Tag College of Agricultural and Life Sciences

Sequences capture the code of the common cold

February 12, 2009

In an effort to confront our most familiar malady, scientists have deciphered the instruction manual for the common cold.

Two-step chemical process turns raw biomass into biofuel

February 10, 2009

Taking a chemical approach, researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison have developed a two-step method to convert the cellulose in raw biomass into a promising biofuel. The process, which is described in the Wednesday, Feb. 11 issue of the Journal of the American Chemical Society, is unprecedented in its use of untreated, inedible biomass as the starting material.

Paper industry executive to lead Wisconsin Bioenergy Initiative

February 3, 2009

Troy Runge, research director at Kimberly-Clark Corp., has been named director of the Wisconsin Bioenergy Initiative (WBI).

CALS hosts Wisconsin Agricultural Economic Outlook Forum on Jan. 16

December 30, 2008

Get a first look at the 2009 Status of Wisconsin Agriculture report and learn more about the emerging issues and opportunities of Wisconsin agriculture.

Student’s vision comes to life in Honduras

December 29, 2008

One of the failings of university learning is that the work of students is often left on the shelf. Assignments, though faithfully completed, rarely make it out of the theoretical.

Q&A: Professor provides analysis of work on nanotechnology research

December 10, 2008

Life sciences communication professor Dietram Scheufele provides Wisconsin Week with a more in-depth look at his research on nanotechnology and religion.

For nano, religion in U.S. dictates a wary view

December 8, 2008

When it comes to the world of the very, very small - nanotechnology - Americans have a big problem: Nano and its capacity to alter the fundamentals of nature, it seems, are failing the moral litmus test of religion.

Researchers examine role of soil patterns in dam restoration

December 3, 2008

Looking at the site today, it's easy to forget that a dam and pond stood for 43 years on the University of Wisconsin–Madison's Franbrook Farm Research Station in southwestern Wisconsin. All traces of the structure are gone, and acres of plants, both native and weedy, now carpet the floor of the former basin.

Poll shows Wisconsin residents support wetlands protection

December 2, 2008

Wisconsin residents are concerned about the destruction of the state's remaining wetlands but don't know much about the wetland types that are most threatened, according to a recent statewide poll.

Certificate program to enhance engineers’ liberal arts education

November 13, 2008

Next fall, a few UW–Madison professors hope to show engineering students that they have a bigger place in the non-engineering parts of campus.

Stealth drug idea snags Gates Foundation support

November 12, 2008

A proposal to create a stealth drug, one that remains cloaked inside a cell until activated by a pathogen, has snared a high-profile $100,000 award from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

For food industry leaders, a meeting worth its salt

November 5, 2008

It's no secret that Americans eat too much salt, a habit linked to numerous health problems. At first glance, the solution seems simple: stop eating so much of the stuff. But, as it turns out, salt-a.k.a. sodium chloride-can't easily be cut from the American diet.

School for beginning market vegetable growers set for January

October 29, 2008

Aspiring fresh market vegetable growers can learn the fundamentals of the business from veteran growers and other experts at the 2009 Wisconsin School for Beginning Market Growers, Jan. 16-18, on the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus.

New professional courses on greenhouses, garden and landscape industries

October 10, 2008

If your career or career plans involve greenhouses, landscaping, garden centers and related industries, you might want to consider a set of new continuing education classes offered through the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Symposium looks at challenge of producing more food on a smaller carbon footprint

October 7, 2008

On the day before World Food Day, a group of agricultural leaders will gather to discuss how technology can be harnessed to meet the world's need for food, fiber and fuel while reducing their industry's carbon footprint.

Monsanto supports UW plant breeding with $1 million fellowship gift

September 18, 2008

Monsanto Co. has made a $1 million gift to support plant breeding and genetics in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

UW-Madison brews up a good relationship with MillerCoors

September 15, 2008

MillerCoors has donated a complete set of pilot-scale brewing equipment to the University of Wisconsin–Madison bacteriology department.

New book explains food science in easy-to-digest bites

September 11, 2008

Ever wonder how marshmallow Peeps are made? Or why the bacteria known as probiotics are good for you? Or perhaps why a few grains of uncooked rice are sometimes added to salt shakers?

University encouraged to ‘eat local’

September 5, 2008

Members of the university community are being encouraged to participate in the Wisconsin Eat Local Challenge today (Sept. 5) through Sunday, Sept. 14, by spending at least 10 percent of their food budgets on locally grown and raised Wisconsin food during that 10-day period.

The biology of obesity: Do these genes make me look fat?

August 15, 2008

Scientists are probing the complex relationship between our DNA and our diets to unravel the root causes of obesity. But for those seeking a simple solution to the worldwide fat epidemic, their answers may be hard to swallow.