Category Science & Technology
New approach for breaking plastics down shows promise for ‘upcycling’ them
“Thirty percent of our plastic is ending up in the environment," says chemical and biological engineering Professor George Huber. "The current plastic infrastructure is not sustainable right now.”
New tool for assessing heart muscle cells helps unlock their potential
Researchers have created a way to study how heart cells made from stem cells organize themselves into muscle that could be used to screen drugs or develop therapies for heart disease.
Forming genitals in boys requires complex dance between genes and hormones
The research helps us understand how genes and hormones interact to develop male reproductive systems, a step toward researching why disorders in these organs have become more common and how we might prevent them.
‘Dairy Brain’ project asks farmers to help create smarter dairies
UW researchers are working with dairy farmers, producers and equipment manufacturers to use data to make useful, real-time decisions.
UW–Madison and UW Health quickly launch a number of COVID-19 clinical trials
Among the latest is a study examining the potential for an existing drug to treat a serious and often deadly complication of a COVID-19 infection.
Hamsters develop protective immunity to COVID-19 and are protected by convalescent sera
The animals are useful to researchers trying to understand SARS-CoV-2 and in the evaluation of vaccines, treatments and drugs against the disease it causes.
Changing environment at home genetically primes invasive species to take over abroad
New research findings could make future encroachments easier to predict, a huge priority since invasive species cause hundreds of billions of dollars in damage each year.
Critical communications component made on a flexible wooden film
New research by a UW–Madison engineer leverages a surprising and inexpensive substance — wood — to make the flexible microwave circuits that power modern communications.
Better low-light photography may come one photon at a time
Sensors that catch just the minimum amount of light could be better than typical digital cameras at capturing everyday memories in challenging environments.
Federally funded upgrade reenergizes fusion experiment
The goal is to help reduce the cost and complexity of fusion reactors, which could potentially provide an abundant source of clean energy by harnessing the process that powers the sun.
Controlling invasive milfoil with lake-wide herbicide could do more harm than good to native plants
New research could help lake managers make more informed decisions about their invasive species control strategies.
Environmental DNA shows promise in estimating sport fish populations
eDNA could help fisheries managers keep tabs on walleye health across many more lakes at a fraction of the cost of current monitoring methods.
UW MadScience: Addressing racism, equity and diversity in science and academia
On June 10, researchers and academics around the world are undertaking deliberate efforts to challenge systemic anti-Black racism. The UWMadScience blog is observing the call to action and sharing resources for listening, education and reflection.
WARF in top 10 among university patent producers
The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, which manages intellectual property for the UW, is ranked 9th for U.S. utility patents that cover inventions, including materials, processes, functions and devices.
Wisconsin’s COVID-19 stay-at-home order drove changes in state’s traffic volume
Interstate travel in Wisconsin bottomed out the week of March 25 at a 40% reduction for weekday traffic and a 60% reduction on weekends — knowledge that could help with future highway planning and construction.
Nine projects selected for UW/WARF COVID-19 Accelerator Challenge
From improved respirators to accelerated virus testing, each project is designed to be rapidly advanced over the coming months to help combat the pandemic.
UW–Madison scientist helps set national earth sciences research priorities for next decade
Andrea Dutton, who studies climate change and sea level rise, talks about her work on the Earth in Time report and the importance of studying earth sciences even in the midst of a global viral pandemic.
UW–Madison VisPy data visualization project awarded Chan Zuckerberg Initiative grant
A programmer is working to make scientific data easier to picture, from creating images of spiral galaxies based on theoretical data to visualizing satellite imagery.
Understanding ceramic ‘mortar’ of materials may reveal ways to improve them
Findings in a new study could aid in fine-tuning a new generation of ceramic materials, from silicon solar panels to superconductors and biomedical implants.
The winners: Cool Science Images 2020
Eyeball-licking geckos, wiggling brain cells and a whole planet’s worth of weather are among the winners in UW–Madison’s 10th Cool Science Image Contest. A panel of artists, scientists and science communicators judged the scientific content and aesthetic and creative qualities of the images and videos.