UCSD News

A Sampling of Clips for
December 10^th, 2007

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

Knot Physics
The New York Times, Dec. 9 -- When Doug Smith pulls the power cord for his laptop out of his bag, he inevitably finds that — whoops! — it has somehow tangled itself into a dense knot. Most of us simply shrug. But Smith is a physics professor at UCSD, and he wanted to know precisely why the knots form in the first place. More

The New New Philosophy
The New York Times, Dec. 9 -- A recent movement known as “experimental philosophy” has rudely challenged the way professional philosophers like to think of themselves. Not only are philosophers unaccustomed to gathering data; many have also come to define themselves by their disinclination to do so. (Mentions the Experimental Philosophy Lab at UCSD) More

Marines and Academics Join over Foreign Relations
Los Angeles Times, Dec. 9 -- The back and forth between military man and academic occurred during an all-day session at UCSD in La Jolla -- part of a new effort between Camp Pendleton and the university to bring together very different types of professionals in international relations. As professors briefed troops set to deploy, theory came face to face with practice in interesting ways. More

Penguins Safely Lower Oxygen to "Blackout" Levels
National Geographic News, Dec. 7 -- Emperor penguins may have a supercharged form of a blood protein that allows them to dive underwater for more than 20 minutes on a single breath, according to a new study, authored by Paul Ponganis of UCSD’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego. More

Bali update: Pushing for Action, not Talk, on Climate Change
International Herald Tribune, Dec. 7 -- The diplomats and officials gathered in Bali to shape talks leading to a new climate treaty are beginning to feel the heat. (Quotes Richard Somerville, a climate scientist at UCSD) More

Former UC San Diego Employee Arrested in Bomb Hoax
CBS2, Los Angeles, Calif., Dec. 10 -- A former lab technician at UCSD was arrested Sunday in connection with a bomb threat against a research building on the La Jolla campus, authorities said.
More

Appeal to Conserve Water Is Spread Slowly
San Diego Union-Tribune, Dec. 10 -- Regional officials ramped up their appeals for water conservation in June when they launched a program aimed at trimming the county's water use by 10 percent. Ever since, they've relied on a low-budget campaign to push optional measures such as taking shorter showers and serving less water at restaurants. (Quotes UCSD political scientist Steve Erie) More

Stem Cell Institute Criticized on Ethics
San Diego Union-Tribune, Dec. 8 -- The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine announced yesterday that it would not consider 10 of the 59 grant applications it received from researchers hoping to participate in the latest round of state stem cell funding because of potential conflicts of interest with its board members. (Quotes UCSD spokeswoman Stacie Spector) More

Remembering What Matters
North County Times, Dec. 8 -- For most families, the holidays are special occasions to share. But for the 360,000 family members and caregivers who are affected by Alzheimer's in our San Diego community, it can also be a particularly stressful and challenging time of year. (Quotes Lisa Snyder, a social worker who provides counseling, education and referral services at the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at UCSD) More

Preuss School Ranked 10th Among Nation's High Schools
San Diego Daily Transcript, Dec. 7 -- The Preuss School at UCSD was named 10th of 18,000 high schools surveyed by U.S. News and World Report for its first annual “America’s Best High Schools” report. More

Families of Burned Illegal Immigrants
Grieve while Medical Bills and Questions Mount
North County Times, Dec. 8 -- The recent wildfires here left a tragic toll among immigrant families, but they also left a financial cost that hospital officials will have to pay somehow. (Quotes Dr. Thomas McAfee, UCSD's physician-in-chief) More

Wealth of Data Not Always Available on Rich Residents
San Diego Business Journal, Dec. 10 -- San Diego may be well-known anecdotally as a rich city. Sperling’s Best Places to Live survey will tell you that the cost of living here is 46 percent above the national average. (Mentions Donald Shiley’s ongoing donations to UCSD’s ophthalmology center totaling more than $15 million) More