Duke in the News: Oct. 8, 2007

STUDY SUGGESTS APPENDIX'S PURPOSE USA Today, Oct. 8 -- Some Duke scientists think they have figured out the real job of the troublesome and seemingly useless appendix: It produces and protects good germs for your gut. (AP story also appeared in the Washington Post, CNN and more than 210 other news outlets.) ... Full story --Also, (London) The Independent: The Appendix Does Have a Use -- Re-booting the Gut... Full story

MEDICARE CUTS FOR CHEMOTHERAPY DIDN'T HURT PATIENTS, STUDY SAYS Bloomberg News, Oct. 8 -- Medicare payment cuts for chemotherapy drugs didn't leave patients less satisfied with their treatments, a Duke-led study finds. ... Full story

DUKE DEAN TO GO BACK TO TEACHING (Raleigh) News & Observer, Oct. 6 -- As dean of the Trinity College of Arts and Sciences, Robert Thompson helped lead significant curriculum changes at Duke. He will step down Aug. 1 and return to teaching. ... Full story --Also, Duke Chronicle: Thompson to Step Down in August ... Full story

CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL GET BLESSING AT DUKE CHAPEL (Durham) Herald-Sun, Oct. 8 -- The 18th annual Blessing of the Animals at Duke Chapel drew about 120 people, dozens of dogs and cats and two green iguanas. ... Full story

BLACK HOLES -- THE NAKED TRUTH Financial Times, Oct. 6 -- Researchers from Duke and the University of Cambridge think there is a way to determine whether some black holes are not actually black. ... Full story

IN THE WORLD'S RURAL OUTPOSTS, A SHORTWAVE CHANNEL TO GOD Washington Post, Oct. 7 -- Ebrahim Moosa, associate director of Duke's Islamic Studies Center, says the radio has advanced many Muslims' knowledge of and devotion to their faith. ... Full story

THE JOURNEY OF A GUN Austin Chronicle, Oct. 5 -- Guns are not easily obtained by inner-city criminals, as many people believe, and far from being hopeless, police efforts to curtail criminals' access to guns do make a difference, according to new research by ITT/Terry Sanford Professor of Public Policy Phil Cook. ... Full story

LEAD COUNSEL IN FANNIE SUIT IS SWITCHED OUT Wall Street Journal, Oct. 8 -- James Cox, a securities-law professor at Duke School of Law, discusses an unusual changing of the guard in a fraud lawsuit against Fannie Mae. ... Full story