Category Science & Technology
Deep-sea drilling expedition off Japan seeks earthquake, tsunami causes
Harold Tobin is interested in deep scientific questions, whose answers lie thousands of meters underwater. The UW–Madison geologist studies deep oceanic earthquake faults, which extend miles into the Earth’s crust below the seafloor, to learn what causes earthquakes and tsunamis.
Tool-wielding chimps provide a glimpse of early human behavior
Chimpanzees inhabiting a harsh savanna environment and using bark and stick tools to exploit an underground food resource are giving scientists new insights to the behaviors of the earliest hominids who, millions of years ago, left the African forests to range the same kinds of environments and possibly utilize the same foods.
New test can curb losses of potatoes in storage
UW-Madison researcher Zahi K. Atallah has developed a test that helps farmers identify in their fields potato crops that will not store as long as others, resulting in fewer crop losses.
Recent sightings: Anatomy, labeled
Medical terminology identifies the features of a human skull on a teaching skeleton during a gross anatomy class lab in the Medical…
Curiosities: What determines the colors of the sky at sunrise and sunset?
Photo: Jeff Miller The colors of the sunset result from a phenomenon called scattering, says Steven Ackerman,…
Illustration: The ethical dimensions of global climate change
The two world maps schematically represent the contribution of different nations to global warming, as measured in atmospheric carbon output (top) and…
Computer scientist forges new line of defense against malicious traffic
Paul Barford has watched malicious traffic on the Internet evolve from childish pranks to a billion-dollar "shadow industry" in the last decade, and his profession has largely been one step behind the bad guys.
Two young researchers win White House science award
Two of the University of Wisconsin–Madison's most promising young faculty members have received the highest national honor bestowed upon scientists in the early stages of their careers. The Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) recognize top junior researchers who have demonstrated exceptional potential and leadership at the frontiers of science.
New classes explore environmental film’s mobilizing power
Gregg Mitman believes in the power of a well-told story. This semester the professor of history of science is teaching two new courses on the environment from a cinematic perspective: a class on environmental film in history and a hands-on production class in documentary storytelling.
For students, electric ‘sled’ is good, clean fun in the snow
Thanks to donations from Madison-based foundations and industry, a team of University of Wisconsin–Madison mechanical engineers will have the chance to develop an earth-friendly snowmobile that could facilitate scientific research in Antarctica and Greenland.
Panels examine intersection of science, religion and contemplative practice
The study of the human mind and how the worlds of science, religion and contemplative practice intersect will be explored during two panel discussions in November.
AAAS honors five UW–Madison members
Five University of Wisconsin–Madison faculty and staff members are among the 471 scientists, engineers, educators and communicators who have been selected as fellows by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). The awards are announced in the Oct. 26 issue of Science.
Distinguished engineering alumni honored
In recognition of their outstanding contributions to fields ranging from nanotechnology and information management to medicine, materials and agriculture, the University of Wisconsin–Madison College of Engineering will honor nine influential alumni on Oct. 26 at the 60th annual Engineers' Day celebration.
Open house showcases new science building
Since it opened at the beginning of the school year, the Microbial Sciences Building has been drawing rave reviews from students and researchers who work and study in the new facility.
Researchers examine world’s potential to produce biodiesel
What do the countries of Thailand, Uruguay and Ghana have in common? They all could become leading producers of the emerging renewable fuel known as biodiesel, says a study from the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies.
As Halloween approaches, a food scientist muses on the coming ‘candy season’
In anticipation of the candy season — those sugar-packed months stretching from Halloween through Easter, marked by a succession of candy corn, chocolate turkeys, ribbon candy, candy hearts and chocolate eggs — UW–Madison food scientist Rich Hartel answers some questions about candy and the candy business.
UW center will lead efforts to expand farm-to-school programs in Midwest
The Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems at the University of Wisconsin–Madison has been named as lead agency in a six-state area for a new national program to encourage schools to serve more locally grown food.
New mechanical engineering building set for generations of innovation
When the Mechanical Engineering Building on the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus opened its doors in 1930, sliding chalkboards and concrete floors were among its most innovative features.
Researchers underscore limitations of genetic ancestry tests
Although many people rely on commercially available genetic tests for insights into their ancestry, consumers should be aware of significant limitations in such testing, according to a group of researchers commenting in today's issue of the journal Science.