Category Science & Technology
Two UW–Madison teams chosen 2021 WARF Innovation Award winners
Researchers who created a device for detecting explosives and a cross-disciplinary group working at the frontiers of medicine and nanotechnology have taken top honors from the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation.
In a busy and productive 2021 for UW–Madison research, these stories stood out
University Communications covered a range of insightful, fun and important research developments. The writers who brought you those stories chose these as particularly memorable.
Search underway for new agricultural and life sciences dean
Kate VandenBosch has served as dean since 2012 and will be stepping down at the end of this academic year. Troy Runge, a professor and department chair in Biological Systems Engineering, is chairing the search committee.
Two UW researchers named National Academy of Inventors fellows
The NAI program recognized Thomas R. “Rock” Mackie and Bulent Sarlioglu for "creating or facilitating outstanding inventions that have made a tangible impact on the quality of life, economic development, and the welfare of society.”
Seizures and memory problems in epilepsy may have a common cause
A new study could lead to earlier diagnosis of epilepsy and possibly new ways to treat epilepsy and other disorders that share symptoms, like Alzheimer’s disease, traumatic brain injury and autism spectrum disorder.
An Indigenous story map experience about water
A new website created by a Wisconsin Sea Grant intern in partnership with the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission details what Indigenous communities in the Upper Midwest are doing to conserve and protect water.
UW teams up with NFL on research designed to reduce head injuries in athletes
Researchers will collect data from high-tech mouthguard sensors that measure impact speed, direction, force, location and severity of head impacts.
Student’s innovative climate research could change building design
“By the end of the 21st century, building cooling in Madison will be very similar to Montgomery, Alabama,” says Nelson Institute graduate student Gesangyangji. That startling realization motivated her to research how projected climate data can inform building energy design.
Donohue to lead Wisconsin Energy Institute
Tim Donohue, a professor of bacteriology, has led the institute as interim director since 2017. WEI provides leadership in energy and clean technology research, scholarship, education and outreach.
Magellanic Stream arcing over Milky Way may be five times closer than previously thought
The stars in the Magellanic Stream have eluded researchers for decades. But a new study suggests that they may have simply been looking in the wrong place.
Two UW–Madison seniors were finalists this year for the Rhodes Scholarship
Qianyun (Lexi) Luo and Hawra Aljawad reached the final stage of competition for one of the most prestigious and selective undergraduate academic honors in the world.
Promising treatment for Alexander disease moves from rat model to human clinical trials
The rare neurological disorder has no cure and is typically fatal, but a study led by UW–Madison researchers is a significant step in efforts to help people with the disease.
Chemists discover new way to harness energy from ammonia
"To be able to complete the ammonia-to-nitrogen reaction under ambient conditions — and get energy — is a pretty big deal,” says chemistry Professor John Berry.
UW team among winners of Musk Foundation’s XPRIZE for Carbon Removal Student Competition
The contest is kickstarting projects that could mitigate the impacts of climate change by removing carbon dioxide from the air, ground and oceans.
COVID questions: Thanksgiving; boosters
This ongoing series answers questions about COVID-19 and the pandemic. Today: Should we feel OK traveling for the holiday? Is it safe to mix the vaccines?
Moderna COVID-19 vaccine pediatric clinical trial to focus on ages 6 months to 5 years
“This is the final frontier. Our very youngest children need to get the vaccine and we need to make sure they are safe,” says Bill Hartman, co-principal investigator of the KidCOVE clinical trial at UW–Madison.
Call for proposals in second round of Research Forward initiative
In its recent and historic annual gift announcement in support of the University of Wisconsin–Madison, the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation designated $10.5 million to…
40-year map project, History of Cartography, draws to a close
The series brings together cutting-edge research and a colorful collection of stories and histories told through maps. It has drawn international attention to the history of maps and mapping.
Concrete canoe co-presidents discuss construction and community
Who knew that designing and constructing a canoe made out of concrete could create such a sense of community?
Action video games make players better learners of visual, memory tasks
Results of a study led by C. Shawn Green, a psychology professor at UW–Madison, will help researchers understand how gaming creates some of its well-documented positive effects.