Category State & Global
Report: Wisconsin poverty rate rises despite jobs growth
The 10th annual Wisconsin Poverty Report found the Wisconsin poverty rate increased to 10.8 percent in 2016, compared to 9.7 percent in 2015, as measured by the Wisconsin Poverty Measure (WPM). The significant rise came despite the state’s jobs growth during the period.
UW spinoffs win awards, including top honor, at Governor’s Business Plan Contest
The grand prize went to NovoMoto, which packages and sells solar lighting systems under an innovative rent-to-own program in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Hurricanes are slowing down, and that’s bad news
The storms are spending increased time over land, leading to catastrophic local rainfall and flooding, according to a new study by a climate researcher based at UW–Madison.
Barbershop health center will broaden its efforts to reduce health disparities with community grant
Aaron Perry, a former UW–Madison police officer who is living with diabetes, has spent years unraveling the complex relationship between black men and the world-class health care system in Dane County. He founded the non-profit Rebalanced-Life Wellness Association in 2007 to help other black men with diabetes and reduce health disparities in his community.
UW physicists, CERN announce discovery of Higgs boson interactions
This is the first time scientists have measured the Higgs boson’s direct interaction with top quarks. Studying these particles gives clues about the nature of matter and mass in the universe.
Thank the moon for Earth’s lengthening day
A new study that reconstructs the deep history of our planet’s relationship to the moon shows that 1.4 billion years ago, a day on Earth lasted just over 18 hours.
UW collaboration builds resilience in the wake of Hurricane Maria
Shane Hubbard has long been working to help emergency managers and their communities understand their risks with respect to natural hazards so they can develop mitigation plans and manage during severe weather.
Public input sought on state roadmap for global language education
As Wisconsin competes in an increasingly global economy, business and education leaders are seeking feedback on a "language roadmap."
Groundbreaking hearing researcher shares $1 million prize
Robert Fettiplace, who pioneered techniques to better understand the physiology of hearing, is one of the winners of the Kavli Prize in Neuroscience, for work that helped unravel the mysteries hearing and deafness.
The brains behind the traffic: 4 questions for mobility maven
David Noyce, director of the Traffic Operations and Safety Laboratory in the UW–Madison College of Engineering, is at the forefront of efforts to streamline highway and vehicle infrastructure for greater safety and efficiency.
Air Force-backed center to make machine learning more independent, predictable, secure
Much remains mysterious in the realm of machine learning. The next generation of machine learning algorithms is expected to not only bolster national defense capabilities, but also benefit civilians.
UW project asks: What happens to irrigation water in Wisconsin’s Central Sands?
“You can't grow much here without irrigation," says farmer Justin Isherwood, "but we’re not sure how much is enough, and how to leave the same groundwater resource for the next generation."
Fine-tuning a new crop that saves soil, produces grain and forage for cows
A perennial crop called kernza is being tested at the Arlington Agricultural Experimental Station. It's part of an envisioned shift from farming annuals toward toward a one-time tilling and planting of perennials, followed by harvesting forage and grain for years or decades.
Bucky on Parade feature: Dan Gardiner
Artist Dan Gardiner, who's had a long career creating murals, created the "Pucky" and the "Bucky Alvarez" statues as part of Bucky on Parade.
UW programs among Evjue Foundation award recipients
The charitable arm of the Capital Times is providing $370,500 for 30 campus projects and programs in the humanities, science, the arts, health, media and more. The foundation was established by William T. Evjue, the founder and longtime editor of the Madison newspaper.
Work is underway on “The Nick”
A ceremonial groundbreaking event was held May 21 for the Nicholas Recreation Center, which is expected to be completed in 2019.
Surgery residency goes global
The UW surgery department is offering for the first time an elective international rotation. The first participant was a surgery resident, and he has just returned from a month in Ethiopia.
Memories from nearly 50 years of library service at UW
As he retires after working in library services for 47 years, Vice Provost Ed Van Gemert says that libraries are absolutely fundamental to the fabric of our democracy, and library expertise is needed more than ever.
Homo naledi had a tiny brain but it looked a lot like ours
Scientists and nonscientists alike have often associated larger brains with greater intelligence, but a new study may challenge that notion. “Maybe brain size isn’t all it’s cracked up to be,” says John Hawks, one of the study’s corresponding authors.
At Camp Randall, a jubilant, emotional (and dry!) 2018 commencement
During his remarks, keynote speaker David Muir briefly went live on Instagram with a crowd shot on his phone. The audience roared. “That’s the sound of Badgers about to change the world,” Muir said.