Dateline Rice for July 15, 2014

FEATURED ITEMS

Edward P. Djerejian speaks with CNN on the crisis in Gaza
Edward Djerejian, founding director of Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and former U.S. ambassador to Syria and Israel, discusses the growing conflict in Gaza.
CNN
http://bit.ly/U7jFio

To win this competition, all it takes is a little heart
Peter Dodd, a competitor at the 2014 Transplant Games of America who received a heart transplant three years ago, finished fourth in the track and field event hosted by Rice.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required. This appeared on the front page.)
http://bit.ly/1oWJDAh
Transplant Games underway at Rice University
ABC 13
http://abc13.co/1rol6Fa

How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Talent
The importance of practice versus inborn talent is the focus of a research paper co-authored by Fred Oswald, department chair and professor of psychology.
New York Times
http://nyti.ms/1zFgPCj

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Texas Democrats: Not as impotent in Austin as you might think
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, authored an op-ed about Texas Democrats. He is also quoted about Democratic lieutenant governor candidate Leticia Van De Putte’s new online ad, Republican Attorney General Greg Abbott’s chemical controversy, Sen. Wendy Davis’ political support and the immigration crisis potentially benefiting Rick Perry if he runs for president.
The Hill
http://bit.ly/1zFpXqt
Van De Putte campaign rolls out 1st paid ad, praises DPS action along the border
Texas Public Radio
http://bit.ly/1sYzFzw
Abbott finds a chemical hazard
San Antonio Express-News (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1korNSP
Matthew Waller: Abbott, Davis careful of company they keep
San Angelo Standard-Times (Subscription required. This article also appeared in Times Record News.)
http://bit.ly/1ymvuAJ
Could the immigration crisis make Rick Perry president?
1200 WOAI (San Antonio)
http://bit.ly/1juHtJ2
http://bit.ly/1r1FxIN
KRLD-AM (Dallas)
http://bit.ly/W7oKIZ

1st ‘buckyball’ molecules created from Boron
Researchers in the U.S. and China have the first experimental evidence for a boron fullerene. Boris Yakobson, the Karl F. Hasselmann Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science and professor of chemistry, and his colleagues are referenced.
Scientific American
http://bit.ly/1mRKxOv

WTO: US duties on Chinese goods unfair
A World Trade Organization panel ruled that the U.S. import duties on Chinese goods were against international rules. Steven Lewis, the C.V. Starr Transnational China Fellow at the Baker Institute and professor in the practice and interim director of the Chao Center for Asian Studies, is quoted.
Voice of America
http://bit.ly/1r1pESR

Success and the city
Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth are projected to grow larger than Chicago by 2050. Rice’s 2012 study on Houston’s diversity is referenced.
Wall Street Journal
http://on.wsj.com/1roaTsA

A look back at 1st US air pollution legislation
July 14 marked the 59th anniversary of the Air Pollution Control Act of 1955, the first air pollution legislation in the U.S. Rice’s Shell Center for Sustainability’s 2005 paper on smog-related deaths is referenced.
National Catholic Reporter
http://bit.ly/1kZXamu

Co legionista napisał w liście 1800 lat temu?
Doctoral candidate Grant Adamson used infrared images to read and translate the text in a centuries-old letter found outside a temple in the Egyptian town of Tebtunis.
Newsweek (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/1kZZVV5

HOUSTON/TEXAS

NRG begins work on coal plant carbon capture project
NRG Energy is constructing a power plant that will reduce the amount of carbon emissions released in Fort Bend County. Charles McConnell, executive director of Rice University’s Energy and Environment Initiative, is quoted.
FuelFix
http://bit.ly/1juLM7d

BROADCAST

EU need for US natural gas may boost OH shale boom
Kenneth Medlock III, the James A. Baker III and Susan Baker Fellow in Energy and Resource Economics and lecturer of economics, is quoted about the price and demand of domestic gas supplies.
WKSU.org (Kent State University)
http://bit.ly/1meeWST

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Scientists characterize carbon for batteries
Rice and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory created a theoretical model that could benefit lithium-ion batteries. Boris Yakobson, the Karl F. Hasselmann Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science and professor of chemistry, and graduate student Yuanyue Liu are quoted.
Phys.org (This article also appeared in Science Daily, Green Car Congress, Science Codex, Nanotechnology Now and Science 2.0.)
http://bit.ly/1sj7n5p

Nanophotonics experts create powerful molecular sensor
Rice nanophotonics experts created a unique sensor that amplifies the optical signature of molecules by about 100 billion times. 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, and graduate student Yu Zhang are quoted.
Phys.org (This article also appeared in AZoNano.)
http://bit.ly/1sjaRVt

Older adults nearly twice as likely to have memories affected by distractions
Older adults are nearly twice as likely as younger people to have their memory and cognitive processes impaired by environmental distractions, according to a study funded by Rice’s Social Sciences Research Institute and the Gertrude Maurin Fund.
Science Daily (This article also appeared in Psych Centra, Bio-Medicine, Science Codex, Medical Xpress, Science Newsline, HealthCanal.com and Malaysia Sun.)
http://bit.ly/1p1PbrL
Seniors almost twice as likely to have memories affected by environmental distraction
Senior Journal
http://bit.ly/Wf6w8S

3-D bioprinting: A critical analysis
Jordan Miller, assistant professor of bioengineering, is featured for his essay, “The Billion Cell Construct: Will Three-Dimensional Printing Get Us There?”
3DPrint.com
http://bit.ly/1ksMDAh

Potential replacement for flash memory gets a boost
Rice researchers have improved the use of Resistive Random Access Memory to replace flash memory.
Overclockers Club
http://bit.ly/1zFzIVH

Daylight to work on UV laser for helicopter protection
Daylight Defense’s new microscope called the “Spero” is being used in research at Rice for the optical detection of breast cancer.
Optics.org
http://optics.org/news/5/7/21

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Rob illo makes Comparative Religion textbook dangerously cool
In his book “Comparing Religions,” Jeffrey Kripal, the J. Newton Rayzor Professor of Religious Studies, features an illustration by Boing Boing Managing Editor Rob Beschizza.
Boing Boing
http://bit.ly/1ymqoV6

Daily planner calendar for July 15
Douglas Brinkley, professor of history and fellow in history at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, will discuss “John Burroughs, Theodore Roosevelt and the American Conservation Movement” at Vassar College.
Poughkeepsie Journal (This article also appeared in Times Herald-Record.)
http://pojonews.co/1r1iMos

Lil Keke applauds Drake and A$AP Rocky for shedding light on Houston
Hip-hop artist Lil Keke is interviewed. Rice is mentioned.
Hip Hop DX
http://bit.ly/WfbfY3

Business notes July 13
Alumna Shelley Overholt Thiesen ’91 will begin practicing at Cuyuna Regional Medical Center’s Baxter Clinic.
Brainerd Dispatch
http://bit.ly/Wfdkn2
The back story of ‘Citizen Koch’
The late Fred Koch ’21 is featured.
ConsortiumNews.com
http://bit.ly/1oWNg9r

SPORTS

Celebrities aplenty to appear in Clemens’ charity softball game
Head baseball coach Wayne Graham will participate in Roger Clemens’ Rocketman Celebrity Slam softball game.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1tNanIM

Crowder named to Biletnikoff Award Watch List
Rice senior football player Jordan Taylor is included in the 2014 Biletnikoff Award Watch List.
GoDuke.com (This article also appeared in CollegeFootballTalk.com.)
http://bit.ly/1qDHpWn

NEWS RELEASES

3-D nanostructure could benefit nanoelectronics, gas storage
A three-dimensional porous nanostructure would have a balance of strength, toughness and ability to transfer heat that could benefit nanoelectronics, gas storage and composite materials that perform multiple functions, according to engineers at Rice University.
http://bit.ly/1oWX7vU

Rice’s Lane to testify before Senate committee Thursday
Rice University science and technology policy expert Neal Lane will testify before the full Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation at 2 p.m. ET Thursday.
http://bit.ly/1mRMLgR

Rice nanophotonics experts create powerful molecular sensor
Nanophotonics experts at Rice University have created a unique sensor that amplifies the optical signature of molecules by about 100 billion times.
http://bit.ly/1l056UV

Immigration crisis is likely to get worse before it gets better, Baker Institute expert says
As the debate over Central American migration continues to dominate national headlines, the United States’ immigration crisis is likely to get worse before it gets better if Congress and President Barack Obama do not act on immigration reform, according to Tony Payan, the Françoise and Edward Djerejian Fellow for Mexico Studies at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and director of the Baker Institute’s Mexico Center.
http://bit.ly/1l04YVm