A Sampling of Clips for 
August 11 - 12, 2005

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

Sun was Shining Brightly from Beginning - Study
Reuters, Aug. 12-Our Sun was already shining brightly more than 4.5 billion years ago, as dust and gas was swirling into what would become the planets of the solar system, UCSD researchers led by Mark Thiemens reported on Thursday. More

Similar article appeared in:
MSNBC, Aug. 11
San Diego Union-Tribune, Aug. 12
Innovations Report, Aug. 12

Cell Biology: The Secret Life of Sperm
Nature, Aug. 11-Far from being mere DNA delivery boys, it's now becoming clear that sperm also ship a complex cargo of RNA and proteins that may be crucial for an embryo's early development. (Refers to research by Victor Vacquier, a reproductive biologist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.) More

Medical Tests, Sans Prescriptions
National Public Radio, Aug. 11-Americans spend more than a trillion dollars a year on health care. That's more than any other country. Health experts say that should be enough to have an easy-to-use system that provides peace of mind, but two new trends show the exact opposite is happening. (Interview with Dr. Joe Scherger, a doctor who specializes in preventive medicine at UCSD.) More

Fat, Not Just Alcohol, Can Ravage Liver
San Diego Union-Tribune, Aug. 12-If you're overweight, here's yet another reason to slim down: Doctors at UCSD are seeing an alarming number of adults and even children with early stages of what looks like alcoholic cirrhosis, in which an inflamed and scarred liver malfunctions. But these people never or rarely drank alcohol. More

Get a Whiff of This
St. Petersburg Times, Aug. 11-Scientists no longer look down their noses at humans' sense of smell. New research shows that it may be a key to how we process all information. (Quote by Jeffry Isaacson, an associate professor in neuroscience at the UCSD School of Medicine.) More

Will Other Worlds Beckon Collins?
Houston Chronicle, Aug. 10-When space shuttle commander Eileen Collins guided the Discovery to a smooth landing Tuesday, the 48-year-old was most likely capping off her stellar career as an active-duty astronaut. (Mentions work by Sally Ride, a professor of physics at UCSD.) More

Oil Prices Hit New High Despite Ample Supplies
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Aug. 11-Oil prices rose to yet another new plateau Wednesday, carried largely on the fumes of worry that turmoil in the Middle East may slow production. (Quote by James Hamilton of UCSD.) More

Study Claims Some Children's Hospital
Workers Can't Afford Health Insurance
Voice of San Diego, Aug. 12-A report released Thursday by the Center on Policy Initiatives suggests that a majority of the clerical, service and maintenance employees at Children's Hospital earn below a self-sufficiency wage for San Diego. (Quote by Eileen Callahan, a spokeswoman for the UCSD Medical Center.) More