A Sampling of Clips for Nov. 17, 2010

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

Science Communication: Scientist as Star
Nature, Nov. 17 -- Sleep researcher Sara Mednick has straddled the line between media darling and respected scientist. But why is there still a line at all? Mednick conducts her research at a sleep laboratory at UC San Diego. More

Vodka Eyeball Shots a Dangerous Way to Imbibe
USA Today, Nov. 17 -- College students have long done crazy things, from swallowing gold fish to jamming themselves into telephone booths. Not all things they try are dangerous, but some are. Two new cases in point: consumption of controversial alcoholic energy drinks likely to be banned today; and a bizarre method of trying to get plastered by absorbing alcohol through the eyeball. (Quotes Dr. David Granet, a professor of ophthalmology at UC San Diego) More

Antimatter Held for Questioning
Nature, Nov. 17 -- Now a research collaboration at CERN, Europe's particle-physics lab near Geneva, Switzerland, has managed, 38 times, to confine single antihydrogen atoms in a magnetic trap for more than 170 milliseconds. The group reported the result in Nature online Nov. 17. (Quotes Cliff Surko, an antimatter researcher at UC San Diego) More

Redrawing of District Lines Put California House Democrats at Risk
San Jose Mercury News, Nov. 16 -- California House Democrats, thrust back into the minority by the midterm election, now face unprecedented threats to their long-held seats. A confluence of changes to California's election rules and congressional boundaries makes the nation's largest Democratic delegation especially vulnerable in the 2012 election and beyond. "Preservation of incumbents isn't going to happen," said Gary Jacobson, congressional expert and political science professor at UC San Diego. "There won't be any gerrymandering and senior incumbents may find themselves knocked off." More

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Contra Costa Times

Illegal Immigrants' Cost to Taxpayers a Hot Debate
Fresno Bee, Nov. 17 -- Hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrant workers keep the Central Valley's economy humming – at a price. (Quotes Gordon Hanson, an economics professor at UC San Diego) More

Will Changes to Spending and Saving Habits Be Permanent?
KPBS, Nov. 17 — We’ve heard again and again that the current economic downturn is the worst the United States has seen since the Great Depression. But, will it shape our attitudes about money for years to come? (Quotes On Amir, an associate professor at UC San Diego) More

Brain Waves Move Paralyzed People
KPBS, Nov. 16 — People who are paralyzed may soon be able to move a computer cursor, operate robotic arms or walk again, just by thinking about it. New technology called Brain Machine Interface is making it possible. (Quotes Virginia De Sa, Associate Professor of Cognitive Science at UC San Diego) More

UCSD Chancellor to be Honored at White House
La Jolla Light, Nov. 16 – President Barack Obama will honor the 2009 recipients of the National Medal of Science, including UC San Diego Chancellor Marye Anne Fox in an awards ceremony at the White House on Nov. 17. Fox is one of the 10 eminent researchers and only San Diegan to receive the National Medal of Science, the highest honor bestowed by the United States government on scientists, engineers and inventors. The ceremony will be carried live by satellite feed and webcast on the White House website at www.whitehouse.gov/live. More

UCSD to Mark Founder’s Day on Thursday
La Jolla Light, Nov. 16 – A special feature on UC San Diego’s Founders’ Day celebration. More

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