Category Science & Technology
Jahn to step down as UW–Madison ag and life sciences dean
University of Wisconsin–Madison Chancellor Biddy Martin and Provost Paul M. DeLuca Jr. today (Oct. 28) announced that Molly Jahn, who has led UW–Madison's College of Agricultural and Life Sciences since 2006, will step down as dean of the college, effective Jan. 1. Read More
New technique shows 50-year history of toxic algae in Lake Wingra
As public health officials worry about rising concentrations of cyanobacteria - often called blue-green algae - in lakes, scientists are concerned that a warming climate will stimulate the growth of cyanobacteria. Read More
Study: Mountain vegetation impacted by climate change
Climate change has had a significant effect on mountain vegetation at low elevations in the past 60 years, according to a study done by the University of California at Davis, the University of Wisconsin–Madison and U.S. Geological Survey. Read More
Common anxiety disorders make it tougher to quit cigarettes
Researchers may have pinpointed a reason many smokers struggle to quit. Read More
Peace of mind closes health gap for less educated
Psychological well-being is powerful enough to counteract the pull of socioeconomic status on the long-term health of the disadvantaged, according to a study by researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Read More
Wildlife health-reporting tools may help prevent human illness
Two new tools that enable the public to report sick or dead wild animals could also lead to the detection and containment of wildlife disease outbreaks that may pose a health risk to people. Read More
Symposium addresses ethics, standards, beneficiaries of research
Drawing on issues raised by this year’s Go Big Read selection, a fall symposium will address responsible conduct and ethical decision-making in research. Read More
New nano techniques integrate electron gas-producing oxides with silicon
In cold weather, many children can't resist breathing onto a window and writing in the condensation. Now imagine the window as an electronic device platform, the condensation as a special conductive gas, and the letters as lines of nanowires. Read More
Go Big Read gets a fast start on campus; author to visit on Oct. 25
Go Big Read, UW–Madison's common reading program, is off to a vigorous start. Some 5,000 copies of "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks," by Rebecca Skloot, were given away in September at the Chancellor's Convocation for New Students. Read More
Plant family tree may help identify species vulnerable to invaders, climate change
Change has been the norm for Wisconsin's forests over the last 50 years, and the next 50 are unlikely to pass quietly. Read More
Curiosities: Why do some planets have rings?
Saturn imaged by the Cassini Orbiter. Image: courtesy Jet Propulsion Lab Planetary ring systems are complicated, notes UW Space Place… Read More
Invasive shrubs increase spread of tick-borne disease
For a hungry tick, bush honeysuckle is as good as a drive-through. Read More
Team receives funds to advance development of production method for medical isotopes
An acute shortage of a medical isotope needed by tens of thousands of medical patients daily will be addressed through a federal funding agreement reached Sept. 30 to advance pioneering technology developed at a Middleton, Wis., company and the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Read More
Bioenergy choices could dramatically change Midwest bird diversity
Ambitious plans to expand acreage of bioenergy crops could have a major impact on birds in the Upper Midwest, according to a study published today (Oct. 4) in the online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). Read More
For first time, monkeys recognize themselves in the mirror, indicating self-awareness
Typically, monkeys don't know what to make of a mirror. They may ignore it or interpret their reflection as another, invading monkey, but they don't recognize the reflection as their own image. Chimpanzees and people pass this "mark" test - they obviously recognize their own reflection and make funny faces, look at a temporary mark that the scientists have placed on their face or wonder how they got so old and grey. Read More
Report casts world’s rivers in ‘crisis state’
The world's rivers, the single largest renewable water resource for humans and a crucible of aquatic biodiversity, are in a crisis of ominous proportions, according to a new global analysis. Read More
UW-Madison receives grant for superconducting electron gun
The University of Wisconsin–Madison has received a $4.5 million grant from the United States Department of Energy Basic Energy Sciences office. The award will fund a research and development project focusing on the fabrication and testing of what is called an electron gun for a free electron laser (FEL) - a several-football-fields-long light source, an immense instrument whose light would be used by researchers across a range of disciplines for their experiments. Read More