Who Knew WashU? 1.30.18

Question: Black Anthology, a student-produced show celebrating African-American culture that also raises issues important to black students, took place last weekend. When was Black Anthology founded on campus?

Like Zika, West Nile virus causes fetal brain damage, death in mice

Two viruses closely related to Zika – West Nile and Powassan – can spread from an infected pregnant mouse to her fetuses, causing brain damage and fetal death, according to a new study from the School of Medicine. The findings suggest that Zika may not be unique in its ability to cause miscarriages and birth defects.

Lunar New Year: Year of the Dog presents Dai dance

For China’s Dai minority, the peacock is a symbol of both grace and power. That’s why choreographer Kristine Xu chose a traditional Dai peacock dance for this year’s Lunar New Year Festival, which will take place Feb. 2 and 3 in Edison Theatre.

PhD in imaging science launched

With the aim of training the next leaders in imaging, the School of Engineering & Applied Science is collaborating with other Washington University in St. Louis schools to offer an interdisciplinary doctoral program in imaging sciences, beginning in the 2018-19 academic year.

Once, twice, six times a grocery shopper

In the first test of detailed consumer-buying habits by categories at more than one chain store selling groceries, a team of business school researchers, led by Washington University in St. Louis, found that shoppers weren’t monogamist or bigamist but rather polygamist in their choice of outlets. In fact, it turns out that grocery categories such as dessert toppings, motor oil, candles and refrigerated ethnic foods were some of the leading products that lure customers to separate stores.

Cutting through the politics of tax reform

As Americans begin to file their last returns under a fading tax system, as President Donald Trump concludes his first State of the Union with a great emphasis on the economy, as the world watches this country undergo tectonic changes, it’s time to cut through the politicking and positioning. Washington University in St. Louis compiled researchers and experts across campus to attempt to put the new tax reform into perspective, plainly speaking.