Tag College of Letters & Science
Satellite anniversary marks 50 years of studying climate from space
On Oct. 13, 1959, University of Wisconsin–Madison professors Verner Suomi and Robert Parent crouched in a bunker at Cape Canaveral, sweating through the countdown for the Juno II rocket perched on its launching pad 150 yards away. Read More
Banded rocks reveal early Earth conditions, changes
The strikingly banded rocks scattered across the upper Midwest and elsewhere throughout the world are actually ambassadors from the past, offering clues to the environment of the early Earth more than 2 billion years ago. Read More
Scientists hope to mimic nature’s dynamos
In the cosmos, all celestial objects - planets, stars, galaxies and clusters of galaxies - have magnetic fields. On Earth, the magnetic field of our home planet is most easily observed in a compass where the needle points north. Read More
Sand dunes reveal unexpected dryness during heavy monsoon
The windswept deserts of northern China might seem an odd destination for studying the heavy monsoon rains that routinely drench the more tropical regions of Southeast Asia. Read More
Models begin to unravel how single DNA strands combine
Using computer simulations, a team of University of Wisconsin–Madison researchers has identified some of the pathways through which single complementary strands of DNA interact and combine to form the double helix. Read More
New York Times reporter to be science writer in residence
Andrew Revkin, New York Times science reporter and the fall science writer in residence at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, will present a public talk on Thursday, Oct. 8, in the Plenary Room, 1310 Grainger Hall, 975 University Ave. Read More
Wisconsin cautious about Obama health care plan; Milwaukee poised for reform
More Wisconsinites oppose President Barack Obama's health care plan than support it, according to a new poll that also shows a majority of Milwaukee County residents favor a mayoral takeover of the Milwaukee Public Schools. Read More
Poll covers economy, state’s direction, 2010 election
Tom Barrett and Scott Walker have the early edge in hypothetical primary matchups in the 2010 governor's race, according to a new poll in which Wisconsinites also give high levels of support to President Barack Obama but express concern about the direction of state government. Read More
Interdisciplinary conference asks ‘What is human?’
A conference addressing the issue "What is Human?" will be held on campus this week. Read More
New Wisconsin Center of Excellence in Genomics Science established
The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) of the National Institutes of Health today (Sept. 28) announced an $8 million, three-year grant to establish a Wisconsin Center of Excellence in Genomics Science. Read More
Nobel Prize-winning chemist to give Bernstein Lectures
Renowned chemist Ahmed Zewail will give two lectures as part of the University of Wisconsin–Madison Richard B. Bernstein Lectures in Chemistry on Monday, Sept. 28, and Tuesday, Sept. 29. Read More
Department of Geography holds open house
The Department of Geography at the University of Wisconsin–Madison will host an open house at Science Hall on Friday, Sept. 25, for alumni and friends of the department. Read More
UW-Madison undergraduates make unwelcome discovery in Lake Mendota
On Sept. 11, a standard cruise on Lake Mendota's University Bay began for students in University of Wisconsin–Madison's Zoology 315, a course that introduces them to the study of lakes. With the sampling craft Limnos anchored about one-quarter mile offshore on a clear sunny day, four students pulled up a small net and began poking through its contents. Read More
Child psychologist to appear on “Office Hours”
Child psychologist and researcher Jenny Saffran will appear Monday on the Big Ten Network's weekly half-hour talk show "Office Hours" to discuss recent findings in how babies learn language. Read More
Goldstein, WPRI to provide new polling, insight
As part of a new partnership, the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute (WPRI) are joining forces to conduct frequent, detailed polling of Wisconsinites. Read More
Potato blight reveals some secrets as genome is decoded
Late blight caused the 19th century famine that sparked a wave of emigration from Ireland to the United States, but the disease has also infected tomatoes and potatoes this year. Potatoes, the world's fourth-largest food crop, were raised on 65,500 acres in Wisconsin in 2007. If a potato field is not treated with pesticide, late blight can destroy the crop in a few days. Read More
Surgeon returns after five decades to complete elusive bachelor’s degree
Consider the four-year plan, the five-year plan and the not-to-be-forgotten six-year pace to the bachelor's degree, and then get a look at Richard Smith's transcripts. Read More
UW-Madison welcomes new faculty
Alongside the slew of incoming freshmen, another group of new Badgers is making a debut at the University of Wisconsin–Madison this fall. Read More
Science and media disconnect? Maybe not, says a new study
The prevailing wisdom among many scientists and scientific organizations is that, as a rule, scientists are press shy, and those who aren't are mavericks. Read More
Chancellor’s lecture launches Year of the Humanities
A lecture that delves into the songs and sexuality of ancient Greek drinking parties and a talk on the 1989 German revolution that brought down the Berlin Wall are just two events that will mark the Year of the Humanities on the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus. Read More