Category Science & Technology
Town hall meeting set on study of state-owned heating and cooling plants
A town hall meeting detailing the progress of a study on state-owned heating and cooling facilities in Madison will be held Tuesday, June 17, from 5:30-8:30 p.m. in the Mechanical Engineering Building at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Curiosities: Why does the sky turn green before a tornado?
Scott Bachmeier, a research meteorologist at the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies at UW–Madison, says that particles in the air scatter…
Scientific information largely ignored when forming opinions about stem cell research
When forming attitudes about embryonic stem cell research, people are influenced by a number of things. But understanding science plays a negligible role for many people, according to a recent UW–Madison study.
Agent in red wine found to keep hearts young
How, scientists wonder, do the French get away with a clean bill of heart health despite a diet loaded with saturated fats?
Entrepreneurship becoming acceptable, even fashionable, in Wisconsin
With the sixth annual Wisconsin Entrepreneurs' Conference set for June 9-10 in Milwaukee, there are increasing signs the state is becoming a place where entrepreneurs can survive — and even flourish.
Milky Way’s infrared portrait gives new view of galaxy
Astronomers have obtained an entirely new perspective of our home galaxy: a complete mosaic portrait of the Milky Way in infrared light, a picture that when printed measures 180 feet long by 4 feet wide.
UW-Madison students design ‘disaster’ for Wisconsin rescue training facility
When University of Wisconsin–Madison civil and environmental engineering students Dan Zignego, Jake Varnes, Bill Schmitz and Nick Bobinski began a design project meant to be the crowning glory of their educational careers, they never thought it would turn into such a disaster.
Green highways: Research targets environmentally friendly asphalts
For those hoping to create a greener world, our country's millions of miles of asphalt roads may seem like an odd place to seek solutions. Yet, it's precisely because asphalt is so common that we have much to gain from making it more eco-friendly, says University of Wisconsin–Madison civil engineering professor Hussain Bahia.
Curiosities: Are there years when dandelions are more plentiful?
Mark Renz, Extension weed scientist at UW–Madison’s Department of Agronomy, says that varying environmental conditions ensure that virtually all plants, including dandelions,…
New exchange program to build bridges between UW and India
Although still recovering from jet lag, a group of 15 undergraduate students from India are getting situated in various labs across the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus, where they will spend the summer conducting research.
Hartwell fellowship aids childhood asthma research
Postdoctoral fellow Lisa Lenertz spends her days at the University of Wisconsin–Madison studying how one protein, critical for proper immune function, moves from the inside to the surface of white blood cells.
At the synapse: Gene may shed light on neurological disorders
In a recent finding, UW–Madison researchers describe a gene that controls the proper development of synapses, explaining how they work and why they sometimes go wrong.
Nobel laureate establishes symposium to inspire young scientists
As an undergraduate student at Oxford University in the 1940s, Oliver Smithies attended a series of lectures by Linus Pauling, one of the most influential chemists of the 20th century. It was a powerful experience, one that sparked the young scientist's ambitions and helped launch his own eminent career.
Astronomers witness the birth of a supernova
An international team of astronomers, acting on a tip from a NASA satellite that serves as an early warning system for the most violent astronomical events, has caught a supernova in the act.
African dust forecast may help hurricane season predictions
As the official June 1 start of the Atlantic hurricane season approaches, forecasters are developing predictions about the severity of this year's season. For the first time this year, African dust may provide a piece of this puzzle.
Gypsy Moth spraying planned for campus and Arboretum
Aerial spraying to protect trees and forests from the potentially defoliating effects of the invasive gypsy moth could begin in Wisconsin within the next two weeks.
Recent sightings: Bugged
Kindergarteners experience hands-on learning and exploration during a UW–Madison Insect Ambassadors program held at C.H. Bird Elementary School in Sun Prairie…
Two UW–Madison researchers receive Shaw Awards
Innovative research that could help develop drugs to treat disorders such as epilepsy and cardiac arrhythmias, and a novel approach to advancing the understanding of how breast cancer cells lose the ability to respond positively to anti-estrogen therapy won two University of Wisconsin–Madison scientists 2008 Shaw Scientists Awards.
Alumna to ‘mix it up’ on the Food Network
Mary Nolan, a 2004 graduate in journalism, will star in the Food Network’s Chic & Easy, a cooking show that focuses on creating elegant dishes that are accessible and simple to make. The show debuts Sunday, May 18.
Geography students put local foods on the map
As temperatures warm, farm fields begin to green and outdoor farmers' markets get under way, the time is ripe for thinking about local foods. For Madison residents, finding locally produced foods is now just a mouse click away.