Category Science & Technology
Class analysis gives initial green light to green energy in Waterloo
A “capstone class” taught at the Wisconsin Energy Institute is helping the Wisconsin city of Waterloo evaluate whether it could generate all its electricity from renewable sources on city-owned land. Read More
UW–Madison adopts drone use policy
The policy will help researchers and instructors on campus meet the FAA rules for flying unmanned aircraft systems — better known as aerial drones — while also helping to protect privacy. Read More
New course will teach students how to fly drones, collect data
This summer, the UW–Madison College of Engineering added a new way for students to navigate the skies: a course on drones. Read More
Like valium for fish? UW–Madison discovery aims to solve stress in fish farms
A University of Wisconsin–Madison group that discovered a way to improve survival in fish farms has begun to unravel the mechanism behind their unexpected finding. Read More
Finding useful chemicals from fungi, faster
Fungi are rich sources of natural molecules for drug discovery, but many challenges have pushed pharmaceutical companies away from tapping into this bounty. Now scientists… Read More
Machine learning can detect a genetic disorder from speech recordings
Researchers accurately identified individuals with a genetic condition known as fragile X premutation, linked to neurodegenerative disorders, infertility or having a child with fragile X syndrome. Read More
Five finalists in Governor’s Business Plan Contest have UW–Madison ties
Five of the 13 finalists in the 2017 Governor’s Business Plan Contest have roots at UW–Madison. A business that makes an assist device to orient firefighters in smoky fire scenes won. Read More
Celestial boondocks: Study supports the idea that we live in a void
An undergraduate's work confirms we live in a hole in the cosmos, and sheds light on how we measure the rate at which the universe is expanding. Read More
WARF and UW–Madison ranked sixth among universities in U.S. utility patents in 2016
The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF), which serves as the designated patent management organization for the University of Wisconsin–Madison, moved up to sixth place among the Top 100 Worldwide Universities which were granted U.S. utility patents in 2016. Read More
Newly identified gene helps time spring flowering in vital grass crops
The discovery may help plant breeders and engineers get more from food and energy crops. Read More
Rediscovered mosses document changing Wisconsin landscape
The Wisconsin State Herbarium at the University of Wisconsin–Madison has discovered a collection of more than 2,000 mosses from the turn of the 20th century, lost to time in a cabinet inside Birge Hall, where the herbarium is housed. Read More
$1M grant to boost engineering education at College of Menominee Nation
A $1 million grant will help the College of Menominee Nation and UW–Madison enhance their collaboration and ultimately educate more Native students in STEM disciplines. Read More
Bacteria may supercharge the future of wastewater treatment
Wastewater from our sinks, toilets, showers and washing machines can be turned into valuable products with the help of scientists and unique bacteria. Read More
Stem cells yield nature’s blueprint for body’s vasculature
A team led by Igor Slukvin, a University of Wisconsin–Madison professor, describes the developmental pathway that gives rise to the different types of cells that make up human vasculature. Read More
Government transparency limited when it comes to America’s conserved private lands
“It’s difficult or impossible to advance planning, monitoring and evaluation without good information about where private land conservation is happening,” says UW researcher Adena Rissman. Read More
Cultural value of natural world doesn’t depend only on species diversity
Researcher Rose Graves' work in North Carolina has implications for other regions with deep ties to nature, such as lake- and forest-filled Wisconsin. Read More
30-year collaboration earns UW climatologist China’s top science honor
University of Wisconsin–Madison climatologist John Kutzbach has been awarded China’s highest scientific honor for foreigners in recognition of 30 years of collaboration that has advanced both American and Chinese climate science. Read More
UW, GE Healthcare team up to improve medical imaging, patient outcomes
A multi-decade relationship between UW–Madison and GE Healthcare has created a stream of medical imaging inventions that look inside the human body with increasing accuracy. Read More
Triple play boosting value of renewable fuel could tip market in favor of biomass
Technologies for converting non-edible biomass into chemicals and fuels traditionally made from petroleum exist aplenty. But when it comes to attracting commercial interest, these technologies compete financially with a petroleum-based production pipeline that has been perfected over the course of decades. Read More
UW researchers recognized for smartphone app aimed at preventing substance abuse relapse
A UW–Madison research team was selected as one of seven finalists in Harvard’s Innovation in American Government competition, for its work in creating a smartphone application that helps people recover from addiction to alcohol and other substances. Read More