Dateline Rice for Nov. 27, 2013

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Quantum wells flash light without magnets
Junichiro Kono, professor of electrical and computer engineering and of physics and astronomy, is quoted in an article about a new process, Fermi-edge superfluorescence, which could be used to create compact semiconductor devices that produce picosecond pulses of light. Postdoctoral researchers Timothy Noe and Ji-Hee Kim are mentioned.
Futurity.org
http://bit.ly/1gi6GAD
Flashes of brilliance
Space Daily (This article also appeared in ECNMag.com and Electronic Component News.)
http://bit.ly/17XtjKK
Spontaneous bursts of light from a solid block
Product Design and Development
http://bit.ly/1ifpCEG
Superfluorescent bursts from quantum wells shift wavelength over 100 ps time
Laser Focus World
http://bit.ly/1aYCI2I

Companies prepare to pass health costs on to workers
Vivian Ho, the James A. Baker III Institute Chair in Health Economics at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and professor of economics, is quoted in an article about the Affordable Care Act.
MSN.com
http://on-msn.com/17Xtaqw

Democrats run biggest cities as US residents cluster by party
Mark Jones, the Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies, professor and chair of political science and fellow in political science at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted in an article about Democratic mayors.
Bloomberg.com
http://bloom.bg/1aUSlch

Biden chases place at center of Obama’s orbit
Douglas Brinkley, professor of history and fellow in history at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted in an article about Vice President Joe Biden.
The Brownsville Herald (This article also appeared in the Carroll County Times, Bryan-College Station Eagle, the Gadsden Times and more than 10 other sites.)
http://bit.ly/17XrvRY

College textbooks are ridiculously expensive. Two senators are trying to change that.
Rice’s OpenStax program is mentioned as one alternative to the steady rise in college textbook costs.
The National Journal
http://bit.ly/IoJm9a

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Gallegos or Garces? Analyzing the District 1 city council runoff
Robert Stein, the Lena Gohlman Fox Professor of Political Science, authored an article about the runoff election for Houston City Council District 1.
The Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1c8FLXi

LSC-University Park president celebrates ‘Opening the Door to Citizenship’ month
A team from Rice will collaborate with artist mentors for the “Open the Door” citywide art project.
Cypress Creek Mirror
http://bit.ly/1aUUPHG

Classical music concerts for holiday list
The British vocal group “King’s Singers” will perform at Rice Dec. 9.
The Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1a4vwyr

BROADCAST/WEBCAST

KPRC-TV
A report about an RUPD August arrest of a bike theft suspect mentions that the thief has a previous arrest record and that he pled guilty to the theft charge. It also cites RUPD’s policy that the department’s files are for internal use only.
http://bit.ly/IiPwqG

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Rice University researchers report new catalyst for rapid breakdown of nitrites
Michael Wong, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering and of chemistry, is quoted in an article about a new catalyst that can rapidly break down nitrites, a common and harmful contaminant in drinking water that often results from overuse of agricultural fertilizers.
AzoNano.com (This article also appeared in Green Building Elements and Terra Daily.)
http://bit.ly/1ifpCEG

Bad proteins branch out
A method to model the way proteins fold and sometimes misfold has revealed branching behavior that may have implications for Alzheimer’s and other aggregation diseases. Peter Wolynes, the D.R. Bullard-Welch Foundation Professor of Science and a professor of chemistry, is quoted. Postdoctoral researcher Weihua Zheng and graduate student Nicholas Schafer are mentioned.
RedOrbit.com (This article also appeared in Bionity.)
http://bit.ly/1bnRDWX
Bad proteins branch out into tree-like aggregates
ScienceBlog.com
http://bit.ly/1aYyrw2

Pop Science: Now you see me, now you don’t
Rice is mentioned in an article about camouflage.
The Muse
http://bit.ly/1bVMyjm

SPORTS

Rice football commended for academics
Rice was honored Tuesday with the American Football Coaches Association’s 2013 Academic Achievement Award.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1c8x8Mk

Several articles preview this Saturday’s football game between Rice and Tulane.
Conference title race reset: Eyes on Iron Bowl, ACC Coastal
CBSSports.com
http://cbsprt.co/187eTCu
Rice Owls seek division crown, 1st Conference USA title
Sports 610
http://cbsloc.al/1bVqIwv
Rice Owls vs. Tulane Green Wave pick-odds-prediction
SportsChatPlace.com
http://bit.ly/18nPNVL
Honor jersey recognition highlights homecoming activities for Rice Owls
The Potpourri (Tomball, Tex.)
http://bit.ly/1bVr8mG
The Numerical, week 13: Giving thanks for Andre Williams, Jordan Lynch and fake jump passes
SBNation.com
http://bit.ly/1bnKyp6
Power ranking: All 126 teams entering week 14
BleacherReport.com
http://bit.ly/1bnKLJ6

Rice, UNLV leap to top of mid-major
The Rice women’s swim team has earned the top spot in CollegeSwimming.com’s mid-major rankings.
CollegeSwimming.com
http://bit.ly/195Upu9

Ladykats beat Rice in overtime
An article recaps the Rice vs. Sam Houston State University women’s basketball game.
KBTX.com
http://bit.ly/IsATAQ

News 12
Rice basketball player Sean Obi has been named Conference USA Freshman of the Week.
http://bit.ly/1bnXZ8K
Former basketball star from Greenwich wins college honor
Greenwich Daily Voice (Greenwich, Conn.)
http://bit.ly/1jKiqvD

Waco strange but true: Little-known stadium stories
Baylor’s stadium opened the same day Rice dedicated their new stadium – strange, but true.
Waco Tribune
http://bit.ly/1fJ1jgo

Tony Picard running back video: Which college football program can he fit?
Rice running back Jayson Carter is mentioned in an article about White Swan Valley High School senior Tony Picard, the biggest running back in high school football.
AllVoices.com
http://bit.ly/1aULJL9