Category State & Global
UW-built instrument will enhance views of distant galaxies
A near-infrared spectrograph, which splits light into its individual colors to form a rainbow-like spectrum, will soon be shipped to South Africa from UW–Madison. Custom-built here by staff in the Washburn Astronomical Laboratories, it will expand the capabilities of the Southern African Large Telescope. Read More
Helen Faith elected to chair National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators
UW–Madison’s director of student financial aid has worked to continue expanding access and affordability to Wisconsin students, and is a leader in policy, practice and funding for student financial aid. Read More
New UW–Madison research projects to benefit Great Lakes
Wisconsin Sea Grant announced 12 new two-year research projects worth $2.8 million that build Great Lakes understanding, leading to science-based management and policy decisions. Six are at UW–Madison. Read More
Despite adversity, recent graduate ‘never had any doubt’ she would earn degree
Reagan Patrowicz was seriously injured when she was struck by a car during her sophomore year, but she went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in geography at winter commencement. Read More
Coral skeleton formation rate determines resilience to acidifying oceans
A new UW–Madison study has implications for predicting coral reef survival and developing mitigation strategies against having their bony skeletons weakened by ocean acidification. Read More
Microbes help hibernating animals recycle nutrients, maintain muscle through winter
The discovery could help people with muscle-wasting disorders and even astronauts on extended space voyages by putting space travelers into a hibernation-like state. Read More
Current anti-COVID pills work well against omicron, but antibody drugs are less effective
Public health officials expect antiviral pills to become an increasingly common treatment for COVID-19 that will reduce the severity of the disease in at-risk patients and decrease the burden of the pandemic. Read More
Cannabis marketers targeting kids on social media, despite prohibitions
A new study led by the UW School of Medicine and Public Health finds many recreational cannabis companies market their products in a way that appeals to children and teens, despite state-based regulations prohibiting it. Read More
UW alum helped pack James Webb telescope for space travel
Wei-Di Cheng, a 1993 engineering graduate, analyzed mechanical ground systems to propose, design, fabricate, test and deliver ground systems to support spacecraft and payload integration. Read More
UW–Madison partners with regional leaders to launch Midwest Climate Collaborative
The MCC is a network of organizations committed to accelerating climate action in the Midwest by leveraging research, shaping public understanding, advancing solutions and developing future leaders. Read More
Omicron causes less severe illness in animal models than previous variants
The findings, published in the journal Nature, align with preliminary data from studies of people infected with the variant and offer insight into the nature of the disease with omicron. Read More
Researchers seeking study participants to lose weight — by phone
Log2Lose, an 18-month study, aims to help people build habits for a healthier lifestyle by sending them motivational text messages and providing an app to keep track of what they eat. Read More
UW–Madison researchers lead effort to create a universal coronavirus vaccine
If the world already had a pan-coronavirus vaccine in March 2020, it could have served as a mitigation tool until vaccines specific to SARS-CoV-2 could be developed. Read More
Video: From weather to wonder
The Wonders of Physics traveling show is back in action at schools and public events. It is now presented by UW–Madison outreach specialist Haddie McLean, a former TV meteorologist. In this video, she visits Pecatonica Elementary School. Read More
Need a New Year’s resolution? Read a book a day. This undergrad did.
Kyla Vaughan, a double-major in English and history, attributes her accomplishment to being a naturally fast reader and making reading a priority. Read More
Name pronunciation feature added to Canvas
“Taking the time to learn and correctly pronounce a person’s name is one simple — and important — way to respect and honor their identity,” says Gabe Javier, associate vice chancellor for student affairs in the areas of identity and inclusion. Read More
Key to a better 2022: Set goals, not resolutions
A UW Health psychologist says the blank slate of a new year can be a great opportunity for people to reset and create a different kind of future for themselves. Read More
Joanna Wang named program executive for Administrative Transformation Program
With 20 years of success in project management, process improvement, IT operations and enterprise resource planning, Wang joins the multi-year initiative to modernize UW human resources, finance and research administration. Read More
Mysterious ‘blue lurker’ stars likely got a spin boost by absorbing their partners
The stars, discovered a few years ago, were spinning far too quickly given their age. Nicknamed “blue lurkers,” they hid for decades within clusters of other stars. Read More
Balancing personal and community risk with the omicron variant
Devlin Cole of the UW School of Medicine and Public Health says, "Wear a mask, get vaccinated and boosted … you can still go out and do the things you want to do, but it’s going to take a bit more planning." Read More