Dateline Rice for Dec. 22, 2020

Stefan De La Garza
– December 22, 2020Posted in: Dateline Rice

FEATURED ITEMS
Jupiter and Saturn’s great conjunction captured in stunning images
Patrick Hartigan, professor of physics and astronomy, is quoted in numerous articles about the Dec. 21 event in which Jupiter and Saturn appeared so close to each other in the sky that they looked like a “double planet” for the first time since the Middle Ages. Univision Houston features several images of the conjunction over Lovett Hall.
CNN (This article also appeared in more than 50 other media outlets. Below is a sampling of articles that appeared in more than 50 other media outlets.) 
http://dateline.rice/dec-22-hartigan
PHOTOS: ‘Great Conjunction’ dazzles stargazers around the world
NPR (This article also appeared in more than 150 affiliate websites.) 
http://dateline.rice/dec-22-hartigan
A planetary conjunction between Jupiter and Saturn may account for the biblical ‘Christmas Star’
Salon
http://dateline.rice/dec-22-hartigan
How long does the great conjunction last? Jupiter and Saturn aren’t finished yet
Green Matters
http://dateline.rice/dec-22-hartigan
Así se vio en Houston la unión de los planetas desde el campus de la Universidad Rice
Univsion Houston (An English translation is not available.)
http://dateline.rice/dec-22-lovett-hall-conjunction

COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Strict lockdowns led to fewer deaths later in pandemic, study says
An article mentions 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 quoted.
WPBF Online (This article also appeared in more than 10 other media outlets.)
http://dateline.rice/dec-22-ho

Apache Industrial Services pivots UV light technology to target coronaviruses
An article featuring Apache SafeSpace Solutions, which specializes in ultraviolet C wavelength technologies to inactivate COVID-19 in workspaces, mentions that it has been used at Rice.
Cleveland Business Journal
http://dateline.rice/dec-22-cbj

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL
Will Mexico play ball with Biden’s promise to target corruption amid cartel drug war?
Gary Hale, nonresident fellow in drug policy and Mexico studies at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.
Louisville Courier Journal
http://dateline.rice/dec-22-hale

CommunityWide Federal Credit Union review
Alumnus Ben Gran co-authored an article.
Forbes
http://dateline.rice/dec-22-gran

HOUSTON/TEXAS
Governor Abbott appoints Cagle to task force on disaster issues affecting persons who are elderly and persons with disabilities
An article features alumnus R. Jack Cagle.
Woodlands Online
http://dateline.rice/dec-22-cagle

BROADCAST
Texas will redraw its congressional maps in 2021. Here’s how
An article quotes alumnus Ed Emmett ’71, fellow in energy and transportation policy at the Center for Energy Studies at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, and 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.
Houston Public Media (This article also appeared in Texas Standard.)
http://dateline.rice/dec-22-emmett-jones

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL
FEATURE: Saudi crude keeps flowing to Red Sea as East-West Pipeline repairs continue
Jim Krane, the Wallace S. Wilson Fellow for Energy Studies at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.
S&P Global Platts
http://dateline.rice/dec-22-krane

‘Soft’ nanoparticles give plasmons new potential
An article features collaborative Rice research into photocatalysis in hybrid plasmonic nanoparticles. Co-authors quoted or mentioned include Christy Landes, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, chemistry and electrical and computer engineering; Stephan Link, professor of chemistry and computer and electrical engineering and associate chair for graduate studies; Sean Collins, the former Carl and Lillian Illig Postdoctoral Fellow at Rice; and graduate student Emily Searles.
Nanowerk
http://dateline.rice/dec-22-landes-link

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST
Uber accidents in South Florida: Can passengers sue?
An article cites collaborative Rice research into ride-sharing services.
South Florida Caribbean News
http://dateline.rice/dec-22-sfcn

Sandpoint Elks honor community’s top students

Sound off for Tuesday, Dec. 22
Rice is mentioned.
Daily Times (This article also appeared in the Dec. 22 print edition.)
http://dateline.rice/dec-22-dt

SPORTS
Evee lifts Rice past New Orleans 73-62
The Rice’s men’s basketball team defeated the University of New Orleans 73-62 Dec. 21. Owls Travis Evee, Riley Abercrombie and Quincy Olivari are mentioned.
The Associated Press (This article also appeared in more than 50 other media outlets, and it appeared in a roundup in the Dec. 22 print edition of the Houston Chronicle.)
http://dateline.rice/dec-22-ap-rice-uno
First-half lead slips away as Owls rally to defeat MBB 73-62
UNO Privateers News
http://dateline.rice/dec-22-uno
This week in New Orleans athletics — Dec. 21-27
UNO Privateers News
http://dateline.rice/dec-22-uno
Men’s basketball adds Rice game Monday, Owls to visit Lakefront Arena in 2021
UNO Privateers News
http://dateline.rice/dec-22-uno

The AP Top 25 women’s basketball poll
An article mentions that Rice’s women’s basketball team received votes in this week’s Associated Press poll.
The Associated Press (This article also appeared in more than 50 other media outlets.)
http://dateline.rice/dec-22-wbb

Your day in women’s basketball, Dec. 22: Texas A&M stays undefeated
An article mentions that Rice’s women’s basketball team was defeated by Texas A&M University 57-53 Dec. 20. Owl Jasmine Smith is mentioned in FanSided.
FanSided
http://dateline.rice/dec-22-wbb-rice-tamu
Women’s basketball rankings: Arkansas muscles into the Power 10 for Week 5
NCAA
http://dateline.rice/dec-22-ncaa

Why does Tommy Kramer, former Vikings QB, have a Packers urinal in his house?
Former Rice football player Tommy Kramer is featured.
Sportscasting
http://dateline.rice/dec-22-kramer

Five thoughts on North Texas’ loss to App State in the Myrtle Beach Bowl
Rice football is mentioned.
Denton Record-Chronicle (Subscription is required.)
http://dateline.rice/dec-22-drc

North Texas vs. Appalachian State Myrtle Beach Bowl college football betting odds and pick: Expect a blowout
An article mentions that Rice’s football team was defeated by the University of North Texas 27-17 Nov. 21.
Action Network
http://dateline.rice/dec-22-rice-unt

What we’re watching: SBLive Power 25 high school football games of the week (Week 17)

An article mentions that D.J. Arkansas has committed to play football at Rice.
Scorebook Live
http://dateline.rice/dec-22-sbl

Nutall nabs SLC Player of the Week honors
An article mentions that Rice’s men’s basketball team was defeated by Sam Houston State University 82-69 Dec. 19.
KAGS Online (This article also appeared in KBTX Online.)
http://dateline.rice/dec-22-mbb-rice-shsu

South Alabama hires Major Applewhite as new offensive coordinator

Former Rice assistant football coach Major Applewhite is featured.
ESPN (Similar articles also appeared in 10 other media outlets.)
http://dateline.rice/dec-22-espn

College football bowl season: Breaking down all 28 games

An article mentions that Rice’s football team defeated Marshall University 20-0 Dec. 5.
ESPN
http://dateline.rice/dec-22-rice-marshall

Boise State football: Spartans a team of destiny
An article mentions that Rice’s men’s basketball team was defeated by the University of New Mexico 72-61 Dec. 13.
KTVB Online
http://dateline.rice/dec-22-mbb-rice-unm

Game primer: Houston vs. Hawaii
Former Rice head football coach Todd Graham is mentioned.
UHCougars.com
http://dateline.rice/dec-22-uhc

NEWS RELEASES
‘Soft’ nanoparticles give plasmons new potential
A team led by Rice chemists Christy Landes and Stephan Link, both associated with the Smalley-Curl Institute, have made hybrid particles that combine the unbeatable light-harvesting properties of plasmonic nanoparticles with the flexibility of catalytic polymer coatings.
http://dateline.rice/dec-22-news-release-landes-link

Rice University on winter break Dec. 23-Jan. 4
Rice will be on winter break from Dec. 23 through Jan. 4 and will reopen for regular operations Jan. 5. News media with an urgent request can reach the Rice News and Media Relations representative on call at 713-348-6774, but please keep in mind that we will have limited access to our faculty experts during the holiday break.
http://dateline.rice/dec-22-news-release-winter-break

About Stefan De La Garza

Stefan De La Garza is a news analyst in Rice University's Office of Public Affairs.