Category Science & Technology
Ever-sharp urchin teeth may yield tools that never need honing
To survive in a tumultuous environment, sea urchins literally eat through stone, using their teeth to carve out nooks where the spiny creatures hide from predators and protect themselves from the crashing surf on the rocky shores and tide pools where they live. Read More
World’s largest neutrino observatory completed at South Pole
Culminating a decade of planning, innovation and testing, construction of the world's largest neutrino observatory was successfully completed today. Read More
100-year study mirrors U.S. history of concrete
Almost since the beginning of recorded history, people have used concrete substances in everything from infrastructure to artwork. Read More
Satellites give an eagle eye on thunderstorms
It's one of the more frustrating parts of summer. You check the weather forecast, see nothing dramatic, and go hiking or biking. Then, four hours later, a thunderstorm appears out of nowhere and ruins your afternoon. Read More
Learning the language of bacteria
Bacteria are among the simplest organisms in nature, but many of them can still talk to each other, using a chemical "language" that is critical to the process of infection. Sending and receiving chemical signals allows bacteria to mind their own business when they are scarce and vulnerable, and then mount an attack after they become numerous enough to overwhelm the host's immune system. Read More
Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery facility opens on UW–Madison campus
Twin research institutes and a space designed for all to engage in science opened Thursday on the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus. Read More
New treatments protect Christmas from ‘Grinch’ grub
Across northern Wisconsin, many of the state's Christmas tree growers struggle to protect their trees from an insect pest known as the white grub, which lurks in the soil, feeds on tree roots and destroys the crop. Read More
UW-Madison chemistry professor elected to lead American Chemical Society
University of Wisconsin–Madison chemistry professor Bassam Shakhashiri has been voted president-elect of the American Chemical Society (ACS). Read More
Mifflin Meteorite finds permanent home in Geology Museum
The meteorite that lit up the skies over southwest Wisconsin this spring has been officially dubbed the "Mifflin Meteorite," and several of its pieces are now part of the permanent collection of the University of Wisconsin–Madison Geology Museum. Read More
Banking on predictability, the mind increases efficiency
Like musical compression saves space on your mp3 player, the human brain has ways of recoding sounds to save precious processing power. Read More
Scientists ferret out a key pathway for aging
A team of scientists from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and their colleagues describe a molecular pathway that is a key determinant of the aging process. Read More
UW-Madison researchers win White House science awards
Two University of Wisconsin–Madison researchers are among the country's most promising young researchers, according to the White House. Read More
Curiosities: Why is Pluto not considered a planet?
Until 2006, astronomers had not carefully defined “planet,” says James Lattis, director of the UW Space Place. Asteroids were not considered planets because… Read More
Embryonic stem cell culturing grows from art to science
Growing human embryonic stem cells in the lab is no small feat. Culturing the finicky, shape-shifting cells is labor intensive and, in some ways, more art than exact science. Read More
Curiosities: How do frogs, toads and other amphibians survive the Wisconsin winter?
Amphibians are at great risk during the winter but employ several strategies for getting through, says Scott Craven, professor of forest and wildlife… Read More