A Sampling of Clips
for September 19^th, 2008

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

Are You a Born Conservative (or Liberal)?
Los Angeles Times, Sept. 19 -- Die-hard liberals and conservatives aren't made; they're born. It's literally in their DNA. That's the suggestion of a study by a group of researchers who wanted to see if there was a biological basis for people's political attitudes. "What is revolutionary about this paper is that it shows the path from genes to physiology to behavior," said James H. Fowler, a political-science professor at UCSD, who was not involved in the research. More

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Denver Post
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Too Good to Be True?: Fat That Keeps You Thin
Nature, Sept. 18 -- Scientists have stumbled on a chemical in the body that could one day prevent or reverse diseases linked to obesity. In an editorial accompanying the Cell article, endocrinologist Jerrold Olefsky of the UCSD School of Medicine points out: "Earlier studies have indicated that the capacity of human [fat cells] for de novo biosynthesis of fatty acids is considerably less than in rodent models." More

Inconvenient Truths
The Nation, Opinion, Sept. 17 -- Over the years, as a hybrid and increasingly global mix of AIDS warriors has pursued prevention, treatments and social change, the International AIDS Conference has found its way to Berlin, Barcelona and Bangkok, to Yokohama, Durban and Toronto. (Written by Steven Epstein, professor of sociology at UCSD, and author of “Impure Science: AIDS, Activism, and the Politics of Knowledge” and “Inclusion: The Politics of Difference in Medical Research.”) More

Cartoon Attractions in California
Los Angeles Times, Sept. 16 -- In San Diego, several spots pay homage to Theodor Seuss Geisel, a.k.a. Dr. Seuss, who lived in La Jolla for decades before his death in 1991. There's no Seuss or Geisel museum, but since 1995 the UCSD campus' signature top-heavy concrete-and-glass main library has been known as the Geisel Library. More

Global Warming May Cause Biodiversity Loss
KPOJ, Portland, Ore., Sept. 19 -- A U.S. analysis suggests even if greenhouse gas emissions are fixed at 2005 levels, there could be substantial biodiversity loss and glacial melt. Scripps Institution of Oceanography researchers at UCSD say the Earth will warm about 4.3 degrees Fahrenheit above pre-industrial levels even under extremely conservative greenhouse-gas emission scenarios and assuming efforts to resolve particulate pollution are successful. But the scientists say that amount of warming would lead to widespread loss of biodiversity, deglaciation and other adverse consequences in nature. More

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KKSF, San Francisco, Calif.
KSNE, Las Vegas, Nev.

UC Regents Revive Pension Contribution
San Diego Union-Tribune, Sept. 19 – Facing dramatic pension shortfalls in the future, the University of California Regents voted yesterday to restart employee and university pension contributions for the first time in nearly 20 years. (Mentions UCSD) More

Native American Days at UC San Diego 
Imperial Valley News, Sept. 18 -- Environmental sustainability on San Diego Reservations, a four-dimensional look at the repatriation of important cultural items to Native Americans, and the personal experiences of a tribal doctor will be featured during the 2008 California Native American Day Celebration at UCSD. More

Carlsbad Physician Helps Hurricane Victims
North County Times, Sept. 18 -- Dr. Phil Goodman of Carlsbad has been deployed five times in two years as part of the San Diego Disaster Medical Assistance Team, co-sponsored by the UCSD Medical Center and International Relief Teams of San Diego Inc. More

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