A Sampling of Clips for April 17^th, 2009

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

Common Signs that Life is Built to Survive, from Humans to Bacteria
Christian Science Monitor, April 16 -- Scientists studying the robustness of organic life have found some unexpected capabilities in nature. For one research team, it’s the ability of former light-loving and oxygen “breathing” marine microbes to make do with only iron and sulfur when shut up in a nasty place. For another group, it’s the realization that a common construction strategy underlies most, if not all, of Earth’s plants and animals. This similarity could be an advantage in adapting to a wide variety of environments and changing circumstances. “The big idea is that cells, tissues, and organisms hailing from all limbs of the tree of life respond to stimuli using basic biological ‘modules,’ ” says a recent announcement from UCSD. More

New Study Finds Childhood Photos Predict Marital Happiness
Huffington Post, April 16 -- Scientists say that it is possible to predict whose marriage will succeed or fail, based entirely on pictures from your childhood from as young as age 5.
According to an article in the UK's Daily Mail, the study found that "Those with the brightest smiles are more than three times as likely to have a strong marriage than those who frown their way through family outings as a child or teenager." (Quotes James Fowler, a political scientist at UCSD) More

A Meeting of Minds in the Americas
San Diego Union-Tribune, April 17 -- When the president of the United States huddles with 33 other hemispheric leaders at the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago today, how should we judge its success or failure? What are reasonable benchmarks for such large multilateral meetings?  (Written by Richard Feinberg, a professor at UCSD and director of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) More

$45 million Given to 9 Universities by Mystery Donor
San Diego Union-Tribune, April 17 -- A mystery is unfolding in the world of college fundraising: During the past few weeks, at least nine universities have received gifts totaling more than $45 million, and the schools had to promise not to try to find out the donor's identity. One school went so far as to check with the Internal Revenue Service and the Department of Homeland Security just to make sure a $1.5 million gift didn't come from illegal sources. (Quotes Juli Larsen, associate vice chancellor for development at UCSD) More

Stem Cell Consortium $43 Million Richer
San Diego Union-Tribune, April 17 -- San Diego's stem cell scientists hope they are closer to breaking ground on a new research facility now that the freeze on state bond money has thawed. The state Pooled Money Investment Board this week approved putting $43 million in an escrow account for San Diego's stem cell consortium. The funds show the state can make good on its promise to contribute to the construction of the proposed Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine building on North Torrey Pines Road. (Quotes UCSD Chancellor Marye Anne Fox) More

Teenagers Warned Of Rape By Intoxication
KPBS, April 16 -- San Diego County District Attorney's Office is launching a new campaign designed to curb the number of rapes involving alcohol or drugs. The DA's office reports a 60 percent hike in rapes where either one or both people were drinking or drugging. A growing number of those cases involve teenagers. That's why the DA's Office partnered with San Diego schools to promote Know The Price.org. The website is the engine behind a countywide public awareness campaign. (Quotes Dr. Penny Rue, UCSD's Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs) More

Similar story in North County Times

Looking for Something Good to Read this Spring?
KPBS, April 17 -- Maureen Cavanaugh: Booklovers with busy lives often find themselves caught in a bind. They either have no time to read, or if they happen to have a stolen moment for a book, they can't find anything they want to read. We will attempt to solve both problems during the rest of this hour on These Days by discussing a number of books that are so good, so different, so inviting, you'll not only find the book, but you'll make the time to read it. (Features interview with Tiffany Fox, a full-time writer for CalIT2 at UCSD) More

'Black Box' Could Redefine the Search for Music
Voice of San Diego, April 17 -- Luke Barrington wanted a good example of "funky music with a horn section for listening to at a party." The UCSD doctoral student typed the search term into his computer program and it told him to give James Brown's "Give It Up Or Turn It Loose" a try. It also suggested "Onyoghasayo" by Shankin' Pickle and "Super Freak" by Rick James. More

La Costa Canyon Student Gets Top ACT Score
North County Times, April 16 -- A student from La Costa Canyon High School recently got a perfect score on a popular college-readiness test, making him one of only 46 students across the country and the only one in San Diego County to earn the top score this year. The student, Daniel Ng, 17, of Carlsbad, said he was confident going into the test but didn't expect a perfect score. (Mentions UCSD) More

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