Category Science & Technology
New approach will analyze important, poorly studied areas of human genome
Each year, more and more pieces of the human genome puzzle fall into place, but large holes still remain. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison hope to fill in many more pieces with a new $1.1 million grant from the National Human Genome Research Institute. Read More
NSF funds UW sustainability project studying the human component of green buildings
Designing a "green" building involves considering a multitude of variables - everything from electrical efficiency to airflow controls to natural sources of light, heat and energy. But engineering more efficient building control systems is only part of the picture; for a building to be truly green, the occupants living and working within it need to know how to behave in a sustainable way as well. Read More
Vet med students ensure safe, speedy biosecurity check-in for dairy expo cattle
Scores of trailers will begin rolling into Madison on Friday, Sept. 28, delivering 2,500 show cows to the Alliant Energy Center for the upcoming World Dairy Expo. But to prevent the spread of disease among the cattle, the health status of each animal must be verified before they are unloaded. Fortunately, volunteer students from the UW–Madison School of Veterinary Medicine keep this process running as smoothly as possible. Read More
The language of stem cells, decoded
Stem cells are biological building blocks, the starting point of human life. But without proper direction, they're not very useful when it comes to treating disease. Read More
Hydrogen beam injector guides plasma physics research
The Madison Symmetric Torus, a leading piece of equipment in plasma physics research for more than 20 years, recently gained a new capability with the installation of a neutral beam injector. Read More
Seeing sound from all angles at Wisconsin Science Fest
Sound can be an incredibly powerful experience, able to dominate our attention, convey information, transport us from the here and now or add or relieve tension and emotion. Read More
NSF tabs UW chemist to lead Math and Physical Sciences Directorate
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has selected F. Fleming Crim, a University of Wisconsin–Madison professor of chemistry, to serve as assistant director for the Directorate of Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS). Read More
TED creativity guru headlines science fest, Year of Innovation
If Sir Ken Robinson has said it once, he's said it millions of times: "If you're not prepared to be wrong, you'll never come up with anything original." Read More
Studies point to rising role for women scientists at UW–Madison
As the University of Wisconsin–Madison competes with the world's top universities for talent and expertise, it is getting more help from women, who in 2011 comprised 31 percent of the faculty — up from 18 percent in 1990. Read More
Science in film: The ‘evil institute’ takes center stage
For filmmakers, science has always set a sumptuous table for story telling. Characters, plots and settings drawn from science are all reliable grist for the celluloid mill. Read More
UW Center for Dairy Research wins federal innovation grant
The Wisconsin Center for Dairy Research (CDR) at the University of Wisconsin–Madison has been awarded one of seven $1 million i6 Challenge grants from the U.S. Department of Commerce to support an effort to commercialize research ideas that will positively impact economic development. Read More
UW team to test mobile apps to prevent substance abuse relapses
Can giving smartphones to people with substance use disorders improve the quality of care at the same time as it reduces health care costs? A team of scholars centered at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and Dartmouth College thinks so, and has won a federal grant to create and test mobile apps to deliver tested treatment and relapse prevention tools through these devices. Read More
Climate expert: Record loss of arctic ice could impact Wisconsin
Ice covering the Arctic Ocean melted to the smallest areal extent ever recorded this year, falling to 1.3 million square miles at its lowest point on Sept. 16, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center. That's less than half of the normal area covered by ice at summer's end. Read More
Second Higgs lecture scheduled to accommodate demand
Due to overwhelming interest, a second lecture on the discovery of a new physics particle has been added for tomorrow evening, Friday, Sept. 21, at 6 p.m. Read More
Campus car fleet evolves with changing needs, technology
In an age of increasing awareness of sustainability and a “greening” campus, the university’s vehicle fleet has also been changing with the times. Read More
UW team studies the mechanics of stronger bones
As human bones age, they undergo geometric changes and also lose minerals such as calcium that give them density and strength. Read More
Surprising demographic shifts in endangered monkey population challenge conservation expectations
At first glance, the northern muriqui monkey is a prime conservation success story. Read More
Wisconsin Science Festival brings wonders of science to life for all ages
After a rousing debut last fall, the Wisconsin Science Festival returns for its second year this Sept. 27-30 with an even bigger and bolder schedule of people, music, art and explosions bringing the wonders of science to life for all ages. Read More
Cervical cancer and pre-cancer cervical growths require single HPV protein
Human papillomavirus (HPV) has long been implicated in cervical cancer, but details of how it happens have remained a mystery. Now researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison have found that a single HPV protein is required for cervical cancer and even pre-cancer growths in the cervix to survive. Read More