Dateline Rice for Jan. 8, 2015

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

New asphalt captures its own weight in CO2
Rice scientists turn asphalt into an effective, environmentally friendly carbon-capture material for use at natural gas wellheads. James Tour, the T.T. and W.F. Chao Professor of Chemistry, professor of computer science and of materials science and nanoengineering, is quoted. Postdoctoral associate Almaz Jalilov and graduate students Gedeng Ruan, Chih-Chau Hwang, Desmond Schipper, Yilun Li, Huilong Fei and Errol Samuel and lab assistant Josiah Tour are mentioned.
Futurity
http://bit.ly/1BPBumz
Scientists create new cheap asphalt material that can capture and store carbon
Science World Report
http://bit.ly/1IvicFd
Roads could provide the answer to capturing carbon emission
Mirror.co.uk
http://bit.ly/1xKuyIg
Cheap asphalt provides ‘green’ carbon capture: Rice University chemists’ product aims to enhance natural gas production at sea
Nanotechnology Now (This article also appeared in Science Daily and 16 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/1xVcooP
Asphalt derivative paves way for ‘green’ carbon capture at natural gas wells
World Industrial Reporter
http://bit.ly/1wZdOaJ
Material derived from asphalt captures carbon
Big Think
http://bit.ly/145Kk3Z
Rice University researchers report cheap asphalt provides ‘green’ carbon capture
Cypress Creek Mirror
http://bit.ly/14tPOpT

Water to bug, quantum dots can travel food web
In one of the most comprehensive studies of its kind, Rice University scientists tracked uptake and accumulation of quantum dot nanoparticles from water to plant roots, plant leaves and leaf-eating caterpillars. The research is available online in Environmental Science Technology. Janet Braam, professor and chair of biochemistry and cell biology; postdoctoral researcher Yeonjong Koo; and Pedro Alvarez, the George R. Brown Professor and chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, are quoted.
Futurity
http://bit.ly/17mksTF

More US and less China may be good for Cuba
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, comments on China’s trade relations in Cuba, state Sen. Charles Perry’s decision to set up a minimum amount of money in Texas’ Rainy Day Fund and Sen. John Cornyn’s third six-year term in office.
NBC News (Similar articles appeared in CubaVerdad and BlouinNews.com.)
http://nbcnews.to/1Fu4h5S
State senator: Limit rainy day fund amid oil price drop
Corpus Christi Caller-Times (This article also appeared in San Angelo Standard-Times.)
http://bit.ly/1s8J9fv
As a top Senate leader, Texas’ John Cornyn has ‘to deliver’
Charlotte Observer (This article also appeared in McClatchy DC and 24 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/1w3aQ51

HOUSTON/TEXAS

The Q&A: William Fulton
William “Bill” Fulton, director of Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, is interviewed about his new role as director and the institute’s goals for education research projects.
The Texas Tribune
http://bit.ly/1wYEMPP

Texas urged to expand Medicaid
The Code Red Task Force on Access to Health Care in Texas discussed its report findings on accepting Medicaid expansion across Texas at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. Steve Murdock, the Allyn and Gladys Cline Professor of Sociology and director of Rice’s Hobby Center for the Study of Texas, is quoted as chair of the task force.
San Antonio Express-News
http://bit.ly/1BPGrM0
Code Red Task Force recommends plan to increase Texans’ access to health insurance
UTH.edu
http://bit.ly/14uC8Lb
KTRH-AM
http://bit.ly/1DCbHiZ
Lakey joins UT Health Northeast
Tyler Morning Telegraph
http://bit.ly/1tNk6dz
KABB-TV (San Antonio)
http://bit.ly/1BQchsc
WOAI-TV (San Antonio)
http://bit.ly/1FudY4t

Opening the door to polluters
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has been weakening the state’s chemical exposure for years. Loren Raun, a faculty fellow of statistics, environmental analysis and decision-making, is quoted.
Fort Worth Weekly
http://bit.ly/1yFlx4G

‘Manor of Speaking’ goes national
Robert Patten, the Lynette S. Autry Professor Emeritus in Humanities and professor emeritus of English, is mentioned as a recurring panelist on Houston PBS’ “Manor of Speaking,” a talk show created for discussion of “Downton Abbey.”
Houstonia
http://bit.ly/1xVANul

Top things to do this weekend: Jan. 9-11
Musiqa will showcase artistic director Anthony Brandt, associate professor of composition and theory at Rice’s Shepherd School of Music, and Karim Al-Zand, associate professor of composition and theory at the Shepherd School in a one-night-only concert at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts.
Houstonia
http://bit.ly/1xKIHVU

Big Blue Hole offers clues to Mayan civilization’s eventual collapse
André Droxler, professor of Earth science, co-authored a study on a centurylong drought causing the collapse of the ancient Mayan civilization.
The Christian Times
http://bit.ly/1tQTm1r
Mysterious Mayan collapse solved by a Rice professor? New study shocks, blows away old myths
CultureMap Houston
http://bit.ly/14tQUSj
A week in review – Jan. 7, 2015
La Voz Colorado
http://bit.ly/1xKu6cY

Harris County Judge Emmett to speak at Brotherhood Banquet in Liberty
Harris County Judge Ed Emmett ’71 will be the keynote speaker at the 89th Annual Men’s Brotherhood Banquet Feb. 19.
Cleveland Advocate (This article also appeared in Dayton News.)
http://bit.ly/14u9KJe

MasterMinds 2014 revisited: Apollo Chamber Players
The Apollo Chamber Players, a Houston-based group formed at Rice’s Shepherd School of Music, are featured for their busy past year and a half, which includes a commission for new works from Karim Al-Zand, associate professor of composition and theory at the Shepherd School.
HoustonPress
http://bit.ly/1DC5aEP

BROADCAST

KRIV-TV
Richard Stoll, the Albert Thomas Chair in Political Science and scholar at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, explains that the apparent terrorist attack on the French newspaper Charlie Hebdo was likely done out of retaliation.
http://bit.ly/1BLBcg6

KTRK-TV
Julie Fette, associate professor of French studies, mentions that she anticipates questions from her students about the apparent terrorist attack on the French newspaper Charlie Hebdo.
http://bit.ly/1zWU5uu

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

3-D map of human genome reveals ‘origami’ gene regulation
In a triumph for cell biology, researchers have assembled the first high-resolution, 3-D maps of entire folded genomes and found a structural basis for gene regulation — a kind of “genomic origami” that allows the same genome to produce different types of cells.
Genetic Literacy Project
http://bit.ly/1AKEx0T

Major research project receives grant to develop nanoparticle-based cancer treatment
An interdisciplinary project (Laser Activated Nanoparticles for Tumor Elimination) between chemists at Rice, physicists at Niels Bohr Institute and doctors at Copenhagen University Hospital and the Panum Institute received a grant from the Novo Nordisk Foundation. Much of the nanoparticle designing for the research will take place at Rice.
AZoNano
http://bit.ly/1xIKSc8

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

For students, college life is an education in homeownership
Rice is one of seven universities across the U.S. with the most impressive dorms. The enjoyable atmosphere of Rice’s residential colleges is featured.
Hometalk
http://bit.ly/1xVBCjL

SLU professor releases new book on Civil War
Southeastern Louisiana University history professor Samuel Hyde released his new book, “The Enigmatic South: Toward Civil War and Its Legacies.” John Boles, the William P. Hobby Professor of History, is quoted.
The Advocate
http://bit.ly/1tQZLcS

1 in 5 ‘atheist’ scientists is spiritual.
Elaine Howard Ecklund, the Herbert S. Autrey Chair and Professor of Sociology, co-director of the Boniuk Institute for the Study and Advancement of Religious Tolerance and director of Rice’s Religion and Public Life Program, is quoted about her research on spiritual atheist scientists.
This Is Really Interesting
http://bit.ly/1BQeoMt

Houston is No. 1 at these 15 things. Suck it, every other city.
A list of why Houston is the “greatest city to ever have existed” cites Rice’s Kinder Institute of Urban Research’s study on Houston being the most ethnically diverse metropolitan area in the U.S.
Thrillist
http://bit.ly/14znlzv

SPORTS

Men’s tennis splits day 1 at Florida Gulf Coast
Rice men’s tennis players Srikar Alla and Henrik Munch fell to Texas Christian University at the Florida Gulf Coast University Invitational.
LSUSports.net
http://bit.ly/1wwopLl

NEWS RELEASE

Rice U. expert available to discuss Paris ‘terrorist act’
Rice political scientist Richard Stoll is available to comment on the apparent terrorist attack on the offices of French magazine Charlie Hebdo.
http://bit.ly/14zhxWJ