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Law

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.

New leader for university services appointed

Jason McClellan
Jason McClellan, of Tufts University, has been appointed assistant vice chancellor for university services at Washington University, announced Shantay Bolton, executive vice chancellor and chief administrative officer.
Neuroscience & Memory

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.
Biology

Canid conservation program launched

Canids camera trap images
Washington University in St. Louis and the Living Earth Collaborative are part of a new Missouri-based conservation initiative led by the Saint Louis Zoo. Working with the Endangered Wolf Center, scientists are looking to answer ecological and health-related questions about canids — red foxes, gray foxes and coyotes — as well as bobcats, which live in close association with canids.
Biology

Brains and brawn helped crows and ravens take over the world

Raven
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.