This year’s Thurtene Carnival is reaching out to more student groups and the community during pre-events. Although the fair doesn’t officially kick off until Friday, April 15, organizers are holding several community and fundraising activities during Spirit Week March 27-April 2 to help raise money for this year’s charity, the Belle Center, which helps disabled children with mainstream integration. FULL STORY

URL: http://news.wustl.edu/news/Pages/22055.aspx

Scientists at the School of Medicine have shown they can grow and manipulate personalized collections of human intestinal microbes in the laboratory. The research sets the stage for identifying new probiotics and evaluating whether microbe transplants can restore the natural balance of intestinal bacteria in “sick” microbial communities. FULL STORY

URL: http://news.wustl.edu/news/Pages/22042.aspx

Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia, will deliver the keynote address for the Global Leadership Conference at 6 p.m. Friday, March 25, in Graham Chapel. This Assembly Series talk, “Democracy and the Internet,” is free and open to the public. FULL STORY

URL: http://news.wustl.edu/news/Pages/22061.aspx

The social media giant Twitter began five years ago this month. While millions are using it to let their friends know about good places to go for lunch, its impact on business may be just beginning, Olin lecturer Sharon Cannon, PhD, says. FULL STORY

URL: http://news.wustl.edu/news/Pages/22046.aspx

The Chabad on Campus-Rohr Center for Jewish Life will dedicate its new facility at 11:30 a.m., Sunday, March 27, in memory of benefactor Barry H. Levites. FULL STORY

URL: http://news.wustl.edu/news/Pages/22057.aspx

• 3:30 p.m. Dept. of History Colloquium. “ ‘The Sound of Freedom’: Antimonies of the Cold War Soundscape.” David Suisman, assoc. prof. of history, U. of Delaware. Co-sponsored by American Culture Studies. Free and open to the public. Reception follows. Busch Hall, Rm. 18. (314) 935-5450.

• Family Learning Center hosts Ready for School Night tonight. The WUSTL Family Learning Center will host a Ready for School Night at 5 p.m. tonight to help WUSTL parents learn about how the center helps prepare toddlers for school. For more information, call (314) 935-5437.

• Women’s tennis goes 5-1 on spring break trip. The No. 16 women’s tennis team posted a 5-1 record during its spring break trip March 14-17 to Orlando, Fla. The Bears beat Oklahoma Baptist (6-3) and Division I Colgate University (7-0) in addition to picking up wins over University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (9-0), Berry College (8-1) and the University of Puget Sound (9-0).