Category Science & Technology

New approach will analyze important, poorly studied areas of human genome

October 2, 2012

Each year, more and more pieces of the human genome puzzle fall into place, but large holes still remain. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison hope to fill in many more pieces with a new $1.1 million grant from the National Human Genome Research Institute.

Hydrogeologist appointed to federal nuclear waste board

September 27, 2012

University of Wisconsin–Madison hydrogeologist Jean Bahr has been appointed by President Obama to the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board.

NSF funds UW sustainability project studying the human component of green buildings

September 27, 2012

Designing a "green" building involves considering a multitude of variables - everything from electrical efficiency to airflow controls to natural sources of light, heat and energy. But engineering more efficient building control systems is only part of the picture; for a building to be truly green, the occupants living and working within it need to know how to behave in a sustainable way as well.

Vet med students ensure safe, speedy biosecurity check-in for dairy expo cattle

September 27, 2012

Scores of trailers will begin rolling into Madison on Friday, Sept. 28, delivering 2,500 show cows to the Alliant Energy Center for the upcoming World Dairy Expo. But to prevent the spread of disease among the cattle, the health status of each animal must be verified before they are unloaded. Fortunately, volunteer students from the UW–Madison School of Veterinary Medicine keep this process running as smoothly as possible.

The language of stem cells, decoded

September 26, 2012

Stem cells are biological building blocks, the starting point of human life. But without proper direction, they're not very useful when it comes to treating disease.

Hydrogen beam injector guides plasma physics research

September 26, 2012

The Madison Symmetric Torus, a leading piece of equipment in plasma physics research for more than 20 years, recently gained a new capability with the installation of a neutral beam injector.

Seeing sound from all angles at Wisconsin Science Fest

September 26, 2012

Sound can be an incredibly powerful experience, able to dominate our attention, convey information, transport us from the here and now or add or relieve tension and emotion.

NSF tabs UW chemist to lead Math and Physical Sciences Directorate

September 25, 2012

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has selected F. Fleming Crim, a University of Wisconsin–Madison professor of chemistry, to serve as assistant director for the Directorate of Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS).

TED creativity guru headlines science fest, Year of Innovation

September 25, 2012

If Sir Ken Robinson has said it once, he's said it millions of times: "If you're not prepared to be wrong, you'll never come up with anything original."

Studies point to rising role for women scientists at UW–Madison

September 25, 2012

As the University of Wisconsin–Madison competes with the world's top universities for talent and expertise, it is getting more help from women, who in 2011 comprised 31 percent of the faculty — up from 18 percent in 1990.

Science in film: The ‘evil institute’ takes center stage

September 24, 2012

For filmmakers, science has always set a sumptuous table for story telling. Characters, plots and settings drawn from science are all reliable grist for the celluloid mill.

UW Center for Dairy Research wins federal innovation grant

September 21, 2012

The Wisconsin Center for Dairy Research (CDR) at the University of Wisconsin–Madison has been awarded one of seven $1 million i6 Challenge grants from the U.S. Department of Commerce to support an effort to commercialize research ideas that will positively impact economic development.

UW team to test mobile apps to prevent substance abuse relapses

September 21, 2012

Can giving smartphones to people with substance use disorders improve the quality of care at the same time as it reduces health care costs? A team of scholars centered at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and Dartmouth College thinks so, and has won a federal grant to create and test mobile apps to deliver tested treatment and relapse prevention tools through these devices.

Climate expert: Record loss of arctic ice could impact Wisconsin

September 21, 2012

Ice covering the Arctic Ocean melted to the smallest areal extent ever recorded this year, falling to 1.3 million square miles at its lowest point on Sept. 16, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center. That's less than half of the normal area covered by ice at summer's end.

Second Higgs lecture scheduled to accommodate demand

September 20, 2012

Due to overwhelming interest, a second lecture on the discovery of a new physics particle has been added for tomorrow evening, Friday, Sept. 21, at 6 p.m.

Campus car fleet evolves with changing needs, technology

September 20, 2012

In an age of increasing awareness of sustainability and a “greening” campus, the university’s vehicle fleet has also been changing with the times.

UW team studies the mechanics of stronger bones

September 19, 2012

As human bones age, they undergo geometric changes and also lose minerals such as calcium that give them density and strength.

Surprising demographic shifts in endangered monkey population challenge conservation expectations

September 18, 2012

At first glance, the northern muriqui monkey is a prime conservation success story.

Wisconsin Science Festival brings wonders of science to life for all ages

September 17, 2012

After a rousing debut last fall, the Wisconsin Science Festival returns for its second year this Sept. 27-30 with an even bigger and bolder schedule of people, music, art and explosions bringing the wonders of science to life for all ages.

Cervical cancer and pre-cancer cervical growths require single HPV protein

September 14, 2012

Human papillomavirus (HPV) has long been implicated in cervical cancer, but details of how it happens have remained a mystery. Now researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison have found that a single HPV protein is required for cervical cancer and even pre-cancer growths in the cervix to survive.