Scientists at the School of Medicine have blocked harmful immune cells from entering the brain in mice with a condition similar to multiple sclerosis (MS). MS is believed to be caused by misdirected immune cells that enter the brain and damage myelin, an insulating material on the branches of neurons that conduct nerve impulses. FULL STORY

URL: http://news.wustl.edu/news/Pages/21977.aspx

One of the most acclaimed poets of her generation, Louise Glück has received virtually every major honor available to a U.S. poet, including recognition as poet laureate in 2003-04. At 8 p.m. Thursday, March 10, Glück, the Visiting Fannie Hurst Professor of Creative Literature, will do a reading as part of The Writing Program’s spring Reading Series. FULL STORY

URL: http://news.wustl.edu/news/Pages/21960.aspx

Chess grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura, the top-ranked chess player in America and 8th in the world at age 23, was on campus Feb. 26 for a question-and-answer session and an opportunity for students to test their chess skills against the best. Nakamura needed just two-and-a-half hours to win 42 games of bullet chess. The event was sponsored by the Washington University Chess Club. MORE

URL: http://news.wustl.edu/news/Pages/21994.aspx

Students or employees who do not currently hold an annual parking permit but wish to store their vehicles on campus during spring break March 11-20 may do so after obtaining a placard from Parking Services. Individuals must come to the Parking Services office to fill out an emergency contact form and receive a complimentary parking placard to display on the vehicle dashboard. FULL STORY

URL: http://news.wustl.edu/news/Pages/21993.aspx

• 3:30 p.m. Brown School Lecture. “Innovation, Impact & Eyeglasses–Social Enterprise in Action.” Jordan Kassalow, CEO and founder of VisionSpring, a social enterprise dedicated to reducing poverty and generating opportunity in the developing world through the sale of affordable eyeglasses. Co-sponsored by WUSTL Inst. for Public Health. Free and open to the public. Brown Hall Lounge. (314) 935-9545.

• Emergency siren test moved to Thursday. WUSTL will test its emergency sirens at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, March 10, as part of a Missouri statewide tornado drill. The drill is part of Missouri Severe Weather Awareness Week March 7-11. The university also will test its WUSTLAlerts system tomorrow, March 9. For more, visit news.wustl.edu/news/Pages/21985.aspx.

• Women’s basketball advances to Sweet 16. The No. 12 women’s basketball team advanced to the NCAA Division III Sweet 16 with a 56-52 upset of No. 4 Hope College on their home court March 5 in Holland, Mich. The competition won’t get any easier. WUSTL’s next opponent is No. 1 Thomas More College on their home court at 7 p.m. (ET) Friday, March 11, in Crestview Hills, Ky.