Tag Research
Diamond catalyst shows promise in breaching age-old barrier
In the world, there are a lot of small molecules people would like to get rid of, or at least convert to something useful, according to University of Wisconsin–Madison chemist Robert J. Hamers. Read More
Waisman scientists model human disease in stem cells
Many scientists use animals to model human diseases. Mice can be obese or display symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Rats get Alzheimer's and diabetes. But animal models are seldom perfect, and so scientists are looking at a relatively new type of stem cell, called the induced pluripotent stem cell (iPS cell), that can be grown into specialized cells that become useful models for human disease. Read More
Exploring a volcano: The romance and the reality
A UW–Madison team endures hardship in the field, where a deceptively calm volcanic site could be spewing lava within weeks. Read More
Affirmative action doesn’t hurt less-prepared students, researchers say
Those who oppose affirmative action sometimes argue that such policies do far more harm than good to students who are admitted to competitive colleges or universities without the academic preparation of their peers. Read More
Innovation institute to broaden U.S. palette of advanced materials
Sporting sleek cases, sensitive touch screens, and an ever-increasing array of features, today's smartphones and tablets provide consumers unparalleled mobile computing capability. Read More
Morgridge Institute taps biomedical innovator as chairman
The trustees of the Morgridge Institute for Research at the University of Wisconsin–Madison have named Fred Robertson as chairman, replacing outgoing chairman Ernie Micek, whose term as chair has ended and who will remain on the board. Read More
Future looks bright for carbon nanotube solar cells
In an approach that could challenge silicon as the predominant photovoltaic cell material, University of Wisconsin–Madison materials engineers have developed an inexpensive solar cell that exploits carbon nanotubes to absorb and convert energy from the sun. Read More
Industry helps create new potato breeding professorship
Advances in biotechnology such as DNA sequencing have helped speed the pace of plant breeding in many food crops, but applying these tools to the potato, which has an extra set of chromosomes, has been a bit more difficult. Read More
Grandparents gather for support at Waisman Center
You're not alone. It's a simple message but one that can provide great comfort. That is just part of what those who gather at the Waisman Center as part of the Grandparents' Network take with them following each meeting. Read More
Researchers unearth bioenergy potential in leaf-cutter ant communities
As spring warms up Wisconsin, humans aren't the only ones tending their gardens. Read More
Professor helps ‘Sesame Street’ reach children of imprisoned parents
For the past two years, psychologist Julie Poehlmann’s worked as an advisor for “Sesame Street” on developing materials that will help children with incarcerated parents and the people who are taking care of them. Read More
Bugher to retire after guiding University Research Park growth, success
Mark Bugher, who helped to mold UW–Madison’s University Research Park into an economic and technology transfer force admired nationally, plans to retire in October. Read More
Innovative solar cell structure stores and supplies energy simultaneously
The potential energy available via solar power might seem limitless on a sunny summer day, but all that energy has to be stored for it to be truly useful. If you see a solar panel on a rooftop, in a large-scale array, or even on a parking meter, a bulky battery or supercapacitor is hidden just out of sight, receiving energy from the panel through power lines. Read More
History professor documents GI conduct in WWII France
On June 6, 1944, a massive military force arrived on the beaches of Normandy in a surprise invasion intended to overthrow Nazi Germany. The story of brave Allied forces splashing ashore under heavy fire has been immortalized in novels, memoirs, documentary films, and blockbuster movies - with American GIs cast as the unequivocal heroes of the day. Read More
RFID advance to improve safety of nation’s blood supply
A six-year collaboration between industry and the University of Wisconsin–Madison RFID Lab has achieved a major milestone with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearing the first RFID-enabled solution to improve the safety and efficiency of the nation's blood supply. Read More
A virtual elephant from a marriage of biology, engineering, and art
The solid aluminum cast of an elephant on Warren Porter's desk has been waiting for 25 years. Read More
Road block: Fixing aquatic ecosystem connectivity doesn’t end with dams
Over the last several years, state agencies and environmental nonprofit organizations have targeted dam removal as a way to quickly improve the health of aquatic ecosystems. Dams keep migratory fish from swimming upriver to spawn, block nutrients from flowing downstream, and change the entire hydrology of a watershed. From an ecosystem perspective, taking down a dam and returning a river to a more natural flow seems like a no-brainer. Read More