UCSD News

A Sampling of Clips for
December 7^th, 2006

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

Democratic Wave in Congress Further Erodes Moderation in GOP
The Washington Post, Dec. 7 -- The Democrats' victory in the midterm election accelerates a three-decade-old pattern of declining moderate influence and rising conservative dominance in the Republican Party. By one measure, the GOP is more ideologically homogenous now than it has been in modern history. (Mentions a study about political polarization in Congress by Keith T. Poole, a political science professor at UCSD and Howard Rosenthal, a New York University politics professor) More

Senators Argue Over Warming
San Jose Mercury News, Dec. 7 -- The senators and their witnesses argued about "pitiful polar bears,"' whether Al Gore was using global warming to run for president and even something substantive -- the risks of climate change and what should be done about it. But the purpose of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing Wednesday was to examine this burning question: Are sensation-seeking media hyping the threat of global warming? (Quotes Naomi Oreskes, a professor of history and science studies at UCSD, who testified at the hearing) More

Gift of the Magi
The Washington Times, Dec. 7 -- The District has received an extraordinary gift this holiday season. Leonardo Da Vinci's preparatory drawing for his painting "Adoration of the Magi" is on view outside of Italy for the first time. The Uffizi Gallery only allowed the drawing to be displayed in America for two days. Maurizio Seracini, an internationally recognized art expert at UCSD, has concluded that the painting was probably finished by another artist decades after Da Vinci abandoned it. More

Similar story in
Bloomberg

Family Life of Penguins
The Washington Times, Dec. 7 -- People just can't seem to get enough of penguins. With the 2005 release of the documentary film "March of the Penguins," interest in the black and white birds has grown. This holiday season, "Happy Feet," an animated feature film about penguins, also is in theaters. (Quotes Dr. Paul Ponganis, a research physiologist at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UCSD) More

First-Time Mothers at Risk for Postpartum Mental Disorders
Psychiatric Times, Dec. 6 -- A first-time major mental illness can strike mothers with dramatic suddenness within three weeks of delivering a first child, researchers reported. (Mentions Christina Chambers of UCSD) More

Study May Lead to Better Dental Composites
UPI, Dec. 7 -- UCSD Structural Engineering Professor Vistasp Karbhari has developed ultra-strong fiber-reinforced polymer composites for industrial applications that he says might also be used in dentistry. More

First Female Astronaut Inducted Into California Hall of Fame
10News, Dec. 6 -- America's first female astronaut, UCSD Physics Professor Sally K. Ride, will be one of 13 inductees in Wednesday's inaugural California Hall of Fame ceremony. More

Suspect Arrested in 2 University City Rapes
San Diego Union-Tribune, Dec. 7 -- DNA tests led to the arrest yesterday of a man police say sexually assaulted two University City women in separate attacks in 2005 and 2006. Detective Sgt. Judy Woods, who was one of the lead investigators, praised the community and UCSD police for releasing safety-alert bulletins on the cases. More