Category Science & Technology
Science meets seat-of-the-tractor observations with Discovery Farms
“By the time Discovery Farms left Cashton in 2017,” says Jack Herricks, “the relationship had changed, the era of finger pointing and distrust had left. It was a pretty dramatic shift.”
Making biominerals: nature’s recipe is old, evolved more than once
In recent years, scientists have teased out many of the secrets of biomineralization, the process by which sea urchins grow spines, mollusks build their shells…
Madison College students prepare for transfer, gain biotech skills
An instructor at the technical college saw opportunities at a UW–Madison biotechnology research center for her students to learn lab skills and get ready for attending a four-year college.
Single protein plays important dual transport roles in the brain
A wide range of neurological conditions could benefit from the growth of axons — the telephone wires of the nervous system — including spinal cord injuries and some neurodegenerative diseases, says researcher Edwin Chapman.
‘Dr. Dirt’ worked with farmers to address water resource challenges
Fred Madison's work — which sought to protect the environment, assure farm profitability and sustain natural and human resources — had important impacts on farm practices, natural resources policy and conservation professionals.
Two different equine diseases detected in Wisconsin in recent weeks
Following news in early August that 2019’s first case of Eastern equine encephalitis was detected in Wisconsin, another horse in Wisconsin was diagnosed with a separate disease called equine infectious anemia.
UW–Madison dairy science internships help Tuskegee students weigh career choices
Under the guidance of UW–Madison's Virginia Pszczolkowski (left) and Sebastian Arriola Apelo (background), Brianna Brown, an intern from Tuskegee University, ultrasounds the side of a dairy cow.
Bending the rules: A revolutionary new way for metals to be malleable
The researchers’ new mechanism for bending holds particular interest for the U.S. Army, which has an urgent need for strong and durable materials in order to keep troops safe in combat zones.
UW Arboretum hosts native plant gardening conference Sept. 15
Held when the prairies are at their seasonal peak, the conference offers a day of expert-led workshops and tours to help all gardeners, from beginner to experienced, learn to create beautiful restorative landscapes.
Earth’s last magnetic field reversal took far longer than once thought
A reversing field might significantly affect navigation and satellite and terrestrial communication, but the study suggests that society would have generations to adapt to a lengthy period of magnetic instability.
Research looks at how Snapchat filters affect self-image
Graduate student Amy Niu is researching whether selfie-editing filters negatively or positively impact one’s evaluation of self.
Thanks to science, parasite can have sex in mice, not just cats
The work could lead to a vaccine for cats and throws a critical lifeline to scientists who study the parasite by providing a new animal model in which to study it.
Chemical catalysis pioneer James Dumesic wins international energy prize
Dumesic was selected for his pioneering work on novel catalytic processes for converting plant material into advanced fuels, biodegradable plastics, and other renewable chemicals.
Cosmic ray exhibits, conference explore the universe’s mysteries
Event Horizon: portraits of three physicists captured holding an object that inspired their careers, and Messages from the Horizon, which consists of spinning LEDs representing black holes, are on display in the Main Gallery of the Memorial Union.
Wild rice project sows seeds for university, tribal collaboration
A graduate student is working on a project to build connections between the UW and Native American tribes around wild rice protection and restoration efforts.
IceCube: Antarctic neutrino detector to get $37 million upgrade
IceCube, which in 2018 helped unravel one of the oldest riddles in physics and astronomy — the origin of high-energy neutrinos and cosmic rays — has received new funding to expand the detector and its scientific capabilities.
UW lab gears up for another Antarctic drilling campaign
The UW–Madison Physical Sciences Laboratory, which specializes in making customized equipment for UW–Madison researchers, will once again lead drilling operations for the IceCube neutrino observatory.
UW–Madison researchers win presidential award
They have been named winners of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, which honors researchers beginning their careers who show exceptional promise for leadership in science and technology.
Q & A: Veterinary medicine professor leads largest biomedical coalition
Hannah Carey, a researcher who studies hibernating mammals, is the new president of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology.
Simple ‘smart’ glass reveals the future of artificial vision
UW-Madison engineers have devised a method to create pieces of “smart” glass that can recognize images without requiring any sensors or circuits or power sources.