Science

For 50 years, the University City Science Center has been where scientists and start-ups have toiled to build the next generation of Philadelphia-area companies. But to hear science center president and CEO Stephen S. Tang , what would really help nurture that entrepreneurial soup would be if a big life-sciences company were to put its headquarters or research operations in West Philadelphia. Given that several of the biggest drug companies locally have already made long-term commitments elsewhere, there is nothing on the horizon presently.

When on March 26 the Supreme Court hears oral arguments about whether California's ban on same-sex marriages violates the constitutional right to "equal protection of the laws," these arguments will invoke the intersection of law and social science. The court should tread cautiously, if at all, on this dark and bloody ground. The Obama administration says California's law expresses "prejudice" that is "impermissible. " But same-sex marriage is a matter about which intelligent people reasonably disagree, partly because so little is known about its consequences.

I'm certain Sarah Palin spoke for many when she tweeted upon hearing the news that a New York judge had prevented implementation of Mayor Michael Bloomberg's efforts to regulate sugary drinks: "Victory in NYC for liberty-loving soda drinkers. To politicians with too much time on their hands we say: Govt, stay out of my refrigerator!" No doubt those "liberty lovers" view dietary habits as a matter of free will and personal responsibility. If only things were so simple. There's no question that most of us can do something about our weight.

Perhaps his parents should have seen it coming. At age 3, Jonah Kallenbach was teaching his nursery-school classmates about the space program. At 9, he started to learn concepts in calculus. The following year, it was black holes. Nevertheless, the Ambler family was thrilled this week when Jonah, now 17, won second prize and $75,000 in one of the most prestigious high school academic competitions: the Intel Science Talent Search. Kallenbach, a senior at Germantown Academy, wrote a computer program to predict how "disordered" proteins would interact in the body, a process involved in certain cancers and tuberculosis.

Pour on the olive oil, preferably over fish and vegetables: One of the longest and most scientific tests of a Mediterranean diet suggests that this style of eating, even loosely defined, can substantially reduce the chance of heart-related problems, especially strokes, in older people at high risk. The study lasted five years and involved nearly 7,500 people in Spain. Those who ate Mediterranean-style with lots of olive oil or nuts had a 30 percent lower risk of major cardiovascular problems compared with those who were told to follow a low-fat diet but who did not, in reality, cut out much fat. Mediterranean meant lots of fruit, fish, chicken, beans, tomato sauce, salads, and wine - and little soda, baked goods, and red meats.

Math, Civics & Sciences boys' basketball player Malik Starkes has been suspended for the rest of the season by District 12 for arguing with an official after Saturday's loss to Vaux in the Public League Class A final at Southern, his coach said. Coach Dan Jackson said that Starkes also was suspended from Public League play for next season by District 12 chairman Robert Coleman. Jackson said school officials met with representatives from District 12 earlier this week. The junior guard started for MC&S and averaged 8.4 points.

MATH, CIVICS & Sciences Charter lost more than a basketball game Saturday in the Public League quarterfinals. Due to misbehavior, one of its top players has been removed from the squad. Robert Coleman, the Pub sports czar, said he and MC&S' administration reached an agreement on guard Malik Starkes - he'll no longer play for the Mighty Elephants, nor for any school in the PL. The problem began with one-tenth of a second remaining in MC&S' 62-61 loss to Roberts Vaux. Noticing that Starkes was complaining to an official about a call that sent star guard Rysheed Jordan to the foul line, MC&S coaches removed him after the first free throw.

WASHINGTON - President Obama is concerned about the effect that looming, drastic across-the-board budget cuts will have on the middle class, his new chief of staff said Sunday. Congressional Republicans predicted the cuts would start as scheduled next month and blamed Obama not only for doing little to stop them but also for the idea itself. The cuts, called the sequester, would drain $85 billion from the government's budget over the next seven months. Actual cuts may be about 13 percent for defense and 9 percent for other programs, because lawmakers delayed their impact, requiring savings over a shorter period of time.

No representatives from Temple, UCLA, or St. John's were spotted at Southern during Saturday night's Public League Class A championship game. But the three finalists for Rysheed Jordan's services will no doubt hear about his last-minute heroics. With 0.1 second remaining, after missing his first attempt from the free-throw line, the prized recruit calmly buried the second to give Roberts Vaux a 62-61, come-from-behind victory over stunned Math, Civics, and Sciences. With 10.7 seconds to go, the 6-foot-3 phenom hit two foul shots to forge a 61-61 tie. That was followed by his steal in front of the MC&S bench.

Dan Jackson has "youngest coach" in one of his e-mail addresses. It refers to when he took over the Math, Civics & Sciences boys' basketball program seven seasons ago, at age 19. It doesn't begin to explain what he went through to get there. Except for the year when he started college, Jackson has been at Math, Civics & Sciences in one role or another since the eighth grade. Before that, starting with the fifth grade, he attended three private schools. He got kicked out of all three.