Dateline Rice for July 16, 2014

FEATURED ITEM

After age 25, we’re more forgetful when we’re distracted
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.
Futurity (This article also appeared in Alaska Native News, ThirdAge, Siasat Daily, WebIndia123.com, Business Standard, TruthDive, Asian News International, ANINEWS and RedOrbit.)
http://bit.ly/1t3JUCC

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Is Malcolm Gladwell wrong? Scientists debate the ‘10,000-hour rule’
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.
Salon (This article also appeared in Indiana Gazette, San Francisco Chronicle, WAToday, Sydney Morning Herald and the Age.)
http://bit.ly/1qH1L0H

More than 60 colleges attend Dartmouth’s sexual assault summit
Representatives from Rice are attending Dartmouth College’s summit on preventing sexual assault.
TIME
http://ti.me/1mUuRdk

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Abbott holds big cash advantage over Davis
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 Attorney General Greg Abbott’s financial advantage over Sen. Wendy Davis and his new ad pitch. He is also quoted about influential conservative group’s request for Texas to limit spending and the immigration crisis potentially benefiting Gov. Rick Perry if he runs for president.
Houston Chronicle (This article appeared on the front page. Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/U9UDyV
Conservative groups: Slow state budget growth
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/WaJnUQ
Abbott has 3-1 cash advantage over Davis
San Antonio Express-News (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/U9Vz6C
Greg Abbott hits theaters to reel in new voters
Dallas Morning News
http://bit.ly/1kvSkxp
The brief: July 16, 2014
Killeen Daily Herald
http://bit.ly/1nIRGl7
Could the immigration crisis make Rick Perry president?
KWHN-AM (Fort Smith, Ark.)
http://bit.ly/1nwKROG
WOAI-AM (San Antonio)
http://bit.ly/1rh1GVe

In DFW, little traction on improving air quality
The Dallas County Medical Society asked Texas environmental regulators to increase pollution controls, which are among the worse in the nation. Daniel Cohan, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, is quoted.
Texas Tribune (This article also appeared in Big Country Homepage.)
http://bit.ly/1jPpYUh

Money Wednesday morning preview #Houston
The Hobby Center for Public Policy at the University of Houston and Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy were hired to conduct a public opinion analysis for the future of the Astrodome.
News 92 FM
http://bit.ly/1mLAcV1

Transplant recipients compete in sports
Heart transplant patient Walt McGuire competed in the Transplant Games of America’s 400-meter men’s race at Rice.
CBS Dallas-Fort Worth (This article also appeared in IslandPacket.com and 19 other media outlets.)
http://cbsloc.al/1oIeJZI

Mayor Annise Parker: Separating fact from fiction about the HERO
Houston Mayor Annise Parker announced that she will defend Houston’s Equal Rights Ordinance from being repealed. Rice is mentioned.
Sugar Land Sun
http://bit.ly/1oYnmCc

BROADCAST

Music in the making: July 13, 2014
The Shepherd School Symphony Orchestra performed “Pines of Rome” led by Larry Rachleff, the Walter Kris Hubert Professor of Orchestra Conducting at Rice’s Shepherd School of Music.
Houston Public Media
http://bit.ly/1zJ6uFo

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

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. Rouzbeh Shahsavari, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, is quoted. Graduate student Navid Sakhavand is mentioned.
Science 360 (This appeared on the home page. This article also appeared in AZoNano.com and 14 other media outlets.)
http://1.usa.gov/1kRMsmo

Nanoporous silicon oxide is back in the race for resistive memory
Rice’s silicon oxide technology can now be used to fabricate devices with conventional production methods, which brings it a step closer to mass production. 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.
IEEE Spectrum
http://bit.ly/1rr1r7G

Climate scientists: Texas is missing an opportunity
Texas is one of the most significant contributors to global warming, due to its excessive greenhouse emissions. John Anderson, the W. Maurice Ewing Chair in Oceanography, professor of Earth science and academic director of Rice’s Shell Center for Sustainability, is quoted.
Emergency Management
http://bit.ly/UcxbRW

Rice University nanophotonics scientists create molecular sensor capable of 100 billion-x amplification
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. Peter Nordlander, professor of physics and astronomy and in electrical and computer engineering, and graduate students Oara Neumann and Jared Day are mentioned.
BioNews-Texas (This article also appeared in ECNmag.com, SiloBreaker.com, Science Codex, BioMedicine, Medical Design Technology, BioPortfolio, Phys.org, e! Science News and Science Daily.)
http://bit.ly/1jxppxY

Labs 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.
Product Design & Development (This article also appeared in Energy Daily, Innovations Report, Electronic Component News, Wireless Design & Development, Science Newsline, Science 2.0, Cambodian Times and Kenya Star.)
http://bit.ly/1qH1Z8a

We’ve always opposed open borders, 2005 editorial shows
Research by Donald Huddle, professor emeritus of economics, is cited in an editorial about the immigration crisis.
Investors.com
http://bit.ly/1tRsCwS

UK researchers create the ‘world’s darkness material’: Vantablack
Researchers at Rice and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute created a material with low-density carbon nanotubes in 2007 that was nonreflective enough to be considered the darkest material on earth. Scientists at UK’s Surrey Nanosystems created a material called Vantablack that has an even lower reflection percentage.
Techgage
http://bit.ly/1p8Hdgt

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Burroughs and Roosevelt’s conservation connection topic of Brinkley talk
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.
Record Online
http://bit.ly/1sopKG7

Fiske College Guide designates Xavier University a 2015 Best Buy
The annual Fiske Guide to Colleges has named Rice University one of 22 “Best Buys” for 2015. The list includes private universities in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
MyArkLaMiss.com
http://bit.ly/WakpF6

America’s space program and god
John F. Kennedy’s speech given at Rice in 1962 is referenced.
The Moral Liberal
http://bit.ly/1mLWOVq

New USF engineering dean brings experience at NASA
Alumnus Robert Bishop ’90 has been named dean of the University of South Florida.
Tampa Tribune
http://bit.ly/WhrwM8

SPORTS

Mario Goetze: From ‘rascal’ to World Cup hero
The German soccer player who scored the winning goal for the World Cup is the son of former Rice postdoctoral researcher Jürgen Götze.
Soccer America
http://bit.ly/1jPK6We

Stefon Diggs named to Biletnikoff Watch List, Deon Long snubbed
Rice senior football player Jordan Taylor is included in the 2014 Biletnikoff Award Watch List.
Testudo Times (This article also appeared in WFTV-TV, WHIO-TV, WPXI-TV, WSOC-TV, WTVY-TV, Journal News and Fox30jax.com.)
http://bit.ly/1sozZtO
KTEN-TV (Sherman, Texas)
http://bit.ly/1yrPPV5

Sport shorts
The Atlantic Baseball Confederation Collegiate League’s 14th Annual Capt. Ryan K. Iannelli All-Star Game will be July 21. Rice is mentioned.
The Hub (This article also appeared in the Examiner.)
http://bit.ly/1r4aw7h

Marshall’s Lattin earns spot on US track team
Marshall High School senior Amere Lattin is featured. Rice’s Victor Lopez Classic is mentioned.
Fort Bend Sun
http://bit.ly/1mUzsw0

NEWS RELEASE

Rice U. study: Business groups, capital market participation have complementary effects for Indian companies
Being a part of a business group and participating in capital markets can have a significant positive impact on an Indian company’s performance in the stock market, according to a new study on Indian entrepreneurship by emerging-economy experts at Rice University, the Indian School of Business in Hyderabad, India and the graduate business school INSEAD Singapore.
http://bit.ly/1qHcrg2