Category Science & Technology
Climate change and the oxymoron of sustainable growth
Climate change, often viewed as a burden for future generations, is, in fact, a problem at hand, and a significant one, contends Rudy M. Baum, editor-in-chief of Chemical & Engineering News. Read More
Study evaluates bat deaths near wind turbines
It's something of an ecological murder mystery - countless numbers of bats are turning up dead near wind farms. But what is killing them? Read More
Launch of new satellite will sharpen weather observations
From a launching pad at California's Vandenberg Air Force Base our newest weather satellite rose into orbit this morning, buoyed by know-how from the University of Wisconsin–Madison's atmospheric and space science community. Read More
Microscope will give UW researchers powerful view of molecular structures
A successful campus-wide partnership will bring to the University of Wisconsin–Madison a powerful new electron microscope equipped to produce high-resolution, three-dimensional images of a wide range of biological samples. Read More
Fungus causes deadly bat disease: last doubts removed
Scientists have proven that the fungus Geomyces destructans causes white-nose syndrome, a fast-spreading and highly lethal disease of bats. Read More
Treasured campus murals conserved for future generations
Art conservators are painstakingly preserving a set of historic, wall-size John Steuart Curry works surrounded by the gutted and rebuilt Biochemistry Building on Henry Mall. Read More
Deaf children: Study shows significant language progress after two cochlear implants
An ongoing study of 45 deaf children who had two cochlear implants finds that their language skills are within the normal range. Cochlear implants replace the eardrum by delivering an electric signal from a microphone to the auditory nerves located in the cochlea in the inner ear. Read More
Rennie to be science writer in residence
John Rennie, a veteran science journalist, blogger and editor, has been named the Fall 2011 University of Wisconsin–Madison Science Writer in Residence. Read More
Science writer in residence assesses science publishing
John Rennie is the fall, 2011 UW–Madison science writer in residence. He will be on campus the week of Oct. 23 and will give a public lecture on the "tumultuous state of science publishing" at 4 p.m. Oct. 26 at the Memorial Union. Read More
Astronomers discover how mysterious blue straggler stars stay young
Mysterious "blue stragglers" are old stars that appear younger than they should be: they burn hot and blue. Several theories have attempted to explain why they don't show their age, but, until now, scientists have lacked the crucial observations with which to test each hypothesis. Read More
Patience paying off for long-term diabetes project
A decade of research in any field presents challenges, but for Alan Attie's lab group, years of persistence have opened up a new avenue to understanding diabetes. Read More
Slide show: Northwoods partners
The complex interplay between the earth's climate on global and local levels drives UW–Madison atmospheric and oceanic sciences professor Ankur Desai's research. In September, students from the soils and waters course at the College of the Menominee Nation in Keshena, Wis., joined Desai's team to get a look at the high-tech methods researchers use to monitor carbon flux — the movement of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide in and out of plants, water and soil. Read More
UW-Madison global fishery expert wins prestigious fellowship
Peter McIntyre, an assistant professor of zoology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, has won an $850,000, five-year Packard Fellowship for Science and Engineering from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. Read More
Medical foods for PKU diet enter phase II clinical trials
Mealtimes aren't quite as enjoyable for people with phenylketonuria (PKU) as they are for the rest of us. Those with this genetic disorder have to get their protein by drinking a foul-tasting amino acid "formula." At the same time, they must avoid natural proteins - eschewing burgers, ice cream and even regular bread - because they lack the enzyme needed to process phenylalanine, one of the 19 amino acids that comprise protein. Read More
Bird song app identifies feathered friends by tweets
Squinting into wind-blown trees and bushes is for the birds, especially if it’s the birds you're looking for. Read More
Building a new cadre of science faculty, center makes next big leap
The national experiment to develop a new generation of college science and engineering faculty, one equipped to excel in the classroom as well as the lab, is about to shift into high gear. Read More
Research explores virus movement in Madison groundwater
According to the conventional wisdom, drinking water taken from a deep aquifer protected by a semi-permeable layer of rock should be protected from many contaminants, including viruses. Read More
Psychologist to explain 3-D perception to National Geographic audience
Bas Rokers, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, will illustrate how our brains process visual motion and depth during the three-part National Geographic television series "Brain Games." Read More
Decade of effort yields diabetes susceptibility gene
Ten years of meticulous mouse breeding, screening and record-keeping have finally paid off for Alan Attie and his lab members. Read More
Electricity from the nose: Engineers make power from human respiration
The same effect that ignites your gas grill with the push of a button could one day power sensors in your body via the respiration in your nose. Read More