Category Science & Technology
Building green for less green: Design team plans lower-cost, energy-efficient housing
A team of faculty, students and community organizations is out to construct a new reality: green housing that can also be affordable. Read More
Stem cell therapy rescues motor neurons in ALS model
In a study that demonstrates the promise of cell-based therapies for diseases that have proved intractable to modern medicine, a team of scientists from the University of Wisconsin–Madison has shown it is possible to rescue the dying neurons characteristic of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a fatal neuromuscular disorder also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Read More
West Madison urban horticulture field day set for Aug. 18
Want to make your green thumb even greener? Stop by the Urban Horticulture Field Day at the University of Wisconsin–Madison's West Madison Agricultural Research Station, on Saturday, August 18, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Read More
‘Glass menagerie:’ Museum unearths exotic stash of glass sea creatures
An ordinary mid-summer stroll through Noland Hall in 2005 led Paula Holahan to an extraordinary discovery: box after box filled with a sea of intricate glass sculptures of marine invertebrate animals. Read More
Friends, colleagues remember the late Denice Denton
When Denice Denton arrived at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the winter of 1987, she was the lone female faculty member in the College of Engineering. Nine years later, she left the university an internationally recognized researcher, teacher, mentor and, above all, champion of the underdog and on her way to becoming the first female engineering dean at a major research university. Read More
UW-Madison receives academic technology excellence award
The University of Wisconsin–Madison has been named as a 2007 Center of Excellence, the highest honor bestowed by the national New Media Consortium (NMC). The award recognizes UW–Madison's demonstrated excellence and outstanding achievement in the application of technology to learning or creative expression. Read More
Curiosities: Why do flowers smell, and why do plants smell, too?
The luscious aroma of flowers attracts lovers, and the biological role of that smell is similar: to attract pollinators. “Plants need to attract insects,… Read More
Synthetic garnets made by Chancellor Wiley displayed at Geology Museum
In a small, freestanding case near the entrance of the University of Wisconsin–Madison Geology Museum, you might notice a familiar name next to two faintly yellow gems. Read More
UW-Madison shares in national IT award
An information technology project in which the University of Wisconsin–Madison played a key role is the winner of a major award for excellence. Read More
Phosphorus management system balances farms, water quality
At any given spot in Wisconsin, chances are that you're not far from a lake or a farm, or both - but the combination is not always a harmonious one. The future of both may hinge on proper management of an essential element: phosphorus. Read More
Curiosities: How well do dogs see at night?
A lot better than we do, says Paul Miller, clinical professor of comparative ophthalmology at University of Wisconsin–Madison. “Dogs have evolved… Read More
Fifty years and counting: The Wisconsin Longitudinal Study
Lee Schoenecker doesn't recall filling out a survey 50 years ago about his plans after high school, yet this long-forgotten event has stayed with him ever since. Because of it, the retired urban planner has spent many more hours being surveyed both by telephone and written questionnaire. He recently provided a sample of DNA. Even his wife and siblings have become involved. Read More
WLS: The long-term study that almost wasn’t
It's now one of the longest social science investigations ever. Yet, at the beginning, the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (WLS) wasn't meant to last. Read More
Recent sightings: Science learning with a big bang
A group of high school students from the univeristy’s Pre-college Enrichment Opportunity Program for Learning Excellence (PEOPLE) react to the big… Read More
Researchers studying fantasy baseball and ‘competitive fandom’
Erica and Rich Halverson aren't just spending the summer running their fantasy baseball teams. The University of Wisconsin–Madison assistant professors are also studying fantasy leagues, including their own, in a new research project aimed at understanding how both expert and novice players approach the game and what it can teach us about how people learn. Read More
Study finds variable drug sensitivity among hepatitis C viruses
A new study from the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Medicine and Public Health offers promise for a double-duty treatment that may provide both immune suppression and anti-HCV activity in a single drug. Read More
Catching the insect bug: Insect Ambassadors spread their fascination with the six-legged world
When he was in seventh grade, Mike Hillstrom was happiest when he was playing with bugs. A dozen years later, it's still true. But now the bugs are a lot bigger and more exotic. And technically, he's not just playing. Read More
Statement on NBAF short list announcement
Chancellor John D. Wiley expresses diappointment with the decision of the U.S. departments of Homeland Security and Agriculture to not include Wisconsin on its list for consideration for the National Bio- and Agro-defense Facility (NBAF). Read More
Soil particles found to boost prion’s capacity to infect
The rogue proteins that cause chronic wasting disease (CWD) exhibit a dramatic increase in their infectious nature when bound to common soil particles, according to a new study. Read More