FEATURED ITEMS
'BBC World Service'
Patrick Hartigan, professor of physics and astronomy, is interviewed about the Dec. 21 event in which Jupiter and Saturn will appear so close to each other in the sky they will look like a “double planet” for the first time since the Middle Ages.
http://dateline.rice/dec-21-hartigan (This segment also aired on more than 1,400 affiliate stations around the world.)
'BBC World Service Update'
WNYC-FM (New York)
http://dateline.rice/dec-21-hartigan (This segment also aired on more than 1,400 affiliate stations around the world.)
A Christmas Star? Jupiter and Saturn alignment sparks comparisons
The Wall Street Journal (Below is a sampling of articles that appeared in more than 200 media outlets around the world. A similar article also appeared in a roundup in the Dec. 21 print edition of the San Antonio Express-News.)
http://dateline.rice/dec-21-hartigan
Jupiter and Saturn are just showing off now
The Atlantic
http://dateline.rice/dec-21-hartigan
Watch for the 'Christmas Star' as Jupiter and Saturn come closer than they have in centuries
CNN
http://dateline.rice/dec-21-hartigan
Winter solstice 2020: The shortest day is long on ancient pagan traditions
CNN Travel
http://dateline.rice/dec-21-hartigan
Júpiter y Saturno se acercan más de lo que lo han hecho en siglos: así puedes ver la 'Estrella de Navidad'
CNN Español (An English translation is not available.)
http://dateline.rice/dec-21-hartigan
Christmas conjunction: Jupiter and Saturn will seem to be inches apart Monday evening
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required. This article appeared on the front page of the Dec. 21 print edition, and it appeared on the front of the Metro section in the Dec. 20 print edition of the San Antonio Express-News and a previous edition of Dateline.)
http://dateline.rice/dec-21-hartigan
Do you see what I see? Planetary alignment to create a ‘Christmas star’
Religion News Service (This article appeared on the front of the Faith section in the Dec. 20 print edition of the San Antonio Express-News and a previous edition of Dateline.)
http://dateline.rice/dec-21-hartigan
For the first time in 800 years, you can watch a 'great conjunction' of Jupiter and Saturn
Vox
http://dateline.rice/dec-21-hartigan
Great Conjunction 2020: First photos as Jupiter and Saturn share Christmas 'kiss'
9News.com.au
http://dateline.rice/dec-21-hartigan
When and where to watch the great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn
The Quint
http://dateline.rice/dec-21-hartigan
How to watch Jupiter and Saturn form a 'Christmas Star' tonight
New York Post
http://dateline.rice/dec-21-hartigan
Christmas Star is not actually a Christmas Star; here's why
Science Times
http://dateline.rice/dec-21-hartigan
Bidens' vaccinations, Moderna's US availability, UK virus strain: 5 things to know Monday
USA Today
http://dateline.rice/dec-21-hartigan
COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Unpacking the 'fast development = risky vaccine' intuition
Utpal Dholakia, the George R. Brown Professor of Marketing at Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business, authored two articles in Psychology Today.
Psychology Today
http://dateline.rice/dec-21-dholakia
Does posting pro- or anti-vaccine memes on social media work?
Psychology Today
http://dateline.rice/dec-21-dholakia
'WZDX News'
A pair of broadcasts mention that stay-at-home orders are likely the biggest factor in reducing the spread of COVID-19 in the U.S., according to a new Rice study. Vivian Ho, the James A. Baker III Institute Chair in Health Economics at Rice's Baker Institute for Public Policy's Center for Health and Biosciences, is interviewed by KUT, and she is quoted in the Waco Tribune-Herald.
WZDX-TV (Huntsville, Alabama)
http://dateline.rice/dec-21-baker-study (This segment aired more than 10 times on affiliate stations across the U.S. and appeared in a previous edition of Dateline.)
KUT-AM (Austin)
http://dateline.rice/dec-21-ho
Jobless rate climbs in Waco, statewide during November
Waco Tribune-Herald
http://dateline.rice/dec-21-ho
Datos indican que cierre es insostenible
An article cites a study by Rice's Baker Institute for Public Policy into how restrictions on non-essential travel over the U.S.-Mexico border due to the pandemic affected the economy. José Iván Rodríguez-Sánchez, a postdoctoral research fellow in international trade at the Baker Institute's Center for the United States and Mexico, is cited.
Houston Chronicle (An English version is not available. This article also appeared in more than 25 other media outlets.)
http://dateline.rice/dec-21-rodriguez-sanchez
Opinion: When COVID trapped me in Houston, I stopped wanting to escape
An article mentions the exercise path ringing Rice.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required. This article also appeared on the front of the Outlook section in the Dec. 20 print edition.)
http://dateline.rice/dec-21-hc
NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL
Saudi Arabia makes major regional moves as Biden administration arrives
Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, fellow for the Middle East at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.
Al-Monitor
http://dateline.rice/dec-21-ulrichsen
HOUSTON/TEXAS
Bear Dalton, RodeoHouston and Spec’s wine expert, dies of cancer
An article featuring the late Charles “Bear” Dalton, who died Dec. 19 at 61, mentions he taught wine education classes at Rice.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required. This article also appeared on the front of the City/State section in the Dec. 20 print edition.)
http://dateline.rice/dec-21-hc
Seismique, a trippy immersive experience, is opening in an old big-box store in west Houston
An article mentions that alumnus Joshuah Jest has art installations on display in Seismique, an interactive art experience opening in Houston Dec. 26.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required. This article was also featured on the front of the Zest section in the Dec. 20 print edition.)
http://dateline.rice/dec-21-jest
Gov. Abbott's inauguration tab included $1.7 million for George Strait, six-figure bonuses for staff
Mark Jones, the Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies, professor of political science, fellow in political science at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and fellow at Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, is quoted.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required. This article appeared on the front page of the Dec. 20 print edition of the San Antonio Express-News.)
http://dateline.rice/dec-21-jones
Federal authorities' vow to cut violent crime in Austin strong on words but thin on details
Austin American-Statesman
http://dateline.rice/dec-21-jones
Houston’s most famous pollster reflects on five decades of state politics, as his career winds down
Bob Stein, the Lena Gohlman Fox Professor of Political Science, is quoted.
Texas Monthly
http://dateline.rice/dec-21-stein
FROM THE LABS: AI provides clues to understand how we think
An article features collaborative Rice research developing artificial intelligence models that help better understand the brain computations that underlie thoughts. Study co-author Xaq Pitkow, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, is quoted and pictured.
Baylor College of Medicine
http://dateline.rice/dec-21-pitkow
BROADCAST
WBAL-AM (Baltimore)
An article mentions President John F. Kennedy’s “moon speech,” which was delivered at Rice Sept. 12, 1962.
http://dateline.rice/dec-21-kennedy
TRADE/PROFESSIONAL
Optogenetics shows how the microbiome affects longevity
An article features collaborative Rice research that developed a novel method to directly control gene expression in bacteria residing in the gut of the laboratory worm C. elegans. Jeff Tabor, assistant professor of bioengineering and of biosciences, is quoted.
GenEngNews.com
http://dateline.rice/dec-21-tabor
12 strategies for encouraging students to want to revise their writing
Alumna Jenny Vo authored a response to a "question of the week."
Education Week Blog
http://dateline.rice/dec-21-vo
Rice lab finds van der Waals force can deform nanoscale silver for optics, catalytic use
An article features Rice research that found that the ubiquitous, ''weak'' van der Waals force is sufficient to indent rigid nanosheets, which may help nanoscale optics or catalytic systems applications. Co-authors Matt Jones, the Norman and Gene Hackerman Assistant Professor of Chemistry and an assistant professor of materials science and nanoengineering, and graduate student Sarah Rehn are quoted.
India Education Diary
http://dateline.rice/dec-21-jones
We're the Walter Bradley Center. But who is Walter Bradley?
James Tour, the T.T. and W.F. Chao Chair in Chemistry and a professor of computer science and of materials science and nanoengineering, is quoted.
MindMatters.ai
http://dateline.rice/dec-21-tour
Top USBE news stories of 2020
A roundup features alumnus Tarence Rice.
U.S. Black Engineer
http://dateline.rice/dec-21-rice
Meltem Demirors, CSO at CoinShares, explains how mining secures the bitcoin network, which secures financial information
Alumna Meltem Demirors is featured.
Crowdfund Insider
http://dateline.rice/dec-21-demirors
The most read Energy Institute Blog posts of 2020
Alumnus Andrew Campbell authored a roundup.
Energy Institute Blog
http://dateline.rice/dec-21-campbell
SPORTS
Wilson has 16 as No. 10 Texas A&M outlasts Rice 57-53
An article mentions that Rice's women's basketball team was defeated by Texas A&M University 57-53 Dec. 20. Owls Nancy Mulkey and Jasmine Smith are mentioned.
The Associated Press (This article also appeared in more than 50 other media outlets.)
http://dateline.rice/dec-21-wbb
NC State routs Miami and Arizona tops Utah
The Associated Press (This article also appeared in more than 50 other media outlets, and it appeared in a roundup in the Dec. 21 print edition of the Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News.)
http://dateline.rice/dec-21-wbb
Nutall lifts Sam Houston State over Rice 82-69
An article mentions that Rice's men's basketball team was defeated by Sam Houston State University 82-69 Dec. 19. Owls Quincy Olivari, Chris Mullins and Travis Evee are mentioned.
The Associated Press (This article also appeared in more than 50 other media outlets.)
http://dateline.rice/dec-21-mbb
The week in women's football: W-League preview part 1; CONCACAF calendar
Former Rice soccer player Gaby Garton is featured.
Tribal Football
http://dateline.rice/dec-21-garton
Texas college football rankings: Who needs the CFP? Aggies No. 1 in state
A roundup featuring Rice football mentions head coach Mike Bloomgren.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription is required.)
http://dateline.rice/dec-21-bloomgren
TCU football headed to Houston for the Texas Bowl to face a former SWC rival
An article mentions that the 1959 Bluebonnet Bowl was held at Rice Stadium.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
http://dateline.rice/dec-21-bbowl