A Sampling of Clips for
December 19^th, 2007

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

Stringy Theory
San Diego Union-Tribune, Dec. 19 – In October, two UCSD researchers published the first physical explanation of why knots seem to form magically, not just in strands of Christmas lights, but in pretty much anything stringy, from garden hoses to iPod earbud cords to DNA. More

Principal at Preuss Abruptly Steps Down
San Diego Union-Tribune, Dec. 19 -- Following a grade-tampering scandal at the Preuss School, the nationally recognized charter school at UCSD that steers low-income and minority students to college, the principal has resigned. More

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South American Ants Eating Way Across California
FOX News, Dec. 19 -- Carnivorous Argentine ants that have invaded coastal California devour other insects, UCSD researchers found. When that food's gone, the ants become vegetarians. The new finding, based on an eight-year study of a population of ants in the foothills southeast of San Diego, reveals how the alien ants thrive so well in a foreign land. More

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Qualcomm Buys Noise-reduction Company
The Washington Post, Dec. 19 -- Qualcomm made a clear statement about its vision for future mobile devices on Monday by buying SoftMax, a provider of noise-reduction algorithms. Privately held SoftMax is based in Qualcomm's hometown of San Diego and was founded in 1998 by scientists from The Salk Institute and from UCSD. More

Candidate Has Another Teary Moment
Boston Globe, Dec. 19 –  Mitt Romney’s first noteworthy misty-eyed moment of the campaign came at the end of his nationally televised speech on faith and politics earlier this month in Texas.
(Quotes UCSD political scientist Sam Popkin) More

Earth 8: New Climate Change Exhibit at Scripps Birch Aquarium
News8, Dec. 18 – UCSD’s Birch Aquarium at Scripps has a new exhibit aimed at educating visitors about global warming. More

Nameless in Death, Alive in their Hearts
San Diego Union-Tribune, Dec. 19 – Anatomists estimate that virtually all medical schools hold memorials for their cadavers. UCSD held its service last week with 120 medical students, some of whom performed musical pieces composed for the occasion. The bodies will be cremated and scattered into the ocean. More

Aguirre Aide Paid; Didn't Give Testimony
San Diego Union-Tribune, Dec. 19 -- San Diego City Attorney Michael Aguirre hired his former campaign treasurer as an expert witness in the city's pension litigation and paid the expert's firm $127,715 in city money even though he didn't testify at the trial, documents and interviews show. (Quotes UCSD political scientist Steve Erie) More