College of Letters & Science -

Mellon Fellows Have International Reach

monica — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:14:47 -0700

Five new post-doctoral scholars will spend the next two years at Berkeley as the 2009-2011 Mellon Postdoctoral Fellows. The fellows bring international talent to Berkeley, with research areas spanning the arts, humanities and humanistic social sciences.

Rapid Supernova Could be New Class of Exploding Star

monica — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:04:05 -0800

An unusual supernova rediscovered in seven-year-old data may be the first example of a new type of exploding star, according to an article by UC Berkeley astronomer Dovi Poznanski and his collegues. The discovery was published in the Nov. 5 issue of the journal Science Express.

Book Exposes Now-Defunct "Ugly Laws" Against the Disabled

monica — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:02:33 -0700

Until as recently as the 1970s, many American cities had so-called “ugly laws” on the books, making it illegal for a person with "unsightly" disabilities to “expose himself to public view.” English Professor Susan Schweik explores these laws in "The Ugly Laws: Disability in Public."

New Center to Open New Front in War on Cancer

monica — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:11:54 -0700

The National Cancer Institute has awarded UC Berkeley $15.7 million over five years to help physical scientists and engineers bring new perspectives to the mechanisms of cancer. Biophysicist Jan Liphardt, an associate professor of physics, is the principal investigator.