Category Science & Technology

Small differences in how a technology is defined can make a big difference in how the public feels about it

March 8, 2013

Even small tweaks in how scientists describe scientific breakthroughs can significantly change how the public perceives their work, a new study indicates.

‘Ninja parasites’ elude immune response through molecular mimicry

March 7, 2013

In feudal-age Japan, cunning, unorthodox mercenaries known as ninjas were notorious for using disguise, deception, and stealth to infiltrate enemy fortifications. In the world of modern parasites, certain organisms - dubbed "ninja parasites" by Professor Timothy Yoshino - use similar tactics, in a biological and chemical sense, to trick their way past the immune systems of their hosts.

Speakeasy Science: Space Place tees up science for grown-ups

March 5, 2013

Line up your baby sitter for the evening of Friday, March 8, and lift off for a night of fun and science at UW–Madison’s Space Place for the first edition of Speakeasy Science.

Man-made material pushes the bounds of superconductivity

March 3, 2013

A multi-university team of researchers has artificially engineered a unique multilayer material that could lead to breakthroughs in both superconductivity research and in real-world applications.

Flu transmission studies could resume soon

February 26, 2013

After a voluntary hiatus of more than a year, avian influenza transmission studies may soon resume at UW–Madison’s Influenza Research Institute (IRI) as the National Institutes of Heath (NIH) last week issued a new framework for vetting such experiments.

Analytical trick may accelerate cancer diagnosis

February 24, 2013

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison have found a new way to accelerate a workhorse instrument that identifies proteins. The high-speed technique could help diagnose cancer sooner and point to new drugs for treating a wide range of conditions.

Science + art exhibit focuses on the beauty of a cure

February 20, 2013

An unusual exhibit focusing on cancer recovery through the lens of art and science will open Feb. 22 in the Biochemistry Department on the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus.

Secrets of Wisconsin meteorite revealed

February 19, 2013

As Russian scientists scramble to collect and analyze the remains of the historic meteorite that injured an estimated 1,200 people in Chelyabinsk on Feb. 15, scientists in Wisconsin are set to publish their analysis of a smaller meteorite that struck southwest Wisconsin on April 14, 2010.

Production process doubles speed and efficiency of flexible electronics

February 18, 2013

Stretched-out clothing might not be a great practice for laundry day, but in the case of microprocessor manufacture, stretching out the atomic structure of the silicon in the critical components of a device can be a good way to increase a processor's performance.

Donohue elected president of American Society for Microbiology

February 15, 2013

University of Wisconsin–Madison bacteriology professor Timothy J. Donohue has been elected president of the American Society for Microbiology.

Trolls win: Rude comments dim the allure of science online

February 14, 2013

The trolls are winning. Pick a story about some aspect of science, any story, scroll down to the blog comments and let the bashing begin:

Value of modified corn is more in reducing losses than boosting yields

February 14, 2013

While there's no end of robust and heated conversation about genetically modified foods, there are strikingly few comprehensive studies that put a numeric value on the costs and benefits.

Physics Fair at UW–Madison this Saturday

February 14, 2013

The sixth annual UW–Madison Physics Fair will offer physical delights and pain-free education free to all comers on Saturday, Feb. 16 on the UW–Madison campus.

UW Hospital hits major milestone with 2,000th liver transplant

February 13, 2013

Scott A. Vanderloop of Appleton, Wis. received a second chance at life recently after becoming the 2,000th patient to receive a liver transplant at University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics in Madison.

UW’s veterinary medical school adopts wildlife health project

February 13, 2013

Outbreaks of disease in wildlife may seem remote and, for most humans, inconsequential. But disease events that arise in wild animal populations can be far-reaching and can even pose a threat to humans and domestic animals far removed from the source of animal affliction.

Research quest aims to cure hearing loss at its root

February 12, 2013

The ultimate cause of hearing loss is usually found in the tiny hair cells that play the crucial role of converting sound waves into nerve impulses for delivery to the brain.

UW-Madison engineer named to National Academy of Engineering

February 12, 2013

David Gustafson, a University of Wisconsin–Madison industrial and systems engineer, was named Feb. 7 to the 2013 class of new members of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE).

Video tool could help active workers avoid injury

February 11, 2013

Using just video of workers performing tasks such as assembling a manufactured part or packing boxes, a system developed by University of Wisconsin–Madison engineers might soon be able to automatically assess the likelihood that workers will develop common repetitive-motion injuries.

Technique moves practical Alzheimer diagnosis one step closer to reality

February 11, 2013

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Medicine and Public Health are moving closer to a significant milepost in the battle against Alzheimer's disease: identifying the first signs of decline in the brain.

Fishing rod holder for boat, land or ice is champion of 2013 innovation competition

February 8, 2013

A self-adjusting, boat-mounted holder for fishing rods has won the top prize and $10,000 in the Schoofs Prize for Creativity, one of a pair of University of Wisconsin–Madison innovation competitions. Held Feb. 7 and 8, the Innovation Days competitions reward UW–Madison undergraduates for creative and marketable ideas.