Newsroom Stories

Singer. Writer. Performer. Visual artist. Over the course of her 45-year career, Patti Smith has established herself as one of the most prolific and influential artists of her generation. In fall 2020, Smith will receive the International Humanities Prize from Washington University in St. Louis.

In the debut of The Record’s new series, “I Made This,” senior J.T. Bridges shares the story behind his song “Discord,” which he recorded at the Harvey Media Center with the help of student group High Note Music Industry Collective. Like contemporary stars Daniel Caesar and Khalid, Bridges specializes in chill R&B with earnest lyrics and acoustic rhythms. 

High-protein diets may help people lose weight and build muscle, but a School of Medicine study in mice suggests they also lead to more plaque in the arteries. The findings also show that high-protein diets spur unstable plaque, the kind most prone to rupturing and causing blocked arteries.

New School of Medicine research indicates that “jumping genes” play a surprising role in stabilizing the 3D folding patterns of the DNA molecule inside a cell’s nucleus.

A new fellowship for Washington University undergraduates further deepens the university’s commitment to educating and preparing the next generation of entrepreneurs. The program, offered by the Skandalaris Center for Interdisciplinary Innovation and Entrepreneurship, will directly connect students to, and immerse them in, the St. Louis startup scene.

At the Washington University in St. Louis Board of Trustees meeting Dec. 6, several faculty members were appointed or promoted with tenure, with most becoming effective Jan. 1.

Joe Scherrer, director of the Cybersecurity Strategic Initiative at Washington University and a former cybersecurity innovator with the U.S. Air Force, says the cyberattack on Jeff Bezos is nothing unusual, and these kinds of attacks are becoming more common. But there are things you can do to stay safe.

“Masquerade,” Black Anthology’s 31st annual production, will question past and present ideas of utopia through the lens of Afrofuturism — a genre that fuses black culture with science fiction to create a universe where black identity is both central and celebrated. Black Anthology will be staged at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 31, and Saturday, Feb. 1, in Edison Theatre.

Researchers at the McKelvey School of Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis found that the hazards of switching disinfectants in water systems — increased lead levels — can be mitigated if the change is done correctly.

Artist Michael Joo, architect Lola Sheppard and designer Rob Giampietro are among the international array of cutting-edge visual thinkers who will visit St. Louis as part of the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts’ spring Public Lecture Series. In all, the series, which begins Feb. 3, will feature 16 presentations by renowned artists, architects, curators and designers.