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PACE studies offer recommendations for California schools

CAPTION: This chart shows the differential rates at which groups of students are chosen to participate in the Gifted and Talented Education program. It indicates that white and Asian students are overrepresented by as much as 100 percent relative to their representation in the population.

Credit: Policy Analysis for California Education

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Sharper Jupiter images from next-generation adaptive optics

CAPTION: This false color image of Jupiter combines a series of images taken over 20 minutes on Aug. 17 by the Multi- Conjugate Adaptive Optics Demonstrator (MAD) prototype instrument mounted on ESO's Very Large Telescope. The image sharpening corresponds to seeing details about 300 kilometers wide on the surface of the giant planet. The observations were done at infrared wavelengths where absorption due to hydrogen and methane is strong. This absorption means that light can be reflected back only from high-altitude hazes, and not from deeper clouds. These hazes lie in the very stable upper part of Jupiter's troposphere, where pressures are between 0.15 and 0.3 bar. Mixing is weak within this stable region, so tiny haze particles can survive for days to years, depending on their size and fall speed. Additionally, near the planet's poles, a higher stratospheric haze (light blue regions) is generated by interactions with particles trapped in Jupiter's intense magnetic field.

Credit: ESO/F. Marchis, M. Wong, E. Marchetti, P. Amico, S. Tordo

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NIH gives New Innovator Award to bioengineer who studies cellular mechanics

CAPTION: Sanjay Kumar, M.D.

Credit: Manuel Castells

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Tree-sitters descend from redwood to end protest peacefully

CAPTION: UC Berkeley police, in a basket dangling from a crane, try to talk four remaining tree-sitters into ending their protest on Sept. 9. Meanwhile, crews erect scaffolding around the redwood tree near Memorial Stadium in preparation for removing the protesters.

Credit: Steve McConnell / UC Berkeley NewsCenter

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CAPTION: UCPD Chief Victoria Harrison (right) talks with protesters perched atop a redwood tree near Memorial Stadium.

Credit: Steve McConnell / UC Berkeley NewsCenter

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CAPTION: The last of four protesters to descend peacefully from the tree is escorted, barefoot and handcuffed, by police to a waiting squad car.

Credit: Steve McConnell / UC Berkeley NewsCenter

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Invisibility shields one step closer with new metamaterials that bend light backwards

CAPTION: An illustration of how a fish in water is seen by an observer, with the red lines marking the refraction of light and the purple lines representing the path towards the perceived location of the fish, which appears above its actual location.

Credit: UC Berkeley

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CAPTION: A schematic and two scanning electron microscope images with top and side views of a metamaterial developed by UC Berkeley researchers. The material is composed of parallel nanowires embedded inside porous aluminum oxide. As visible light passes through the material, it is bent backwards in a phenomenon known as negative refraction.

Credit: Jie Yao/UC Berkeley

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CAPTION: On the left is a schematic of the first 3-D "fishnet" metamaterial that can achieve a negative index of refraction at optical frequencies. On the right is a scanning electron microscope image of the fabricated structure, developed by UC Berkeley researchers. The alternating layers form small circuits that can bend light backwards.

Credit: Jason Valentine/UC Berkeley

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Outdoor enthusiasts scaring off native carnivores in parks

CAPTION: Native carnivores, such as this bobcat in Sonoma County, CA, are found in lower numbers in protected areas with public access.  This picture was taken with a motion-triggered camera.

Credit: Jodi Hilty, Wildlife Conservation Society

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CAPTION: A grey fox makes off with its prey in Sonoma County, CA.  This picture was taken with a motion-triggered camera.

Credit: Jodi Hilty, Wildlife Conservation Society

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CAPTION: UC Berkeley researcher Sarah Reed records the GPS location of carnivore droppings in Wantrup Wildlife Preserve in Napa County, CA. 

Credit: Susan Carey

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CAPTION: A woman walks her dogs on a trail in Alston Park in Napa County, CA.  UC Berkeley researchers found evidence of fewer native carnivores and more dogs and cats in parks with public access.

Credit: Sarah Reed/UC Berkeley

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Nature reserves attract humans, but at a cost to biodiversity, says study

CAPTION: During periods of excessive drought, local herders in northern Kenya, including the woman shown here at the Samburu National Reserve, are allowed access to protected areas, where livestock will share scarce water with elephants and other wildlife. During two recent droughts, 60 percent of cattle in this primarily pastoral region died, but herding communities on the borders of Samburu and Buffalo Springs National Reserves fared far better as a result of their legal access to parklands.

Credit: George Wittemyer

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CAPTION: A sharp boundary between human dominated land use and protected reserves leaves Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and its resident mountain gorillas isolated and vulnerable.

Credit: George Wittemyer

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Martian air once had moisture, new soil analysis says

CAPTION: Cracks caused by the contraction of sulfate are evident in this image of the surface of Mars' Meridiani Planum site by NASA's Opportunity Rover.

Credit: NASA

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CAPTION: In this photo taken at the Atacama Desert in Chile, the ground has similar sulfate cracks to those seen on the surface of Mars. The researcher in the foreground is William Dietrich, UC Berkeley professor of geomorphology.

Credit: Ronald Amundson/UC Berkeley

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Richard Karp, renowned computer theorist, wins 2008 Kyoto Prize

CAPTION: Richard Karp, a professor of electrical engineering and computer sciences at the University of California, Berkeley

Credit: Peg Skorpinski

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Geographer David Hooson dies at age 82

Credit: Christopher Irion

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Energy expert Alex Farrell dies at 46

CAPTION: Alexander E. Farrell, director of UC Berkeley's Transportation Sustainability Research Center, was a leading expert on transportation fuels and the role of transportation in climate change.

Credit: Jeffery Kahn/UC Berkeley

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CAPTION: Alexander E. Farrell, associate professor in the Energy and Resources Group at UC Berkeley

Credit: UC Berkeley

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Sudden Oak Death pathogen is evolving, says new study that reconstructs the epidemic

CAPTION: These tanoaks were killed by the Sudden Oak Death pathogen on Mount Tamalpais, near one of the sites where the exotic pathogen was first introduced in California. Infected ornamental plants were found to be the most likely source of the introduction.

Credit: Matteo Garbelotto/UC Berkeley

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CAPTION: Up to 100 percent of adult tanoaks have been killed by the Sudden Oak Death pathogen in many sites around the Big Sur region (Monterey County). Despite the extreme severity of the disease, the pathogen was introduced in the Big Sur region well after its introduction in Santa Cruz and Marin counties. Unfortunately, climatic conditions favorable to the pathogen have led to very rapid spread of SOD in this area.

Credit: Matteo Garbelotto/UC Berkeley

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Madagascar conservation map protects species in biodiversity hot spot

CAPTION: Western Wooly Lemurs, such as the pair shown here, are found in the dry, deciduous forests of Western Madagascar. This species is included in a new conservation roadmap developed for Madagascar by an international team of researchers.

Credit: Edward E. Louis Jr.

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CAPTION: Varecia variegata, black-and-white ruffed lemur, found in the rainforests of eastern Madagascar.

Credit: Edward E. Louis Jr.

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CAPTION: Propithecus perrieri is one of the most endangered of all lemurs. Commonly known as Perrier's sifaka, this lemur inhabits a small area of dry forests in extreme northern Madagascar.

Credit: Edward E. Louis Jr.

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CAPTION: Pharmacophagus antenor is Madagascar's largest butterfly, which has a wingspan of 12-14 cm. It is found only on this island nation, living in the spiny desert and forests of the South, West and far North regions.

Credit: Steven J. Phillips

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CAPTION: Mantella aurantiaca, a terrestrial frog species native to Madagascar.

Credit: Ronald A. Nussbaum

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CAPTION: Phelsuma lineata, a species of gecko found in northern Madagascar.

Credit: Miroslav Honzák

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CAPTION: Giant leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus fimbriatus) is found in eastern Madagascar. If disturbed it will raise it tail and head, open its mouth and scream.

Credit: Piotr Naskrecki

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CAPTION: Baobab is the common name of Adansonia trees, native to Madagascar. These deciduous trees, known for their ability to endure harsh, dry conditions, were included in a new roadmap for conservation in Madagascar.

Credit: Steven J. Phillips

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Medieval history professor, devoted to students, dead at 79

CAPTION: Gerard Caspary, a UC Berkeley professor emeritus of medieval history known for his powerful intellect and his exceptional devotion to his students.

Credit: UC Berkeley

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Octopus sex more sophisticated than arm-wrestling

CAPTION: A grey male octopus (at right) mates with a female.

Credit: Roy L. Caldwell/UC Berkeley

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CAPTION: A male octopus's hectocotylus, or mating arm (with pink lining), is inserted into the female's mantle.

Credit: Roy L. Caldwell/UC Berkeley

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CAPTION: Male octopus displays a distinguishing brown stripe.

Credit: Roy L. Caldwell/UC Berkeley

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UC Regents review preliminary design for new Berkeley Art Museum/Pacific Film Archive

CAPTION: Toyo Ito's conceptual designs include this inviting, street-level entryway to the Berkeley Art Museum/Pacific Film Archive in the heart of downtown Berkeley.

Credit: UC Berkeley

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CAPTION: This map shows the location of the museum planned near the main western entrance to campus.

Credit: UC Berkeley

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CAPTION: UC Berkeley Chancellor Robert J. Birgeneau

Credit: John Blaustein photo

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CAPTION: UC Berkeley Chancellor Robert J. Birgeneau

Credit: John Blaustein photo

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CAPTION: UC Berkeley Chancellor Robert J. Birgeneau

Credit: John Blaustein photo

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CAPTION: UC Berkeley Chancellor Robert J. Birgeneau and his wife, Mary Catherine Birgeneau

Credit: John Blaustein photo