Category Science & Technology
Hot subjects—Horticulture 375: Organic Agriculture Colloquium
After two years of teaching an experimental colloquium on organic farming, horticulture professor Jim Nienhuis is no longer surprised by the diversity of majors interested in his class.
The key to quieter Atlantic hurricane seasons may be blowing in the wind
Every year, storms over West Africa disturb millions of tons of dust and strong winds carry those particles into the skies over the Atlantic. According to a recent study led by University of Wisconsin–Madison atmospheric scientists, this dust from Africa directly affects ocean temperature, a key ingredient in Atlantic hurricane development.
Edil receives Turkish science award
In a January ceremony held at the presidential palace in Ankara, Turkey, and attended by Turkish dignitaries, including the president, president of the parliament, prime minister, cabinet ministers, university presidents, and others, University of Wisconsin–Madison Civil and Environmental Engineering Professor Tuncer Edil received the Special Science Award from the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey.
Researchers promote coexistence of wolves, people
For almost a decade, Adrian Treves, an animal behaviorist and ecologist, and Lisa Naughton, a social scientist, have worked closely with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to address the challenges of living with wolves, especially the losses of livestock and hunting dogs that inevitably result.
Faculty conflict of interest issues probed at WARF Gilson Discovery Series
Conflicts of interest for university faculty members who start their own companies will be the subject of a panel discussion on Monday, Feb. 18 at 5 p.m. at the University of Wisconsin–Madison Fluno Center, 601 University Avenue.
Catheterized system wins annual student creativity prize
A catheterized system to sense bladder pressure and control urine flow to prevent incontinence won the $10,000 top prize in the Schoofs Prize for Creativity, an annual University of Wisconsin–Madison invention competition.
Recent sightings: Icy test drive
Photo: Jeff Miller An underwater robot is lowered by crane into an opening cut in the ice covering…
Curiosities: Why do we need leap days?
Leap days appear every four years or so, including this year, and they are needed because one orbit around the sun does not occur in an exact number of days, says Jim Lattis, director of UW Space Place, in the UW–Madison astronomy department.
Foundation awards grants to six states to improve addiction treatment
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) has awarded $2.2 million in grants to six state-provider partnerships through Advancing Recovery: State/Provider Partnerships for Quality Addiction Care, the foundation's initiative to improve the quality of alcohol and drug addiction treatment in the United States by promoting the use of evidence-based practices.
Photo, seismograph from Mendota ‘Ice Quake’ posted
The shaking felt Thursday afternoon in areas near Lake Mendota was most likely an ice quake, according to University of Wisconsin–Madison geologists. A tremor was recorded by a geology department seismometer at 12:50 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008, and lasted approximately two or three seconds.
T cell immunity enhanced by timing of interleukin-7 therapy
That the cell nurturing growth factor interleukin-7 can help ramp up the ability of the immune system to remember the pathogenic villains it encounters is well known.
Unique whey protein is promising supplement for strict PKU diet
Individuals with a rare genetic condition known as phenylketonuria, or PKU, receive a difficult-to-follow prescription. They must severely limit their consumption of protein, completely avoiding mealtime staples such as meat, cheese and even bread. Not surprisingly, for many, diet is a constant struggle.
Geology professor drills into earth-shaking questions
Two months aboard an ocean-going ship might sound like a luxurious vacation. With 16-hour workdays amid the clamorous hubbub of an industrial drilling rig, however, Harold Tobin’s recent voyage was far from relaxing. Tobin, an associate professor in the geology department, sailed last fall into the western Pacific in a quest to peer into the heart of one of the most active earthquake zones on the planet.
Writer’s Choice: Connections between visual, science explored
When visual culture is mentioned, molecules, materials science and technology do not often come to mind. But exploring the possible intersections between the visual and science is the focus of a conference organized by the Visual Culture Center at UW–Madison. “Visualizing Science,” to be held Feb. 7–8, is the latest in the center’s series of public conferences that explore visual culture, part of an ongoing collaboration among scholars from sciences, arts and humanities.
Particle accelerator may reveal shape of alternate dimensions
When the world's most powerful particle accelerator starts up later this year, exotic new particles may offer a glimpse of the existence and shapes of extra dimensions.