Menlo Park News and Announcements

EarthTalk: Stimulus package rewards for businesses greening up

Dear EarthTalk: I’ve been following reports about President Obama’s stimulus package and what it may mean for creating green jobs. Beyond that, are there programs in place to...

Looking to hit the ski slopes in California this winter?

Ice Skating Rinks for San Mateo County California - Maps and Directions

Cut your own Christmas Tree from tree farms in California

Menlo Park Holiday Shopping Guide - Black Friday deals and Menlo Park Malls and Outlets

Swine flu information, symptoms and resources for San Mateo County

An Invitation to our Menlo Park Community: BLOG ON!

San Mateo County Apple Picking Orchards and Apple Farms for San Mateo County

San Mateo County Pumpkin Patch Farms and Pumpkin Picking Guide - San Mateo County

Find California Corn Mazes - Get lost in a California haunted Halloween corn maze this season!

Back to School for Menlo Park - Bus Schedules, Lunch Menus, School Supplies and more

AmericanTowns PR Tool: Getting publicity for your Menlo Park organization has never been easier

Weekend Activities in and around Menlo Park

Eat Local! Great Resources in the Menlo Park area

Refinance Your Mortgage Locally, as Mortgage Rates Drop to 5% Level

Vivaty, Universal Music Launch Virtual Experience for Rascal Flatts

NATO Expert Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall Joins National Security Team

Stanford researcher Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall will join the Obama administration as a special assistant to the president and senior director for European affairs at the National...

Stanford Researcher Taps Power of Cell Phones to Make Music

By Cynthia Haven The sound is unearthly-the sort of hypnotic drone you might hear from the chanting of state-of-the-art Tibetan monks. Or a vibration picked up via radio...

Stanford News - Two Current Students and Alumna Awarded Gates Cambridge Scholarships

A Stanford senior, a medical student and an alumna will head to the University of Cambridge in England this fall as Gates Scholars. They are among the 37 Americans who were...

Innovative Composer Brings World Premiere to Stanford

Composer Paul Dresher returns to Stanford for the world premiere of Schick Machine, his one-man musical theater production for percussionist Steven Schick. Commissioned by...

Stanford News - Backing Obama Gives Some Voters License to Favor Whites Over Blacks, Study Shows

The election of Barack Obama was as much a milestone in civil rights history as it was a political event. In newspaper columns and crowded bars, around university campuses and...

Digging into 'shovel-ready projects' in the Menlo Park area

Stanford News - Climate Change Panel at Exploratorium

By Louis Bergeron Stanford climate researchers Stephen Schneider and Ken Caldeira will be part of a panel discussion, "The Challenges of Climate Change," at the...

Push To Improve K-12 Education Takes Root In Local High School's Backyard

Push To Improve K-12 Education Takes Root In Local High School's Backyard By Chelsea Anne Young. "To the left," high school senior Jovanni Martinez called out to...

STANFORD NEWS - Reversing Ecology Reveals Ancient Environments

From hair color to the ancestral line of parasitic bacteria, scientists can glean a lot from genes. But imagine if genes also revealed where you lived or who you spent time with....

History Professor James Campbell: Will History Bring Us Together Or Drive Us Apart?

By Cynthia Haven When Freedom Summer was in full swing in 1964, a political cartoon in a Mississippi newspaper showed three Union soldiers from the Civil War era, one...

Psychological Headwind Keeps Women, Minorities from Sprinting Ahead Of.....

Psychological headwind keeps women, minorities from sprinting ahead of their peers, study finds By Adam Gorlick. Let's say a white student and a black student both score...

Three Stanford Researchers Awarded Sloan Fellowships

The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation has chosen three Stanford scholars to receive Sloan Research Fellowships. Chao-Lin Kuo, Maxence Nachury and Michèle Tertilt are among the...

Obama Appoints Stanford Russia Expert To National Security Posts

Stanford political science Professor Michael McFaul has been tapped by President Barack Obama to serve as special assistant to the president for National Security Affairs and...

Using X-Rays To Tease Hidden Secrets From Dinosaurs And Old Documents

By Dan Stober About 150 million years ago, an evolutionarily hybrid creature, a dinosaur on its way to becoming a bird, died in what is now Germany and became fossilized in...

Stanford News: What Does One Do When Confronting The Biggest Social Evil of One's Time?

In the case of a few artists in the decades prior to the Civil War, they lifted their pens and paintbrushes. They sketched black slaves being bonded, branded, whipped and...

Stanford Honors Miles Davis' Landmark 'Kind of Blue'

In 1959, Miles Davis created the definitive jazz album, Kind of Blue. It heralded the arrival of Davis' new stylistic approach, which came to be known as modal jazz. The album...

News - Stanford Researcher Spotlights Antebellum Artists Who Protested Slavery

What does one do when confronting the biggest social evil of one's time? In the case of a few artists in the decades prior to the Civil War, they lifted their pens and...

News - Media Often Fails in its Coverage of Global Warming

Media often fails in its coverage of global warming, says Stanford climate researcherBy Louis Bergeron "Business managers of media organizations: You are screwing up...

When It Comes To Elephant Love Calls, The Answer Lies In A Bone-Shaking Triangle

By Louis Bergeron Many a love-besotted soul has declared they would move the world for their true love, but how many actually accomplish that task in their quest to unite...

Giving To Menlo Park Non-Profits: It Does Good…And It Feels Good

Make a difference in Menlo Park! Find the perfect local volunteer opportunity

Engineers Create Intelligent Molecules That Seek and Destroy Diseased Cells By Cassandra Brooks

Current treatments for diseases like cancer typically destroy nasty malignant cells, while also hammering the healthy ones. Using new advances in synthetic biology, researchers...

Despite Economic Crisis, Stanford Event Emphasizes Entrepreneurial Spirit

By Adam Gorlick With daily headlines about bank bailouts and the country's shaky financial future, this may seem like a lousy time to take any business risks. But if...

When Fish Farms Are Built Along The Coast, Where Does The Waste Go?

When fish farms are built along the coast, where does the waste go? By Dan Stober. If you are a fish eater, it's likely that the salmon you had for dinner was not caught...

Free, Open-Source Software Enables Innovation with Popular but Tricky Lab Technique

By David Orenstein When scientists need to detect and analyze DNA, or traces of a bioweapon or maybe an environmental contaminant, there's a good chance they'll turn to a...

Climate Change Likely To Be More Devastating Than Experts Predicted, Warns Top IPCC Scientist

By Mark Shwartz Without decisive action, global warming in the 21st century is likely to accelerate at a much faster pace and cause more environmental damage than...

No Joy In Discoveries of New Mammal Species-Only A Warning For ......

No Joy In Discoveries of New Mammal Species-Only A Warning For Humanity, Stanford Researcher Says. By Louis Bergeron In the era of global warming, when...

The (Even Greater) Outdoors: Get Out There!

Stanford To Receive 150,000 Maps And Digitized Images From Renowned San Francisco Collector

By Adam Gorlick When it comes to finding your way through the world, there's no tool more helpful or basic than a map. Maps make for familiar traveling companions stuffed...

New Open-Source Software Permits Faster Simulations Of Molecular Motion On Desktop Computers

By Joy P. Ku and Louis Bergeron Whether vibrating in place or taking part in protein folding to ensure cells function properly, molecules are never still. Simulating...

Browse This Week's Classified Ads For Menlo Park

Don’t let dining out in the Menlo Park area do you in!

EarthTalk: Harvesting rainwater for household use

Dear EarthTalk How can I make good use of the rainwater that runs down my roof and into my gutters? -- B.S.For most of us, the rain that falls on our roof runs off into the...

EarthTalk: Simple improvements for greening the home

Dear EarthTalk: What are some simple low cost improvements I can do to my home to make it greener? -- S.L.According to consumer advocate Remar Sutton, there are many ways to save...

EarthTalk: Bike riding and traffic pollution

Dear EarthTalk: I ride my bike to work along busy urban streets. Should I be worried about inhaling pollutants from vehicle emissions and other sources?  -- J.K.The short...

EarthTalk: Vertical Farming

Dear EarthTalk: What is “vertical farming” and how is it better for the environment? – J.S. “Vertical farming” is a term coined by Columbia University professor of...

EarthTalk: Fashion's footprint

Dear EarthTalk: Can you enlighten on the environmental impact of the fashion industry? As I understand it, the industry overall is no friend to the environment.  --...

EarthTalk: more affordable energy-efficient cars

Dear EarthTalk: Celebrities and billionaires are shelling out big bucks for cutting edge green-friendly cars like the Tesla Roadster. But what are the rest of us—who live in the...

EarthTalk: High molybdenum levels from cookware

Dear EarthTalk: I recently had a tissue mineral analysis indicating that my levels of the nutritional element, molybdenum, were off the chart.  I believe this may be leaching...

Share the season in pictures with the Fairfield Community

EarthTalk: Toxic hair salons

Dear EarthTalk: As I understand it, hair salons are pretty toxic enterprises on many counts. Are there any efforts underway to green up that industry? -- P.H.Hair salons have...

EarthTalk: Recession hurts green group efforts

Dear EarthTalk: Is it true that environmental non-profits have been hit hard by the economic downturn, and has this had an impact on their effectiveness? -- B.W.Non-profits of...

EarthTalk: Disposable paper products decimate forests

Dear EarthTalk: Are any major brands of disposable tissues, paper towels, napkins and toilet paper yet using recycled content and chlorine-free bleaching? -- S.C.Not many. In...

EarthTalk: Pesticides, fertilizers and water pollution

Dear EarthTalk: What effects do fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides used on residential lawns or on farms have on nearby water bodies like rivers, streams—or even the ocean...

EarthTalk: Green Power for Homes

Dear EarthTalk: I’d like to know the relative electricity cost of utility scale solar and wind plants versus rooftop residential solar. In other words, how can I know whether to...

EarthTalk: How "green" is Borax for housecleaning?

Dear EarthTalk: I’ve heard so much about using Borax for green housecleaning.  But if this mineral has to be mined, doesn't that negate some of its...

EarthTalk: Green life lessons for youngsters

Dear EarthTalk: What are some things that children and families can do to be greener (and to provide life lessons for the kids in the process)? -- C.M.There are many ways to...

Global Climate And Energy Project Broadens Access To Its Technology; New...

Global Climate And Energy Project Broadens Access To Its Technology; New Director Announces $5.6 Million In Research Awards By Maxine Lym The Global Climate and...

Winning the Real Estate Game in Fairfield in a Tough Market

EarthTalk: Cigarette litter

Dear EarthTalk: Has anyone ever studied the environmental impact of discarded cigarettes? I’m constantly appalled at the number of drivers I see pitching their butts out their...

EarthTalk: Green ways to keep groundhogs and others away

Dear EarthTalk: What would you recommend as a non-toxic/non-lethal way to keep squirrels, gophers and groundhogs away?   -- F.G.Keeping unwanted critters away can...

EarthTalk: Upgrading older appliances

Dear EarthTalk: I am considering upgrading some older appliances in my home. Where can I find information on which models are the most energy efficient?  -- J.D.There has...

EarthTalk: Tax incentives for energy-efficiency

Dear EarthTalk: Since Obama took office, have any new incentives been put in place for homeowners looking to increase energy efficiency and reduce the overall environmental...

EarthTalk: Can cars run on water?

Dear EarthTalk: I’ve heard that cars can be modified to run on water. How is this possible? -- D.M.There are a number of online marketing offers of kits that will convert...

EarthTalk: Can we bring back train travel?

Dear EarthTalk: If train travel is so much less polluting than driving or flying, why are passenger rail options in the U.S. so limited compared to Europe? And is anything being...

EarthTalk: The stimulus package and green jobs

Dear EarthTalk: What kind of job opportunities might be opened up by the new federal emphasis on green projects? -- D.W.If it’s a U.S. industry that has the potential to be...

EarthTalk: Insulating paints

Dear EarthTalk: Do insulating paints actually insulate and save energy? If they do, are they environmentally friendly to use? -- B.D.Paint additives that claim insulating...

EarthTalk: Do sunspots and solar wind contribute to global warming?

Dear EarthTalk: Don’t some scientists point to sunspots and solar wind as having more impact on climate change than human industrial activity?   -- D.N. ...

EarthTalk: Neighborhood Solar Power

Dear EarthTalk: I know of solar power systems that people can put on their roofs to generate electricity or heat water. Are there systems that serve whole neighborhoods? -- L.H. ...

EarthTalk: Recycling mattresses

Dear EarthTalk: How can I recycle my old mattress if the place I buy a new one from doesn’t take it? What do mattress companies do with old mattresses when they do take them? Do...

EarthTalk: Where will we re-charge our plug-in cars?

Dear EarthTalk: With plug-in hybrid and electric cars due to hit the roads sometime soon, will there be places to plug them in besides at home? And if so, how much will it cost to...

EarthTalk: Microwaves vs. gas and electric ovens

Dear EarthTalk: How does the microwave compare in energy use, say, to using a gas or electric stove burner to heat water for a cup of tea? -- T.D. The...

EarthTalk: Nanotechnology forges ahead

Dear EarthTalk: What is "nanotechnology?" I’ve heard that nanoparticles are already in consumer products, yet we haven't really studied their potential health...

EarthTalk: Global warming, human illness and loss of life

Dear EarthTalk: Has anyone been tracking whether climate change is causing more loss of human life as it gets more pronounced? -- G.G. Researchers...

EarthTalk: Nontoxic flea and tick products and remedies

Dear EarthTalk: Are there any flea and tick products out there that don’t contain toxic chemicals? --E.L. Harmful pesticides in mainstream flea and tick products are...

EarthTalk: More fuel-efficient diesel cars coming to the U.S.

Dear EarthTalk: I don’t understand why there are many European diesel cars with very high mileage ratings that are not available in the U.S. Can you enlighten? -- J.H. ...

EarthTalk: What does Carbon Neutral really mean?

Dear EarthTalk: What does "carbon neutral" really mean? And is it really possible to live in such a manner without just resorting to buying carbon credits? --V.H. ...

EarthTalk: Sun-protective clothing

Dear EarthTalk: Is there really such a thing as “sun-protective clothing?” If so, does it mean I can dispense with oily sunscreens once and for all? -- J.S. ...

EarthTalk: Global warming skeptics

Dear EarthTalk: I keep meeting people who say that human-induced global warming is only theory, that just as many scientists doubt it as believe it. Can you settle the score? --...

EarthTalk: Living near a gas station

Dear EarthTalk: I am looking at possibly buying a house that is very close to a gasoline station. Is it safe to live so close to a gas station? What concerns should I have? I have...

Reading The Fine Print Takes On A New Meaning As Stanford Researchers......

Reading the fine print takes on a new meaning as Stanford researchers create "the smallest writing in history" By Dan Stober. Stanford researchers have reclaimed...

EarthTalk: Backyard (organic) vegetable gardening in small spaces

Dear EarthTalk: I want to start an organic vegetable garden in my yard and I would like to know how to combine crops to make better use of time and space. -- Val Thomason,...

EarthTalk: What role might biomass play in our energy future?

Dear EarthTalk: There’s a lot of talk today about solar and wind power, but what about biomass? How big a role might this renewable energy source play in our future? Couldn’t...

EarthTalk: Does a cold and snowy winter mean that global warming is bunk?

Dear EarthTalk: Don’t all these huge snow and ice storms across the country mean that the globe isn’t really warming? I've never seen such a winter! -- M.F. ...

EarthTalk: Smart grid technology for conserving energy

Dear EarthTalk: What is the so-called “smart grid” I've been hearing about, and how can it save energy and money? -- L.B. America’s...

Stanford News - Stanford and IBM Improve MRI Sensitivity

By Chelsea Anne Young Scientists from Stanford and IBM have improved the sensitivity of magnetic resonance imaging by 100 million times using a new technique for...

EarthTalk: Is #5 plastic, used for some food containers, safe?

Dear EarthTalk: It seems like more products are being packaged in #5 rather than #2 plastic today, and my local recycling agency won’t take #5. I’ve also heard that #5...

Billion-Year Revision of Plant Evolution Timeline May Stem From Discovery of Lignin in Seaweed

By Louis Bergeron and Brian Lin. Land plants' ability to sprout upward through the air, unsupported except by their own woody tissues, has long been considered one of the...

EarthTalk: Technological climate change fixes

Dear EarthTalk: What are some of the leading proposed technological fixes for staving off global warming, and how feasible are they? -- J.H. While most...

EarthTalk: Comparing battery to gasoline power, electricity wins hands down

Dear EarthTalk: If you have an electric or plug-in hybrid car, you’re paying for electricity rather than gasoline all or most of the time. How does that cost compare to a...

EarthTalk: Toilet paper and other disposable paper products decimate forests

Dear EarthTalk: Are any major brands of disposable tissues, paper towels, napkins and toilet paper yet using recycled content and chlorine-free bleaching? -- S.C. ...

EarthTalk: Which parts of the U.S. will be hardest hit by global warming?

Dear EarthTalk: Which parts of the United States are or will be hardest hit by global warming? -- A.P. It’s difficult to predict which areas of the U.S. will suffer...

Extreme Dance: Fighting Gravity During Weeklong Stanford Residency

By Cynthia Haven Dangerous. Hard. Fast. Wild. Turbulent. Out of control. Those are the words choreographer Elizabeth Streb has used to describe the "ideal...

Rixford Snyder, 'Dean of the Danube,' Dead at 100

By Adam Gorlick Rixford Snyder, who spent his career drawing students to Stanford as the head of undergraduate admission and making sure they stayed connected to the...