Tag Research
Carbon nanotubes may cheaply harvest sunlight
A new alternative energy technology relies on the element most associated with climate change: carbon. Read More
Research expenditures jump, UW–Madison retains top ranking
According to statistics compiled by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the University of Wisconsin–Madison is the nation's third largest research university as measured by dollars spent on research. Read More
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
High-speed genetic analysis looks deep inside primate immune system
Viruses such as HIV and influenza take safe harbor in cells, where they cannot be recognized directly by the immune system. The immune response relies on infected cells announcing the presence of the virus by studding their exterior with fragments of the virus lurking within. 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
Researcher studies monkeys in Africa to better understand virus evolution
Despite the importance of AIDS in human health, scientists still know very little about the diversity and ecology of AIDS-like viruses in nature. Read More
Survey: Broad support for biofuels in Wisconsin, but clear partisan differences
Although almost two-thirds of Wisconsinites support the use and production of biofuels, less than half think the government should subsidize their development, according to a new study by University of Wisconsin–Madison researchers. Read More
Digital revolution is happening outside the classroom
The way we learn is changing, but schools are having trouble keeping up. While technology dominates daily life and work, it still plays a limited role in public schools filled with students who are increasingly learning outside the classroom with help from cell phones, computers and video games, says Rich Halverson, a professor of educational leadership and policy analysis and co-author of the new book “Rethinking Education in the Age of Technology.” 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
UW-Madison researchers ranked among world’s top 20 universities
A recent assessment of the research impact of scientists at more than 4,000 universities around the world ranked those at the University of Wisconsin–Madison No. 20. 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
Federal grants power research on computer games and learning
A research team at the University of Wisconsin–Madison recently won $4.5 million in federal grants to study computer games and learning. Read More
Was mighty T. rex ‘Sue’ felled by a lowly parasite?
A new study, published today (Sept. 29) in the online journal Public Library of Science One, provides evidence that ‘Sue,’ the mighty Tyrannosaurus rex whose fossilized remains are a star attraction of the Field Museum in Chicago, was felled by a lowly parasite that still afflicts modern birds. 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
Capturing tomorrow’s satellite data with today’s instruments
A satellite that won't be launched into orbit until 2015 is already paying dividends for an advanced weather research project. Read More
Smaller isn’t always better: Catalyst simulations could lower fuel cell cost
Imagine a car that runs on hydrogen from solar power and produces water instead of carbon emissions. While vehicles like this won't be on the market anytime soon, University of Wisconsin–Madison researchers are making incremental but important strides in the fuel cell technology that could make clean cars a reality. 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