Category Science & Technology
Mercury levels in fish fluctuate along with water levels in lakes
A new study has found that when droughts cause water levels to drop, the levels of mercury found in fish also plummet. In wetter weather, water levels rise and levels of mercury in fish increase. Read More
NOAA plan to improve weather forecasting includes UW–Madison
Neil Jacobs, assistant secretary of commerce for environmental observation and prediction at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), visited Madison to gather input and lay out a vision to improve U.S. weather forecasts to better meet the needs of society. Read More
Implantable device aids weight loss
New battery-free, easily implantable weight-loss devices developed by engineers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison could offer a promising new weapon for battling the bulge. Read More
Black youths less protected from antisocial behaviors than white peers
New research assesses the developmental trajectories of antisocial behaviors in both black and white youths. Read More
Watch comet 46P/Wirtanen, discovered by a Wisconsinite, as it nears Earth
The comet, discovered by Kenosha native Carl Wirtanen, a well-regarded hunter of astronomical objects and surveyor of the Milky Way in the 20th century, will make its closest approach to Earth on Dec. 16. Read More
Tour WID’s new ‘hubs’ designed to spur campus collaborations Dec. 12
The Wisconsin Institute for Discovery will launch a suite of hubs designed to bring together researchers from across campus and provide access to specialized tools and resources. Read More
Taming turbulence: Seeking to make complex simulations a breeze
An improved model will more easily address previously intractable problems for understanding phenomena such as star formation and the dynamics of galaxies without the need for expensive supercomputers. Read More
New gene editing tool drives stem cell services and discovery
At just two-and-a-half years old, the University of Wisconsin–Madison Human Stem Cell Gene Editing Service is already contemplating expansion, partly because of demand for a new gene editing tool called CRISPR-Cas9. Read More
Humans may be reversing the climate clock, by 50 million years
According to a new study, Earth climates by 2150 could compare to the warm and mostly ice-free Eocene, an epoch that characterized the globe 50 million years ago. Read More
Students to showcase biomedical engineering projects Friday
The problem-solving abilities of 64 teams of students will be on display Friday. The projects run the gamut from assistive devices to analytical tools, from surgical aids to a radiation shield. Read More
Advanced alloy firm cuts costs with help from UW’s ‘lean operations’ expertise
Winsert Inc., a Marinette, Wisconsin, supplier of high-tech metal and parts to manufacturers around the globe, continues to gain from its longstanding relationship with Engineering Professional Development at UW–Madison. Read More
Forget ‘needle in a haystack.’ Try finding an invasive species in a lake.
A new study may explain why the tiny and invasive spiny water flea passed undetected in Lake Mendota, one of the most-studied lakes in the world, for a decade. Read More
Reaching for the stars: 50 years of space astronomy
In December 1968, the world’s first autonomous space-based astronomical observatory carried seven telescopes from UW–Madison, designed and built by a plucky band of scientists in an unassuming warehouse on South Park Street. Read More
Where the ocean meets the sky, chemists look for clues to our climate
Chemists at the University of Wisconsin–Madison are studying how our past, present and future climates are affected by a complex aerosol made up of seawater, air and bits of organic matter from the organisms that call the ocean home. Read More
Biomanufacturing projects stepping out at UW–Madison
The Forward BIO Institute institute aims at making Wisconsin a Midwestern hub of the ongoing merger of pharmaceuticals, medical devices and cutting-edge tissue engineering. Read More
Five questions with Su-Chun Zhang, forger of brain cells
In light of the 20th anniversary of James Thomson’s derivation of human embryonic stem cells, we had some questions for one of the founders of stem cell neuroscience. Read More
Two UW–Madison professors named AAAS Fellows
Donata Oertel and Chang-Beom Eom are among 416 fellows recognized for their scientifically or socially distinguished efforts to advance science or its applications. Read More
Switching identities: Revolutionary insulator-like material also conducts electricity
The new material could lay the groundwork for ultrafast electronic devices, such as the cellphones and computers of the future. Most importantly, the material remained stable and retained its unique characteristics. Read More
Study calls for curbing congestion by building fewer roads
By funding public transportation, limiting parking and preserving the walkability of neighborhoods, a UW-based think tank argues, cities and states can reduce congestion generated by new development better than if they only plan for cars. Read More
NOAA listening session to focus on weather research, forecasting improvements
“It’s an honor to have NOAA leadership visiting campus,” says Associate Vice Chancellor Steve Ackerman. “It acknowledges our history and expertise in this area of science and recognizes that we have important contributions to make." Read More