Friday, Nov. 3, 2017

Top Stories

In autism, too many brain connections may be to blame

A defective gene linked to autism influences how neurons connect and communicate with each other in the brain, according to a School of Medicine study. Rodents lacking the gene form too many connections between neurons and have difficulty learning.

Leggett: Teaching students to ‘live amongst difference’

As part of this week’s Residential College Symposium, Kawanna Leggett, executive director of residential life, will lead a panel that explores ways to support students impacted by a variety of crises.

‘Icarus’ film to be screened next week

“Icarus,” a 2017 documentary exploring doping in sports, will be screened from 4-6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7, in Anheuser-Busch Hall. A panel discussion will follow.

Events

1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3

‘Dissecting the Source of Anti-gay Prejudice’

7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3

Diwali 2017

10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 4

Saturday Science Lecture on cells

Noon Monday, Nov. 6

Perspectives: ‘Neighborhood and Social Inequality’

View all events →

Campus Announcements

Memorial service for Gregory Smith planned Saturday

A memorial service for Gregory Paul Smith Jr., who was entering his junior year at the university, will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, in the Women’s Building Formal Lounge. Smith died in July while studying in London. He was 20.

Social Photo of the Week

Check out a video of the making of this WashU pumpkin.

WashU in the News

Acetaminophen use in pregnancy linked to ADHD in study, but no cause is proven

ABC News

Lessons in memory from a champ

The Scientist

Human violence, bloodlust not diminished by modern civilization, anthropologists say

International Business Times

See more WashU in the News →

Obituaries

Milton Schlesinger, professor emeritus of microbiology, 89

Milton Schlesinger, professor emeritus of microbiology at the School of Medicine, died of heart failure Friday, Oct. 27, at his home in Berkeley, Calif., after a long period of illness. Schlesinger was a professor at the university from 1964 until 1999 and twice served as acting head of his department.

Notables

“Never Been a Time,” a documentary film by Denise Ward-Brown, of the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts, will be screened Sunday, Nov. 5, as part of the 26th annual St. Louis International Film Festival. The film is part of the “Mean Streets” program, presented by University Libraries, the Sam Fox School and other partners.

Research Wire

Systems engineer ShiNung Ching and biomedical engineer Barani Raman, both of the School of Engineering & Applied Science, are part of a team that received a three-year, $750,000 grant from the National Science Foundation. The group will work to figure out whether there are rules governing how different organisms’ brains process sensory stimuli.

The Record