Category Science & Technology
‘Mini conference’ on Wisconsin Union Initiative set for Feb. 25
The Wisconsin Union announces a “mini conference” to formally kick off the start of the Wisconsin Union Initiative, a project to build a new “green” south campus union and restore and upgrade Memorial Union. Read More
Genetic pathway critical to disease, aging found
The same chemical reaction that causes iron to rust plays a similarly corrosive role in our bodies. Oxidative stress chips away at healthy cells and is a process, scientists know, that contributes to a host of diseases and conditions in humans ranging from Alzheimer's, heart disease and stroke to cancer and the inexorable process of aging. Read More
Symposium opens world of research opportunity
With 10 years and hundreds of research projects in its history, the Undergraduate Symposium has been instrumental in showcasing undergraduates’ hard work. It’s also opened participants’ eyes to the possibilities of research — and even led some to continue the work they started with the event. Read More
Hot subjects—Civil and Environmental Engineering 679: Travel Behavior Analysis
From the moment people step outside their homes to the moment they return, civil and environmental engineering professor Jessica Guo is… Read More
Two UW–Madison engineers elected to national academy
Two University of Wisconsin–Madison College of Engineering faculty members are among the 65 engineers and nine foreign associates elected to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) in 2008. Read More
Hot subjects—Horticulture 375: Organic Agriculture Colloquium
After two years of teaching an experimental colloquium on organic farming, horticulture professor Jim Nienhuis is no longer surprised by the diversity of majors interested in his class. Read More
The key to quieter Atlantic hurricane seasons may be blowing in the wind
Every year, storms over West Africa disturb millions of tons of dust and strong winds carry those particles into the skies over the Atlantic. According to a recent study led by University of Wisconsin–Madison atmospheric scientists, this dust from Africa directly affects ocean temperature, a key ingredient in Atlantic hurricane development. Read More
Study: Religion colors Americans’ views of nanotechnology
Addressing scientists in Boston Feb. 15 at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Dietram Scheufele, a professor of life sciences communication, presented new survey results that show religion exerts far more influence on public views of technology in the United States than in Europe. Read More
Edil receives Turkish science award
In a January ceremony held at the presidential palace in Ankara, Turkey, and attended by Turkish dignitaries, including the president, president of the parliament, prime minister, cabinet ministers, university presidents, and others, University of Wisconsin–Madison Civil and Environmental Engineering Professor Tuncer Edil received the Special Science Award from the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey. Read More
Researchers promote coexistence of wolves, people
For almost a decade, Adrian Treves, an animal behaviorist and ecologist, and Lisa Naughton, a social scientist, have worked closely with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to address the challenges of living with wolves, especially the losses of livestock and hunting dogs that inevitably result. Read More
Faculty conflict of interest issues probed at WARF Gilson Discovery Series
Conflicts of interest for university faculty members who start their own companies will be the subject of a panel discussion on Monday, Feb. 18 at 5 p.m. at the University of Wisconsin–Madison Fluno Center, 601 University Avenue. Read More
Catheterized system wins annual student creativity prize
A catheterized system to sense bladder pressure and control urine flow to prevent incontinence won the $10,000 top prize in the Schoofs Prize for Creativity, an annual University of Wisconsin–Madison invention competition. Read More
Recent sightings: Icy test drive
Photo: Jeff Miller An underwater robot is lowered by crane into an opening cut in the ice covering… Read More
Curiosities: Why do we need leap days?
Leap days appear every four years or so, including this year, and they are needed because one orbit around the sun does not occur in an exact number of days, says Jim Lattis, director of UW Space Place, in the UW–Madison astronomy department. Read More
Open forums seek campus, community views on next chancellor
Three public forums designed to elicit campus and community perspectives on the qualities and talents needed in the University of Wisconsin–Madison's next chancellor will be held during the coming month. Read More
Foundation awards grants to six states to improve addiction treatment
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) has awarded $2.2 million in grants to six state-provider partnerships through Advancing Recovery: State/Provider Partnerships for Quality Addiction Care, the foundation's initiative to improve the quality of alcohol and drug addiction treatment in the United States by promoting the use of evidence-based practices. Read More
Undergraduate inventors to compete Feb. 11 and 12
Coming soon to the University of Wisconsin–Madison: new solutions for ice fishermen, potato farmers, tailgaters, laptop junkies and airlines - all invented by undergraduates. Read More
Hot subjects—BSE 375: ‘Biorefining: Energy and Products from Renewable Resources’
Solving the energy crisis has been the topic of conversation for consumers, researchers and politicians alike, particularly since the price of oil reached $100 a barrel earlier this month. Read More
Photo, seismograph from Mendota ‘Ice Quake’ posted
The shaking felt Thursday afternoon in areas near Lake Mendota was most likely an ice quake, according to University of Wisconsin–Madison geologists. A tremor was recorded by a geology department seismometer at 12:50 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008, and lasted approximately two or three seconds. Read More