The FDA is considering banning outdoor tobacco product advertising at various distances from schools and playgrounds. The tobacco industry is challenging these rules on First Amendment grounds, arguing that they would lead to a near complete ban on tobacco advertising in dense urban areas. A new study by the Brown School’s Center for Tobacco Policy Research challenges those findings. FULL STORY

URL: http://news.wustl.edu/news/Pages/21857.aspx

Bacteria often attack with toxins designed to hijack or even kill host cells. To avoid self-destruction, bacteria have ways of protecting themselves from their own toxins. Now, researchers at the School of Medicine have described one of these protective mechanisms, potentially paving the way for new classes of antibiotics that cause the bacteria’s toxins to turn on themselves. FULL STORY

URL: http://news.wustl.edu/news/Pages/21854.aspx

Mark Alford, PhD, professor of physics in Arts & Sciences, participated Jan. 29 in a roundtable discussion in New York about the quantum mind theory of consciousness. Alford, who studies phenomenon that can only be explained by quantum mechanics, played the role of the skeptic in the discussion, which was videotaped and posted on the web. FULL STORY

URL: http://news.wustl.edu/news/Pages/21834.aspx

Creativity at the World Economic Forum? That may seem like a bit of a stretch. But according to Keith Sawyer, PhD, associate professor of education and of psychology, both in Arts & Sciences, the two go hand-in-hand. Sawyer moderated two sessions at last month’s forum in Davos, Switzerland. FULL STORY

URL: http://news.wustl.edu/news/Pages/21841.aspx

Hillary A. Sale, JD, the Walter D. Coles Professor of Law and Professor of Management, organized this year’s DirectWomen Board Institute, an annual national program designed to develop and position an elite group of exceptional senior women lawyers for service as directors of major U.S. corporations. FULL STORY

URL: http://news.wustl.edu/news/Pages/21864.aspx

• 6 p.m. The Writing Center Workshop. “The Basics of Excellent Public Speaking.” Free and open to all currently enrolled WUSTL students and all faculty. Eads Hall, Rm. 109. Register at writing@artsci.wustl.edu or (314) 935-4981.

• Olin Library’s Taste of Technology fair rescheduled for tomorrow. Learn about the newest gadgets and software at Olin Library’s Taste of Technology fair from noon-4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 10, in the Level 1 lobby.

• Harmon qualifies for nationals in pentathlon. Senior Ben Harmon had a big performance in the Bob Keck Pentathlon at Illinois Wesleyan Feb. 4. Harmon finished first with a score of 3,634 points, a provisional qualifying score for the 2011 NCAA Division III Indoor Championships March 11 and 12. Harmon’s tally ranks first among five NCAA provisional qualifiers nationally through last weekend’s competition.