science wire

Professor cited in brief to U.S. Supreme Court on new public health law
In March, the United States Supreme Court will hear arguments in an historic legal challenge to the new health law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).

Firms’ own social networks better for business than Facebook
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Using Facebook and Twitter may be good for a company's bottom line, but firms can rake in even bigger profits if they have their own virtual brand community, says a University of Michigan marketing professor.

Expanding entrepreneurship at Michigan Engineering and beyond

Driving the green
New study suggests that electric-powered trucks will save money for businesses.

MIT faculty speak at the World Economic Forum in Davos
Talks explore the mind/machine interface and the science of predicting the economy, among other topics.

A Study on the Impact of Good Teachers Sparks National Attention
Teachers who succeed in raising standardized test scores have a lasting influence on their students' lives, helping them avoid teenage pregnancy, go to college and earn more money as adults, accordin

’Dinner with Interesting People’ Premieres ’First Generation’ Documentary

U-M experts can discuss Super Bowl ads, football-related topics
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - University of Michigan experts are available to discuss Super Bowl commercials and other football topics, such as concussions and economic issues.

Probing Question: What is the sandwich generation?
By Melissa Beattie-Moss Research/Penn State If you didn't know better, you might think the Sandwich Generation was the name of a new show on the Food Network.

Got creative block? Get out of your office and go for a walk
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The next time you're in need of creative inspiration, try thinking outside the box - or cubicle. New research by Jeffrey Sanchez-Burks and Suntae Kim of the University of Michigan Ross School of Business shows that engaging in physical acts and experiences enhances creative problem-solving.

David and Helen Gurley Brown Gift to Create Institute for Media Innovation at Columbia and Stanford
J-School and Stanford Engineering announce joint gift from David and Helen Gurley Brown Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism and Stanford University's School of Engineering today

National Labs Seek Closer Industry Ties
The network of national laboratories run by the Department of Energy (DOE) has spawned countless scientific discoveries and technological breakthroughs in the last 80 years.

Stanford, Columbia get a joint $30 million gift for media innovation
The gift establishes a first-of-its-kind bi-coastal Institute for Media Innovation, bringing together the best in West Coast technology with East Coast content.

Four decades - and counting - of feminist journalism
At a Stanford panel discussion, editors, activists and bloggers come together to salute Ms. magazine and consider the future.

Half of L.A. human-services nonprofits are struggling, new UCLA report shows
Roughly half of Los Angeles County's 6,300 human-services nonprofits — which provide such services as emergency shelter, food, hospice care, and support for foster children, at-risk youth and t

Consumer confidence improves in January due to job gains
ANN ARBOR, Mich - Consumer confidence continued to improve in January due to positive news about potential job gains, according to University of Michigan economist Richard Curtin, director of the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers.

UChicago brings Akira clothing store to former Borders building on 53rd Street
The University of Chicago is bringing Akira , the apparel and shoes retailer, to Hyde Park, to occupy the majority of the first-floor space in the former Borders building at 1539 E. 53rd St&poi

Commentary in Nature: Can economy bear what oil prices have in store?
Stop wrangling over global warming and instead reduce fossil-fuel use for the sake of the global economy.

Stanford scholars reflect on Arab Spring
A year after the Egyptian uprising, five scholars talk about democracy in the Middle East, how lives have changed in the Arab world, and what the United States has learned from the Arab Spring.

Attack or retreat? Circuit links hunger and pursuit in sea slug brain
CHAMPAIGN, lll. - If you were a blind, cannibalistic sea slug, living among others just like you, nearly every encounter with another creature would require a simple cost/benefit calculation: Should I eat that, do nothing or flee? In a new study, researchers report that these responses are linked to a simple circuit in the brain of the sea slug Pleurobranchaea .

Poll: Incentives working, but local officials in Michigan lukewarm about state funding reforms
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Only a small minority of local officials in Michigan believe that major reforms in the way they receive state funding that require adoption of "dashboard" reports will be very effective in improving the overall performance of their governments.

U-M experts available to comment on the State of the Union address
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - University of Michigan faculty are available to discuss tonight's State of the Union address, in which President Barack Obama will talk about the economy, taxes and other issues.

University of Chicago Medicine looks ahead to new brand, new hospital
The University of Chicago Medical Center, one of the leading academic medical institutions in the country, is introducing a new brand as it prepares to open a modern 10-story hospital on its South Side campus next January.

Penn-based Report Reflects Rise of Think Tanks in Underrepresented Regions of the World
Launched in 2006, the University of Pennsylvania's "Global Go-To Think Tank Rankings" annual report has become an authoritative source for the top public policy research institutes in the world.

U of M survey: Minnesotans predict higher leisure travel spending in 2012
MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (01/23/2012) —A majority of the state's residents spend their leisure time in Minnesota, and 78 percent said they plan to spend as much or more money on leisure travel in 2012 compared to 2011, a new survey by the University of Minnesota Tourism Center reveals.

Executive Doctorate in Higher Ed Management Celebrates 10th Year

University of Minnesota unveiled 'Driven to Discover' video contest winners
MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (01/23/2012) —The University of Minnesota today unveiled the winners of its “Driven to Discover” student video contest.

With $3.5 million, UW-led consortium will address national freight issues
The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded a $3.5 million grant to the National Center for Freight and Infrastructure Research and Education (CFIRE) , a consortium led by the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Penn GSE Researcher Scores a Publishing Hat Trick
Writing one book is a daunting task, but writing three - simultaneously - might seem near impossible.

U-M’s Energy Institute to change name while embracing the unique Michigan Memorial Phoenix Project legacy
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The Michigan Memorial Phoenix Energy Institute (MMPEI) will change its name to the University of Michigan Energy Institute, effective Feb.

MIT selected by U.S. Department of Transportation to lead New England Consortium on Transportation Safety & Livable Communities
The Engineering Systems Division's Center for Transportation & Logistics (CTL) is pleased to announce that MIT has been selected to lead the U.S. Department of Transportation Research & Innova

Early Stage Venture Fund launches in Cambridge, Mass
Cambridge, Mass. - January 18, 2012 - When the "next big thing" is invented in a dorm room, ruminated over in a late-night café, or discovered in a laboratory, it will now find more support in - and its inventors will have better reasons to stay connected to - the Cambridge area.

Climate balancing: sea-level rise vs. surface temperature change rates
Guidelines for reporting of child abuse, sexual assault Board chair and vice chair issue statement on questions about Paterno Alumni Town Hall meetings begin in Pittsburgh Panel discussion 'Responding to Child Sexual Abuse' set for Jan.

Pro athletes are wise to bolster their star status, say researchers
Basketball fans in Cleveland may disagree, but two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Lebron James' decision to play with a higher-profile Miami Heat team and all-star teammates shows sound marketing and

Being happy at work is nice, but thriving is better--and more productive
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - While it may come as little surprise that happy employees are more productive, a high-performing workforce needs more than just a feeling of contentment - workers need to thrive, says a researcher at the University of Michigan.

President David Naylor discusses research and innovation
When the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Innovation asked President David Naylor for his expertise and insight on innovation hubs and what makes them successful, he was happy to use Toronto as a prime example.

From field to biorefinery: Computer model optimizes biofuel operations
CHAMPAIGN, lll. - Research into biofuel crops such as switchgrass and Miscanthus has focused mainly on how to grow these crops and convert them into fuels. But many steps lead from the farm to the biorefinery, and each could help or hinder the growth of this new industry. A new computer model developed at the University of Illinois can simplify this transition, researchers say.

Hosang Yoon and Kitty Yeung win 2012 Analog Devices design award

Energy efficiency paves way to a low-carbon future, but barriers persist
Save money, save the world. The promise and problems of getting people to stop wasting energy was the topic of a Stanford conference that gathered business people, government representatives and scholars from the United States and Australia.

U-M experts available to discuss developments in U.S.-Myanmar relations
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - A senior U.S. senator and France's foreign minister are visiting Myanmar as Washington moves toward restoring full diplomatic ties after scores of high-profile political prisoners are freed in the Southeast Asian nation.

Jan. 20 U-M town hall: Cures for climate confusion
DATE: 6:30-8:00 p.m., Friday, Jan. 20, 2012. EVENT: When the scientific experts have concluded that we are changing our climate, why do many U.S. citizens remain confused or skeptical?

Chicago Booth’s Raghuram Rajan and Axel Weber appointed to G30
Raghuram Rajan and Axel Weber , faculty members at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business , have been appointed to the Group of Thirty, an international body that examines the impact of financial and economic decisions in the public and private sectors.

Railroad hyperbole echoes all the way down to the dot-com frenzy
Stanford historian Richard White explores the role of the railroad in shaping the modern American West.

Sound effects: Book examines impact of sound on culture
In "The Oxford Handbook of Sound Studies" (Oxford University Press), co-editor Trevor Pinch, professor of sociology and of science and technology studies, takes a look at how sound is experienced in machine shops, design studios, private homes and dance clubs.

Don’t Know Much About Charter Schools
UC San Diego researchers say the best studies reflect only the best schools and must be boosted with 'value-added' approaches for all the rest Some two decades into the grand national experiment with charter schools, how much do we really know about them? Not all that much.

A Scarcity of Women Leads Men to Spend More, Save Less
University of Minnesota Research Finds Sex Ratios Influence Financial Decisions MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (01/12/2012) —The perception that women are scarce leads men to become impulsive, save less, and increase borrowing, according to new research from the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management.

University of Minnesota startup Drive Power uses mobile app DriveScribe to monitor and coach teen driving skills
MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (01/12/2012) —Some 16.5 million drivers are involved in traffic accidents in the United States each year, and more than 12 percent of them are under the age of 20&m

Health insurance no guarantee for diabetes care in developing countries, Stanford researchers find
A doctor prepares an injection for a diabetes patient in a Cuban hospital. Diabetes is on the rise in Latin America and throughout many developing countries, but access to care and medication for the disease is often costly and scarce, according to Stanford researchers.

Caltech Elects Two New Members to Board of Trustees

Use of out-of-network services may explain higher health care costs for women
Women generally have been paying higher health care costs than men for many years, and this trend appears to be continuing or worsening since the major economic downturn began in 2008, according to Susan Busch, associate professor of health policy in the Yale School of Public Health.

Policy and Leadership Vacuum Undermines Higher Education in Washington State, Penn GSE Researchers Find
Embargoed until Jan. 8, 2012.

San Diego’s Algal Biofuels Research Enterprise Continues Rapid Growth
Scientists at UC San Diego are among the workers in the region transforming algae into transportation fuels. Credit: Photos by Erik Jepsen/UC San Diego Publications Despite the sluggish economy, San Diego's research efforts to produce new transportation fuels from algae continue to grow at a rapid pace, generating more than double the number of jobs for local workers in 2011 than were available in the region just two years ago.

The case of the missing gas mileage
Automakers have made great strides in fuel efficiency in recent decades - but the mileage numbers of individual vehicles have barely increased.

Stanford political scientist maps militant groups around the globe
A supporter of Indonesian militant cleric Abu Bakar Bashir wears a shirt with the image of Osama bin Laden.

Divorce fears widespread among young cohabiting couples
With the share of married adults at an all-time low in the United States, new research by demographers at Cornell and the University of Central Oklahoma offers clues about what's preventing young adults from tying the knot. Through qualitative s with 122 cohabiting men and women, ages 18-36, researchers found widespread apprehension about divorce - even in those with no personal experience of divorce.

Researcher at Penn Graduate School of Education Co-authors Guide to HBCU Fundraising

Traditional social networks fueled Twitter’s spread
Site's U.S. growth relied primarily on media attention, geographic proximity of users. We've all heard it: The Internet has flattened the world, allowing social networks to spring up overnight, independent of geography or socioeconomic status.

F. Warren Hellman, philanthropist and friend of UC Berkeley, passes away
UC Berkeley Chancellor Robert J. Birgeneau issued the following statement on the passing of his dear and trusted friend: Berkeley - The University of California, Berkeley, mourns the lo

Expanded Data Repository at Austin and Arlington Campuses to Improve Research Capacity for Entire UT System
AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) at The University of Texas at Austin today announced that it is working with The University of Texas at Arlington to deploy a data rep

Stanford expert discusses Kim Jong Il’s death and what’s next for North Korea
People read an extra edition of a newspaper reporting the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il in Seoul.

Cornell wins NYC Tech Campus bid

University makes significant changes to intellectual property policies
University pledges continued cooperation with NCAA inquiry Hotels to support RAINN over commencement weekend A message from President Rodney Erickson As lawmakers review child abuse laws, Er

Abandoned mines hold potential to capture wind energy
MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (12/16/2011) —Minnesota's Iron Range is pocked with ponds – abandoned open pit mines – that could help energy providers more efficiently use intermittent renewable energy sources, such as wind, to meet state renewable energy mandates.

Stanford University reports FY 2011 financial results
Stanford University reported its financial results for fiscal year 2011 (FY2011), which ended Aug. 31, 2011.

Least Nutritious Cereals Served Most Often in Minority Homes with Children
In the first study to examine cereal-buying patterns in homes in the United States, researchers at the Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity found that minority families with children are most likely to buy the least nutritious cereals that are advertised directly to children. The study appears online in the journal Public Health Nutrition.

Michigan Ross researchers conduct largest HR study ever
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - In the largest global study ever of human resource professionals, researchers at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business and the RBL Group found that HR managers play an integral role in the overall effectiveness of a company's performance.

After years of ’fracking,’ Pennsylvanians remain mixed about gas drilling
Despite having an eight-year head start on Marcellus Shale natural gas extraction, Pennsylvania residents are just as uncertain about the effects of horizontal hydraulic drilling as New Yorkers, researchers at Cornell and Penn State have found.

Pension funds for California state workers are still in peril - action needed now
Almost two years ago, a Stanford study stirred up discussion statewide with the prediction that the pension funds of California's state workers were headed for a train wreck.

Carlson School and Wells Fargo launch Sustainability Initiative
$250,000 grant supports research to help increase consumer demand for 'green' products MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (12/14/2011) —The University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management h

Society may get stuck with the bill for expensive higher education
A message from President Rodney Erickson As lawmakers review child abuse laws, Erickson expresses support Blue out, canning efforts raise $47,000 to fight child abuse, rape Berks students ho

Brain drain of African doctors costs sub-Saharan Africa billions, saved U.S. nearly $900 million
Sub-Saharan African countries that invest in training doctors lose billions of dollars when those clinicians leave to work in developed nations, finds research recently published by BMJ ( bmj.com).

Report: Online coupons help consumers and restaurants
Daily online deals, or so-called "social coupons," help restaurants and consumers, according to a new report from the Cornell Center for Hospitality Research (CHR).

Design your life: Business and social entrepreneurship must coexist
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - A new book written by a University of Michigan business professor for individuals and companies looking to make the world a better place is available at no cost.

Journalism Professor Adds Up the High Cost of "Zero-Sum Politics"
Tom Edsall has covered every presidential campaign since 1968. He has reported on politics from more than 30 states and written five books on the subject.

Caltech Appoints VP for Development and Institute Relations
The California Institute of Technology (Caltech) has named Brian K. Lee as its new vice president for development and institute relations.

Tobacco industry dying? Not so fast, says Stanford expert
Smoking is not going away. Worldwide, says Stanford historian Robert Proctor, the tobacco industry continues to create toxic products that cause not just lung cancer but also cataracts, ankle fractures, early onset menopause, spontaneous abortion and erectile dysfunction, among other maladies.

Bold ideas win 1,000 Pitches entrepreneurship contest
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - What if your car radio could let you know an ambulance or fire engine was approaching?

Lotteries worldwide encourage adults to give responsibly
McGill Centre teams up with NCPG and industry partners to send responsible gaming message The annual Holiday Campaign, through the collaborative partnership of the International Centre for Youth

First Professional Science Master’s graduates are finding jobs

Innovative new approach to industry-funded research announced by U of M
MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (12/09/2011) —The University of Minnesota today announced a new, unique approach to the way The new approach eliminates the need for protracted negotiations over rights to intellectual property that may result from industry-funded research.

ILR’s Givan to receive Labor and Employment Relations Association award

Kolb authors new book on facilitation of small groups
Berks students hold fundraiser to benefit Children's Alliance Center Penn State to create Center for the Protection of Children A message from President Rodney Erickson: The days ahead... Campus community and friends attend candlelight vigil Town Hall Forum video posted Judith A. Kolb, associate professor of workforce education, is the author of a newly released book that offers research, insights and suggestions on ways to improve the functioning of groups and teams.

China’s economic stability depends on more education, Stanford economist says
The playground outside a Beijing school for migrant students is overlooked by the cooling towers and smokestacks of a power plant.

Economists: 9 million lost health insurance in recession
The "Great Recession" of 2007-09 - the longest and most severe U.S. recession since 1933 - has cost an estimated 9.3 million American adults their health insurance coverage due to unemployment, reports a working paper published online in November by the National Bureau of Economic Research.

Anderson Forecast: U.S. economy mired in slump, but little chance of double-dip recession
In its fourth quarterly report of 2011, the UCLA Anderson Forecast's outlook for the nation sees gross domestic product growth at a "below-trend rate" for the next five quarters.

CAFE standards create profit incentive for larger vehicles
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The current Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards create a financial incentive for auto companies to make bigger vehicles that are allowed to meet lower targets, according to a new University of Michigan study.

UC San Diego Health System Receives Leapfrog Group’s Top Hospitals Award for High Quality Care
The Leapfrog Group's annual class of top hospitals - 65 from a field of nearly 1200 - was announced December 6th in Washington, D.C. and included UC San Diego Health System in San Diego, California for the first time.

Scientists subject rocks to hellish conditions to combat global warming
A team of Earth scientists at Stanford University is subjecting chunks of rock to hellish conditions in the laboratory – all in the name of curbing climate change.

Growing income and gender gaps in college graduation
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - A new study shows that the gap in rates of college completion between students from high-and low-income families has grown significantly in the last 50 years.

Men’s Water Polo Team Takes Fourth Place at NCAA Water Polo Championships
No. 3-seed UC San Diego men's water polo team fell to No. 4-seed Princeton 9-7 in the consolation game of the NCAA Men's Water Polo Championship on Sunday at Spieker Aquatics Center on the campus of UC Berkeley.

Cash for Clunkers was a clunker, says energy economist
The 2009 Cash for Clunkers federal vehicle trade-in program was a clunker, concludes a new study. The program, it says, would have been more effective with higher fuel economy requirements for new vehicles and different vehicle-age thresholds for various types of trade-in vehicles.

Harrington Fellows Bring World-Changing Ideas to The University of Texas at Austin
AUSTIN, Texas — A biomedical engineer hoping to grow human organs, a psychologist examining why employees sometimes act in ways that destroy economic value, a mathematician exploring the limits

With changes, the grid can take it
MIT report shows that with new policies, U.S. electric grid could handle expected influx of electric cars and wind and solar generation.

Partnership for Progress in Electronics Strengthened by New Lab-Industry Investment
As manufacturers pack more and more circuitry into the tiny microchips on which electronic technologies depend, ultraviolet light's narrow wavelengths are essential for creating the densely patterned chips of the future.

Stanford President Hennessy wins IEEE’s highest honor
Hennessy was recognized by IEEE for pioneering the RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) processor and for leadership in computer engineering and higher education.

U of M to receive nearly $17 million over the next five years from Dow Chemical Company
New partnership will strengthen research and enable a building expansion MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (12/01/2011) —The University of Minnesota has finalized an agreement with Dow Chemical Company that will result in the University receiving nearly $17 million over the next five years.

Free Job Training: 55 Grants Available to Retrain Workers for Biofuels Industry
If algae is to be the solution for America's pain at the gas pump, trained workers are needed to make that a reality.

Across generations: New center unites researchers in women’s, children’s, adolescents’ health
The UW's new Global Center for Integrated Health of Women, Adolescents and Children (Global WACh) wants to help researchers overcome a daunting task – seeking solutions across generations.

Enticing words on bags of potato chips have a lot to say about social class, Stanford researchers find
Like politicians who adopt regional accents to appeal to local audiences, the manufacturers of potato chips vary the wording on their bags to convey their products' authenticity in different ways to different buyers.

More than just tape: 3M partners with food scientist
When Martin Wiedmann, professor of food science, tests meat samples suspected to be tainted with salmonella, he may be able to do so even faster, thanks to a new high-tech tool recently added to his arsenal.

Moore Foundation Awards $6 Million for Research Leading to Earthquake Early Warning System
Released by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation: PALO ALTO, Calif. —The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation has awarded $6 million to three West Coast universities to create a prototype earthquake early warning system for the Pacific Coast of the United States.

Moore Foundation awards $6 million for earthquake early warning research
The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation has awarded $6 million to three West Coast universities to create a prototype earthquake early warning system for the Pacific Coast of the United States. The grant will allow seismologists at the University of California, Berkeley; California Institute of Technology (Caltech); and University of Washington, Seattle, in collaboration with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), to learn about the science of earthquakes and the best way to capture and analyze seismic data.

Engelder named one of top 100 global thinkers
Three forums planned for students who wish to discuss recent events University prepares for Clery Act review President gives thanks for Penn State community's support A Message from Presiden

A How-To Guide to Slashing California’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2050
What will a day in the life of a Californian be like in 40 years? If the state cuts its greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050 - a target mandated by a state executive order

War’s lasting legacy is a culture of violence -- see video
The civil wars in Sierra Leone and Liberia ended 10 years ago but these West African nations continue to struggle, partly because the wars created an economy based on warfare.

In the Middle East and the West, Oil and Democracy Don’t Mix
Two fossil fuels powered the rise of the modern industrial state. But only one—the hard, chunky rock extracted from the ground by legions of coal workers—has been a force for the development of democracy.

Professor Advocates for Tougher Laws Against Drunken Driving
It's not every day that a professor buys a breathalyzer. But Barron H. Lerner , whose latest book is a cultural history of drunken driving, wanted to know what a.08 blood alcohol concentration—the nation's legal limit for drivers—really means.

Ballparks as Urban Anchors MLB Leaders Discuss Role of Ballparks in their Communities at Penn IUR Event
PHILADELPHIA - The Penn Institute for Urban Research will host a panel discussion with leaders from Major League Baseball teams at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec.

Analyzing massive datasets is subject of major international conference
Seattle is host this week to the major international meeting about high-performance computing, giving UW scientists and computer specialists an opportunity to see over the horizon at developments that will influence how research is conducted for years to come.

Update on Tuesday’s shooting at UC Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley, police this afternoon (Wednesday, Nov. 16) released more details about the student who was shot yesterday at the Haas School of Business and later died at Oakland's Highland Hospital.

Solar workforce ready, if only L.A. had jobs
Thousands of workers are trained and ready to create a solar-panel revolution in Los Angeles, if only city policies would goose the market and create jobs, UCLA and other researchers said Wednesday.

University of Minnesota to host 'Driven to Discover' video contest

Former ambassador to Italy talks about Berlusconi, Monti and cutting the Italian debt
Silvio Berlusconi has been a force in Italian politics during the past two decades. As the country's prime minister and richest man, the media mogul managed to slip through sex scandals and criminal charges only to be forced out of office by Europe's debt crisis.

UCLA Luskin Center and USC to release L.A. clean-energy jobs report at mayoral summit
As part of the Los Angeles Business Council's " Mayoral Housing, Transportation and Jobs Summit —Building LA's Workforce ," research teams from UCLA's Luskin Center for Innovation and USC will

Economists help cool-climate wine regions make their mark
What gives an upstart wine region the traction to develop into a world-renowned producer of wine? Miguel Gómez, assistant professor at the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Manag

Apples with catchy names may boost revenue for farmers
A rose by any other name may smell as sweet, but an apple by another name could fetch a much sweeter price for farmers.

President of Portugal talks innovation, European debt crisis in Stanford speech
Portuguese President Aníbal Cavaco Silva was in the Bay Area to meet with representatives of business, finance and education to encourage the establishment of closer connections with the institutions of his country.

Celebrating transformative philanthropy - the 10th anniversary of the Hewlett Foundation’s gift to Stanford

Chicago United names Nim Chinniah a 2011 Business Leader of Color
<p> A new scholarship for MBA students from India is now available at the <a href="http://www.chicagobooth.edu/">University of Chicago Booth School of Business</a> as a result of a $1 million gift from the Tobaccowala Foundation of India, the school announced Nov.

The Preuss School UCSD Named One of 10 ’Breakthrough Schools’ in the Nation
The Preuss School is dedicated to expanded learning time through longer days and a longer school year.

How smart managers make dumb decisions and why shareholders encourage them
From Enron in the United States to Satyam in India, there are plenty of examples of corporate managers lying about their companies' earnings and ultimately hurting themselves and the businesses they work for.

"Fallen Star" House to be Hoisted Atop Jacobs School of Engineering Building Today
Come witness a remarkable feat today: Provided the weather cooperates, a small house will be lifted seven stories and perched atop a Jacobs School of Engineering building on Warren Mall.

Minnesota energy & jobs experts travel to Germany, examine green policies
MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (11/14/2011) —A delegation of government officials, legislators, researchers and energy industry professionals is in Germany for a joint seminar on green energy and jobs.

Rady Professor Ayelet Gneezy Receives Robert B. Cialdini Award
The UC San Diego Rady School of Management today announced that Professor Ayelet Gneezy is the recipient of this year's Robert B. Cialdini Award for excellence in a published field study.

Ellen Beck, MD, Named 2011 "Health Hero" by WebMD Magazine
Ellen Beck, MD, clinical professor of medicine in the UC San Diego School of Medicine's Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, has been named a 2011 Health Hero by WebMD Magazine .

Carbon mitigation strategy uses wood for buildings first, bioenergy second
Proposals to remove the carbon dioxide caused by burning fossil fuel from the atmosphere include letting commercially managed forests grow longer between harvests or not cutting them at all.

Penn Celebrates Launch of First-of-Its-Kind Program in Market and Social Systems Engineering
WHO: University of Pennsylvania's School of Engineering and Applied Science faculty, guest speakers from Google, Hunch, Northwestern University and Cornell University WHAT: Program Director Mi

Being Smart is Already Part of your Mental Toolbox, Psychologist Says
AUSTIN, Texas — Intelligence and smart thinking are not the same, according to University of Texas at Austin psychologist Art Markman , who studies how best to apply knowledge for smarter thinking at work and home.

PG&E detects leak during pressure test
Late last week, PG&E detected a slow drop in pressure during preparations for a hydrostatic pressure test on Line 132 near Palo Alto and determined that pressure drop had the characteristics of a small pinhole leak of approximately 1 millimeter in diameter.

The Who rock icons launch Daltrey/Townshend Teen and Young Adult Cancer Program at UCLA
In a heartfelt repayment of that debt, the two today announced the launch of the UCLA Daltrey/Townshend Teen & Young Adult Cancer Program, which will serve teens and young adult cancer patients at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.

UCLA Operation Mend founder named special grand marshal for NYC Veterans Day parade
( Editors: This press release contains information about a member of your community .) Ronald A. Katz, (Beverly Hills), the founder of UCLA's Operation Mend , an organization that provid

We are what we eat. We eat what we believe ... And what we believe may protect us against obesity
A new series of studies identifies social norms that protect against obesity Social norms - shared beliefs about what is socially appropriate that lead to an obligation to behave in a certain way - have a profound effect on eating behaviours.

New network will promote 'SAVI' uses of technology
Imagine a Blue Jays game where fans, reporters and pundits are sharing their insight and commentary using a variety of media (videos, audio and pictures).

Stanford scholar Weinstein reflects on shaping Obama’s foreign policy
After two years as President Barack Obama's director for development and democracy at the National Security Council, Jeremy M. Weinstein is back at Stanford as an associate professor of political science.

Business Professor David Beim Argues for Radical Action on Euro Crisis
The eurozone is in trouble. What began as a sovereign debt problem in a few countries has exposed major weaknesses in the euro project.

Scientists tackle threat to New York’s garlic industry
Cornell nematologist George S. Abawi, Ph.D. '70, is on a mission to help save one of New York's burgeoning agricultural commodities: garlic.

Political scientist Harold Wilensky dies at age 88
Harold L. Wilensky, professor emeritus of political science at the University of California, Berkeley, died at his Berkeley, Calif., home on Sunday, Oct.

StanfordNYC is one of seven proposals for a new applied sciences campus in New York City
The city, along with an advisory committee, will evaluate the seven proposals, with a decision expected in January.

Solar concentrator increases collection with less loss
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Converting sunlight into electricity is not economically attractive because of the high cost of solar cells, but a recent, purely optical approach to improving luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) may ease the problem, according to researchers at Argonne National Laboratories and Penn State.

Value of spaceflight is like putting a price on Beethoven’s music, says industry expert
As someone deeply involved in the American aerospace industry since its inception in the late 1950s, Norman Augustine says that the United States may need a "jolt" similar to the 1958 launching of th

UCLA helps convert East L.A. corner stores from ’food deserts’ into healthy food oases
To determine whether stores that prominently display healthy food items while relegating chips, soda and candy to the back of the store can be financially sustainable and improve the health behaviors

Gil Cates, founding dean of UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, dies

U of M researchers join multistate effort to help cold-climate wine industry thrive
MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (11/01/2011) —Wine grapes can be grown in cold climates; that's been established since the University of Minnesota began releasing cold-hardy varieties in the 1970s.

How Energy Analysis Can Create More Bang For the Energy Research Buck
Scientists at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) are working on a wide variety of clean energy technologies - from biofuels to batteries to solar energy - but now these disparate effo

Penn State scientists part of new stink bug research project
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Researchers in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences are part of a new, multi-state project to study the brown marmorated stink bug.

Cybertools and Sinhala archive will improve analysis of world’s 7,000 languages
A new generation of cybertools developed at Cornell will help researchers share and analyze rare Sri Lankan language recordings important for studying language acquisition in children.

Senate tweaks dissertation committee composition; hears report on Residential Education

University of Minnesota President Eric Kaler to visit St. Cloud Tuesday, Nov. 1
University of Minnesota President Eric Kaler will make his first visit to St. Cloud Tuesday, Nov.

Carnegie Mellon Report Finds Internet Privacy Tools Are Confusing, Ineffective for Most People
Press Release: Carnegie Mellon Report Finds Internet Privacy Tools Are Confusing, Ineffective for Most People-Carnegie Mellon News - Carnegie Mellon University Users Often Choose Settings That Fai

Despite industry promises, Yale study finds unprecedented marketing of sugary drinks to youth
Young people are being exposed to a massive amount of marketing for sugary drinks, such as full-calorie soda, sports drinks, energy drinks, and fruit drinks, according to a new study from the Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity.

U of M Heller-Hurwicz Economics Institute to hold first annual policy forum Nov. 16-17
Keynote address will feature Peter Arthur Diamond, a Nobel laureate and pioneer in the economics of social insurance MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (10/28/2011) —The University of Minnesota Heller-Hurwicz Economics Institute (HHEI) will hold its first annual policy forum Nov.

Government Programs Don’t Work and Suggests a Blueprint for Change
Richard Gelles has written a book, and he is pretty sure about one thing: He is going to upset a lot of people - liberals and conservatives alike.

Drought-stricken Kenyan livestock farmers receive first insurance payouts
In the midst of a drought-induced food crisis affecting millions in the Horn of Africa, an innovative insurance program for poor livestock keepers made its first payouts Oct.

Stanford submits plans for applied sciences campus in New York City

University of Minnesota featured in innovative advertisement to be unveiled at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport this week
University of Minnesota featured in innovative advertisement to be unveiled at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport this week For the first time ever at MSP, baggage carousels will be wr

Skolkovo Foundation and MIT to collaborate on developing the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology
Graduate research university part of new innovation center outside Moscow CAMBRIDGE, Mass.