Wednesday, June 17, 2020

Top Stories

Brain pulses may help circuits survive disuse, injury

A neuroscientist’s arm cast led him and fellow School of Medicine researchers to find previously undetected neuronal pulses in the human brain that activate after an immobilizing illness or injury.

Researchers forecast stable COVID-19 levels entering fall

The rate in which COVID-19 cases spread is concave, meaning the impact of one more infected person diminishes as more people are infected, according to Olin Business School researchers.

Learning Lodge provides free virtual tutoring

The school year has ended, but Learning Lodge, a free online tutoring service founded by Washington University students, continues to help local elementary and middle school students practice math, social studies — and even the bassoon.

How stardust, water landed on asteroid 4 Vesta

Researchers in Arts & Sciences are the first to study presolar materials that landed on a planet-like body. Their findings may help solve the mystery: Where did all the water on Earth come from?

WashU Expert: When the conspiracy is real

As protests sparked by George Floyd’s death continue, conspiracy theories abound. William J. Maxwell, of Arts & Sciences, discusses the history of “false flag” operations and how conspiracy theories still shape the American imagination.

Events

3–4:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 17

‘What does it mean to be here?’ faculty and staff discussion

4 p.m. Thursday, June 18

From idea to SentiAR: An unexpected journey to entrepreneurship

1 p.m. Friday, June 19

‘Where do we go from here?’ civic responsibility talk

View more events →

Campus Announcements

Danforth Campus fall planning town halls start today

The Fall Planning Committee invites the Danforth Campus community to attend a series of town hall webinars this week to learn more about the university’s planning process for the fall semester and to ask questions and share feedback. The staff session begins at 1:30 p.m. today.

WashU in the News

New COVID-19 ‘mouse model’ can speed the search for drugs and vaccines, researchers say

Fox News

People are going to protest George Floyd’s death. Here’s how to do so more safely.

ABC News

Police unions face lobbying fights at all levels of government

The Hill

Return to youth sports begins as estimated $2.4 billion loss from COVID-19 may grow

HEC-TV

See more WashU in the News →

Campus Voices

Documentary profiles ‘Ninja Turtle Backpack Guy’

A recent documentary by 2020 alumnus Brian Goodfriend and rising senior Isabelle Roig profiles Demetri Kavadas, a 2019 alumnus. Better known as “Ninja Turtle Backpack Guy,” he was once described by Michael Bloomberg as the university’s “most famous icon.”

Notables

Lisa Bulawsky, professor of art, has been named chair of the Master of Fine Arts in Visual Art program in the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts, effective July 1. Bulawsky is widely known for her works on paper and for temporary public projects that explore relationships between personal and cultural narratives.

Research Wire

Todd Braver, professor of psychological and brain sciences in Arts & Sciences, received a $432,938 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support a project titled “Healthy Aging and the Cost of Cognitive Effort.”

The Record