Florida’s attack on Disney violates the First Amendment
If Florida’s action to strip Walt Disney World of its status as a special tax district is indeed retaliatory against the company for its opposition to the state’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” law, then Florida has plainly violated the First Amendment, says a constitutional law expert at Washington University in St. Louis.
Race of people given Alzheimer’s blood tests may affect interpretation of results
Three of four blood tests used to identify people in early stages of Alzheimer’s disease perform differently in Black individuals compared to white individuals, according to a new study from Washington University School of Medicine. Such differences may put Black patients at risk of misdiagnosis.
Calming overexcited neurons may protect brain after stroke
By scanning the genomes of nearly 6,000 stroke patients, School of Medicine scientists identified two genes associated with recovery. Both are involved in regulating neuronal excitability, suggesting that targeting overstimulated neurons may help promote recovery in the first 24 hours after stroke.
Brains and brawn helped crows and ravens take over the world
Crows and ravens have great flying ability, which allows them to gain access to new places more easily. While their flying skills were key to their success, new research from biologists in Arts & Sciences also shows that big bodies and big brains played an important role in helping crows and ravens survive in the new climates they occupied.
Champion for equitable education, May honored with Ethic of Service Award
Victoria May, executive director of the Institute for School Partnership, works with local educators to create high-quality, equitable education for all students. Last week, May was among seven members of the university community honored with a Virgil Ethic of Service Award.
From rare soil microbe, a new antibiotic candidate
Demand for new kinds of antibiotics is surging, as drug-resistant and emerging infections are becoming an increasingly serious global health threat. Biologist Joshua Blodgett in Arts & Sciences discovered a new candidate for drug development from bioactive compounds in a soil bacterium. The findings are reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Great Artists Series welcomes Angel Blue April 24
Acclaimed soprano Angel Blue, fresh from starring roles in the Metropolitan Opera’s “Fire Shut Up in My Bones” and “Porgy and Bess,” will present an intimate recital April 24 as part of the Great Artists Series at Washington University in St. Louis.
Child tax credit reduced usage of high-cost financial services
Families who were eligible for the child tax credit experienced improved nutrition, decreased reliance on credit cards and other high-risk financial services, and made long-term educational investments for both parents and children, finds a new report from Washington University in St. Louis.
Perception matters: How fear about crime impacts presidential approval
Using Gallup survey data from 2000-2019 spanning across four presidential administrations, political scientists in Arts & Sciences find anxiety about crime, race and the president’s political party influence whether Americans hold presidents accountable for crime.
Changes in vegetation shaped global temperatures over last 10,000 years
Alexander Thompson, a postdoctoral research associate in earth and planetary sciences in Arts & Sciences, updated simulations from an important climate model to more accurately reflect the role of a greener Sahara and the coniferous and deciduous forests of the mid-latitudes and the Arctic.
View More Stories