A Sampling of Clips for February 1^st, 2010

* UCSD faculty and staff may obtain a copy of an article by e-mailing the University Communications Office

Astrophysicist Proved Elements Are Created by Stars
The Wall Street Journal, Feb. 1 -- In one of the most sweeping discoveries of astrophysics, Geoffrey Burbidge helped explain the origins of the elements. Mr. Burbidge, a UCSD cosmologist who died Tuesday at age 84, helped show how chemical elements are created by stars. A now-classic 1957 scientific paper Mr. Burbidge wrote with his wife, Margaret Burbidge, and two other scientists, was titled "Synthesis of the Elements in Stars." More

Similar story in
Los Angeles Times
The Washington Post

Supercomputer Shares Universe Simulations
MSNBC, Jan. 29 – Supercomputing has helped astrophysicists create massive models of the universe, but such simulations remain out of reach for many in the United States and around the world. That could all change after a successful test allowed scientists in Portland, Ore. to watch a Chicago-based simulation of how ordinary matter and mysterious dark matter evolved in the early universe. (Quotes Rick Wagner, an astrophysicist at UCSD) More

San Diego May Be Classy, But Does It Need a Public Law School?
The Wall Street Journal, Feb. 1 -- The University of California system has a bunch of law schools. Five, by our count (Berkeley, UCLA, Hastings, Davis, Irvine). Does it need a sixth? One could be on its way. (Mentions UCSD) More

Similar stories in
Inside Higher Ed
San Diego Union-Tribune

Blue Whales are Singing in a Lower Key
Los Angeles Times, Feb. 1 -- It's the same old tune, but the pitch of the blues is mysteriously lower -- especially off the coast of California where, local researchers say, the whales' voices have dropped by more than half an octave since the 1960s. (Quotes John Hildebrand, an oceanographer at Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego and co-author of the study published recently in Endangered Species Research) More

Helping the Sax Find a Classical Home
The New York Times, Jan. 29 -- The saxophone, invented by the Belgian-born instrument maker Adolphe Sax around 1840, has seldom achieved prominence in the classical instrumentarium. (Mentions Lei Liang, who is on the UCSD faculty) More

Easy = True
Boston Globe, Jan. 30 -- One of the hottest topics in psychology today is something called “cognitive fluency.” Cognitive fluency is simply a measure of how easy it is to think about something, and it turns out that people prefer things that are easy to think about to those that are hard. (Quotes Piotr Winkielman, a psychologist at UCSD who has done research on fluency and attractiveness) More

A Greener, Cleaner Way to Mine for Metal
San Diego Union-Tribune, Jan. 31 — For every new innovation, an old generation of gadgets goes to the landfill. And as these unwanted devices start to pile up, toxic substances such as lead and mercury start becoming a problem. Here’s where a Vista-based company, E-World Recyclers, aspires to provide a solution. (Quotes Julie Hampel, manager of the Environmental Affairs Division of UCSD’s Environment, Health & Safety Department) More

Should S.D. Keep Strong-Mayor System?
San Diego Union-Tribune, Jan. 31 — The transfer of executive power at San Diego City Hall from a city manager to an elected mayor has led to significant changes in operations, procedures and the age-old art of political wheeling and dealing. But, after four years of the experiment, is the city better off with a strong mayor at the helm? (Quotes UCSD political scientist Steve Erie) More

Spending on Mailers Cost City Large Sum
San Diego Union-Tribune, Jan. 31 — San Diego City Councilman Carl DeMaio spent nearly $32,000 in taxpayer money during his first year in office to mail invitations to town-hall meetings he held on water conservation, public safety and the city’s financial problems. (Quotes UCSD political scientist Steve Erie) More

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