Tag Research

Lovelorn liars leave linguistic leads

February 13, 2012

Online daters intent on fudging their personal information have a big advantage: most people are terrible at identifying a liar. But new research is turning the tables on deceivers using their own words.

Hunting could hurt genetic diversity of sandhill cranes, UW research suggests

February 8, 2012

As Wisconsin lawmakers debate whether to establish a hunting season for sandhill cranes, they may want to consider more than just the sheer number of birds, suggests a University of Wisconsin–Madison specialist in avian genetics.

Study shows calories drive earlier puberty

February 8, 2012

Environmental pollutants, eating habits, lack of exercise and genetic traits have all been raised as possible causes of earlier puberty onset in girls in recent years. Now we may now know why: It's the calories, as reported by Ei Terasawa, Joe Kurian, Ricki Colman and colleagues at the Wisconsin National Primate Research Center.

Evolution’s oddities are focus of Darwin Day

February 7, 2012

The annual celebration of Charles Darwin’s birthday at the University of Wisconsin–Madison will highlight the evolutionary significance of strange life forms, including the octopus and enormous flowers.

First Book Award lends crucial support to junior faculty

February 7, 2012

From the time they are hired, humanities faculty members begin working to turn the dissertation that earned them a Ph.D. into a book that will earn them tenure. But it’s not as easy as handing pages over to a publisher.

Metabolic “breathalyzer” reveals early signs of disease

February 6, 2012

The future of disease diagnosis may lie in a "breathalyzer"-like technology currently under development at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Smallest tools could give biggest results in bone repair

February 6, 2012

When William Murphy works with some of the most powerful tools in biology, he thinks about making tools that can fit together. These constructions sound a bit like socket wrenches, which can be assembled to turn a half-inch nut in tight quarters, or to loosen a rusted-tight one-inch bolt using a very persuasive lever.

Neurons from stem cells could replace mice in botulinum test

February 3, 2012

Using lab-grown human neurons, researchers from the University of Wisconsin–Madison have devised an effective assay for detecting botulinum neurotoxin, the agent widely used to cosmetically smooth the wrinkles of age and, increasingly, for an array of medical disorders ranging from muscle spasticity to loss of bladder control.

Roundabouts emerging as the ideal intersection between driver safety and efficiency

February 1, 2012

They've become the subject of myriad YouTube "how-to" videos. Entire department of transportation websites explain how to navigate them. And, they elicit more than a little anxiety and confusion in the minds of drivers entering, circling and exiting them.

How does the compassionate brain, measured in the lab, predict what occurs in real life?

February 1, 2012

University of Wisconsin–Madison researchers are launching a new series of studies to understand how laboratory measures of virtuous qualities such as compassion relate to their behavior in the real world.

The Waisman Center: Decades later, what would Harry think?

January 30, 2012

Last fall, the Waisman Center at the University of Wisconsin–Madison bid successfully for the same National Institutes of Health core grant that the late Harry Waisman first won 45 years ago.

Department of Surgery among nation’s best in research funding

January 29, 2012

By just about any measure, the Department of Surgery at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in Madison is excelling in research.

Nature: Kawaoka authors commentary on flu research

January 25, 2012

The author of an upcoming Nature paper about H5N1 argues in a Nature Comment article today that research into deadly pathogenic viruses must continue if pandemics are to be prevented.

Satellite renamed to honor UW–Madison space pioneer

January 25, 2012

NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have renamed their newest Earth-observing satellite after Verner Suomi, a longtime UW–Madison professor who often is called the father of satellite meteorology.

Suomi remembered for problem-solving ability, drive

January 25, 2012

Verner Suomi’s career — even his life — may not have been as long and illustrious had he not been an inveterate problem solver.

Contest seeks amazing science images

January 24, 2012

Imaging has brought a revolution to science.

Studies show insomnia is a major health problem

January 23, 2012

Insomnia is a serious medical condition that should be treated with evidence-based medicine because it is linked to depression, diabetes, hypertension, drug abuse and even death, according to a review of recent research co-authored by a leading University of Wisconsin–Madison sleep researcher.

With $3.5 million, UW-led consortium will address national freight issues

January 20, 2012

The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded a $3.5 million grant to the National Center for Freight and Infrastructure Research and Education (CFIRE), a consortium led by the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Flu researchers pause for thought

January 20, 2012

The authors of two H5N1-related papers, to be published in Nature and Science respectively, today announce in those journals their decision to call a voluntary 60-day pause on research involving highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 viruses leading to the generation of viruses that are more transmissible in mammals.

Researcher find gene critical to sense of smell in fruit fly

January 20, 2012

UW-Madison researchers have discovered that a gene called distal-less is critical to the fly's ability to receive, process and respond to smells.