Category Science & Technology

Two engineers named to national academy

February 9, 2012

The National Academy of Engineering (NAE) today (Feb. 9) announced it has named two UW–Madison engineers to its 2012 class of new members. Read More

Physics Department open house welcomes community

February 8, 2012

The University of Wisconsin–Madison Department of Physics will throw open its doors from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18, for its fifth annual Physics Fair. Read More

Hunting could hurt genetic diversity of sandhill cranes, UW research suggests

February 8, 2012

As Wisconsin lawmakers debate whether to establish a hunting season for sandhill cranes, they may want to consider more than just the sheer number of birds, suggests a University of Wisconsin–Madison specialist in avian genetics. Read More

Study shows calories drive earlier puberty

February 8, 2012

Environmental pollutants, eating habits, lack of exercise and genetic traits have all been raised as possible causes of earlier puberty onset in girls in recent years. Now we may now know why: It's the calories, as reported by Ei Terasawa, Joe Kurian, Ricki Colman and colleagues at the Wisconsin National Primate Research Center. Read More

Sturgeon “thunder” has roots in biological process

February 7, 2012

Research into the mysterious sounds that lake sturgeon produce resumes in April, or whenever the water warms to a temperature conducive for fish spawning, which is the best time to experience sturgeon “thunder.” Read More

Evolution’s oddities are focus of Darwin Day

February 7, 2012

The annual celebration of Charles Darwin’s birthday at the University of Wisconsin–Madison will highlight the evolutionary significance of strange life forms, including the octopus and enormous flowers. Read More

Smallest tools could give biggest results in bone repair

February 6, 2012

When William Murphy works with some of the most powerful tools in biology, he thinks about making tools that can fit together. These constructions sound a bit like socket wrenches, which can be assembled to turn a half-inch nut in tight quarters, or to loosen a rusted-tight one-inch bolt using a very persuasive lever. Read More

Neurons from stem cells could replace mice in botulinum test

February 3, 2012

Using lab-grown human neurons, researchers from the University of Wisconsin–Madison have devised an effective assay for detecting botulinum neurotoxin, the agent widely used to cosmetically smooth the wrinkles of age and, increasingly, for an array of medical disorders ranging from muscle spasticity to loss of bladder control. Read More

How does the compassionate brain, measured in the lab, predict what occurs in real life?

February 1, 2012

University of Wisconsin–Madison researchers are launching a new series of studies to understand how laboratory measures of virtuous qualities such as compassion relate to their behavior in the real world. Read More

The Waisman Center: Decades later, what would Harry think?

January 30, 2012

Last fall, the Waisman Center at the University of Wisconsin–Madison bid successfully for the same National Institutes of Health core grant that the late Harry Waisman first won 45 years ago. Read More

Nature: Kawaoka authors commentary on flu research

January 25, 2012

The author of an upcoming Nature paper about H5N1 argues in a Nature Comment article today that research into deadly pathogenic viruses must continue if pandemics are to be prevented. Read More

Satellite renamed to honor UW–Madison space pioneer

January 25, 2012

NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have renamed their newest Earth-observing satellite after Verner Suomi, a longtime UW–Madison professor who often is called the father of satellite meteorology. Read More

Suomi remembered for problem-solving ability, drive

January 25, 2012

Verner Suomi’s career — even his life — may not have been as long and illustrious had he not been an inveterate problem solver. Read More

Contest seeks amazing science images

January 24, 2012

Imaging has brought a revolution to science. Read More

Flu researchers pause for thought

January 20, 2012

The authors of two H5N1-related papers, to be published in Nature and Science respectively, today announce in those journals their decision to call a voluntary 60-day pause on research involving highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 viruses leading to the generation of viruses that are more transmissible in mammals. Read More

Researcher find gene critical to sense of smell in fruit fly

January 20, 2012

UW-Madison researchers have discovered that a gene called distal-less is critical to the fly's ability to receive, process and respond to smells. Read More

Researchers outline food security, climate change road map

January 20, 2012

While last month's meeting of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Durban, South Africa, made incremental progress toward helping farmers adapt to climate change and reduce agriculture's climate footprint, a group of international agriculture experts urges scientists to lay the groundwork for more decisive action on global food security in environmental negotiations in 2012. Read More

Category Science & Technology

Two engineers named to national academy

Physics Department open house welcomes community

Hunting could hurt genetic diversity of sandhill cranes, UW research suggests

Study shows calories drive earlier puberty

Sturgeon “thunder” has roots in biological process

Evolution’s oddities are focus of Darwin Day

Smallest tools could give biggest results in bone repair

Neurons from stem cells could replace mice in botulinum test

How does the compassionate brain, measured in the lab, predict what occurs in real life?

The Waisman Center: Decades later, what would Harry think?

Nature: Kawaoka authors commentary on flu research

Satellite renamed to honor UW–Madison space pioneer

Suomi remembered for problem-solving ability, drive

Contest seeks amazing science images

Flu researchers pause for thought

Researcher find gene critical to sense of smell in fruit fly

Researchers outline food security, climate change road map

New approach to combat intractable bacterial infections

UW-Madison biochemist to serve on president’s National Medal of Science committee

Online engineering grad programs ranked No. 1