Category Science & Technology
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.
New York environmental justice advocate to speak Oct. 24
Peggy Shepard, a prominent environmental and health advocate for minority groups in New York City, will give a free public lecture Wednesday, October 24, at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
UW-Madison faculty contributed to global warming reports that led to Gore’s Nobel
University of Wisconsin–Madison faculty made significant contributions in developing the reports on the implications of global warming that led today (Oct. 12) to the awarding of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize to Vice President Al Gore and the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Study of bacterial communities may provide climate-change clues
A multidisciplinary group of UW–Madison and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign researchers is studying the composition of bacterial communities in humic lakes (bodies of water containing high levels of decaying organic matter) and how these microorganisms respond to changes in their environment.
Curiosities: Why do leaves change color in the fall?
Submitted by Kaela, a sixth-grader at Cherokee Middle School
A gene divided reveals details of natural selection
In a molecular tour de force, researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison have provided an exquisitely detailed picture of natural selection as it occurs at the genetic level.
Primate study shows excess vitamin A can be stored during fetal development
A new University of Wisconsin–Madison study suggests that pregnant women who take some types of vitamin supplements or eat fortified foods may be passing excess vitamin A to their developing fetuses. Reported in the October issue of the Journal of Comparative Medicine, the finding could guide efforts to develop future formulations of vitamins.
Smithies’ work at UW–Madison underpinned Nobel Prize in Medicine
The gene targeting work for which North Carolina biologist Oliver Smithies was recognized for the 2007 Nobel Prize in Medicine has a distinct Wisconsin flavor.
Researchers identify key step bird flu virus takes to spread readily in humans
Since it first appeared in Hong Kong in 1997, the H5N1 avian flu virus has been slowly evolving into a pathogen better equipped to infect humans. The final form of the virus, biomedical researchers fear, will be a highly pathogenic strain of influenza that spreads easily among humans.
Washburn Observatory to close for renovations
Washburn Observatory, which sits along Observatory Drive on the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus, will close at the end of October for remodeling and renovations.
Fight to save celebrated prairie continues
Students from UW–Madison’s general ecology class have joined Arboretum researchers and land managers in an ambitious five-year plan to subdue the spread of invasive reed canary grass in the UW Arboretum’s Greene Prairie.
WARF announces new hires and promotions
The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) has announced promotions for Michael E. Falk and Emily Bauer, and the hires of a communications director, Janet L. Kelly, and two licensing professionals, Craig Heim for start-up companies, and Mark Stoveken for pharmaceutical licensing.
Hot subjects—Physics 206: ‘Seeking Truth: Living with Doubt’
Physics professor Marshall Onellion has a new job title this semester: official tackling dummy for his freshmen students. It’s part of his scheme to provoke controversial discussion and to get his students really thinking. Oddly enough, he’s instigating this debate in a physics class.