1rTu1yf

PROMO and supporters see hope for MONA next year
PROMO, a group that fights for LGBT rights in Missouri, have been fighting for the Missouri Nondiscrimination Act to include gender identity or sexual preference in their human rights statuses. Rice is mentioned.
The Missouri Times
http://bit.ly/1o3AxzN

10 surprising ways marriage makes you healthier
A Rice study about the differences in death rates among married and divorced men is referenced.
YNaija.com
http://bit.ly/TzEbrA

18 facts that make Houston the best city in America
An article lists Rice among 18 reasons why Houston is the best city in America.
Business Insider
http://read.bi/1lvK5AJ

Mandel will tell where CBI’s been and going
Alumna Meg Mandel ’91 will speak at the Men’s Club Forum Dinner in San Diego.
San Diego Jewish World
http://bit.ly/1mQkJCM

SPORTS

The Whitecaps have dominant starting pitchers
Alumnus Austin Kubitza ’14 is mentioned.
BlessYouBoys.com
http://bit.ly/1qurj4C