Category Science & Technology
A new kind of mosquito repellent that comes from bacteria
University of Wisconsin–Madison researchers describe the first mosquito-repelling compounds to be derived from bacteria, and they appear to work at lower doses than repellents currently on the market. Read More
With fire, warming and drought, Yellowstone forests could be grassland by mid-century
“It’s terrifying in some ways,” says Monica Turner, who has been researching in Yellowstone for decades. “We are not talking many years away. Today’s college students will be mid-career. It feels like the future is coming at us fast.” Read More
Stem cells: How we got here, where we’re going
This is the first in a series of four videos about stem cell research at UW–Madison: how it started, what it's achieved, and where it's headed. Catch up on what's happened since James Thomson's prescient prediction that stem cells "will change medicine, period." Read More
Unraveling threads of bizarre hagfish’s explosive slime
Jean-Luc Thiffeault, a University of Wisconsin–Madison math professor, and collaborators Randy Ewoldt and Gaurav Chaudhary of the University of Illinois have modeled the hagfish’s gag-inducing defense mechanism mathematically. Read More
UW research instrument returns from 22,000-mile seaward journey
A lab known as SPARCLET, traveled for two months to aid in a study aimed at better understanding how pollutants and turbulent conditions over the Philippine Sea affect the region and influence global weather. Read More
Study: “Post-normal” science requires unorthodox communication strategies
Proposals to fight malaria by “driving” genes that slow its spread through mosquitoes is a high-risk, high-reward technology that presents a challenge to science journalists, according to a new report. Read More
Antarctic ice sheet could suffer a one-two climate punch
Variations in the axial tilt of the Earth have significant implications for the rise and fall of the Antarctic Ice Sheet, which, if melted, would dramatically elevate sea level and alter the world’s coastlines. Read More
Gene-editing tool now being used to develop better antibiotics
Jason Peters and colleagues have repurposed the gene-editing tool CRISPR to study which genes are targeted by particular antibiotics, providing clues on how to improve existing antibiotics or develop new ones. Read More
Immune system’s front-line defense freezes bacteria in their tracks
New research suggests a previously unknown mechanism behind the function of antimicrobial peptides, which are being tested in early-stage clinical trials for treating infections resistant to classical antibiotics. Read More
Ancient gene duplication gave grasses multiple ways to wait out winter
New research provides valuable insight into how winter-adapted grasses gain the ability to flower in spring, which could be helpful for improving crops, like winter wheat, that rely on this process. Read More
Flashing lights protect livestock in Chile — by deterring pumas
New UW–Madison research shows how bright, flashing lights can prevent puma attacks on livestock in Chile, without harming the predators. Read More
Phone to farmer: Fungus on the way, time to spray
The apps and models compare current weather to historic data about conditions that are conducive to a particular plant disease, then calculate whether it makes sense to spray fungicide – or not spray and reduce pesticide use. Read More
“Smart City” awards recognize 14 UW–Madison students in first stage
The competition encourages the sharing of fresh ideas and unconventional thinking for the benefit of Wisconsin. Read More
Mercury levels in fish fluctuate along with water levels in lakes
A new study has found that when droughts cause water levels to drop, the levels of mercury found in fish also plummet. In wetter weather, water levels rise and levels of mercury in fish increase. Read More
NOAA plan to improve weather forecasting includes UW–Madison
Neil Jacobs, assistant secretary of commerce for environmental observation and prediction at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), visited Madison to gather input and lay out a vision to improve U.S. weather forecasts to better meet the needs of society. Read More
Implantable device aids weight loss
New battery-free, easily implantable weight-loss devices developed by engineers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison could offer a promising new weapon for battling the bulge. Read More
Black youths less protected from antisocial behaviors than white peers
New research assesses the developmental trajectories of antisocial behaviors in both black and white youths. Read More
Watch comet 46P/Wirtanen, discovered by a Wisconsinite, as it nears Earth
The comet, discovered by Kenosha native Carl Wirtanen, a well-regarded hunter of astronomical objects and surveyor of the Milky Way in the 20th century, will make its closest approach to Earth on Dec. 16. Read More
Tour WID’s new ‘hubs’ designed to spur campus collaborations Dec. 12
The Wisconsin Institute for Discovery will launch a suite of hubs designed to bring together researchers from across campus and provide access to specialized tools and resources. Read More
Taming turbulence: Seeking to make complex simulations a breeze
An improved model will more easily address previously intractable problems for understanding phenomena such as star formation and the dynamics of galaxies without the need for expensive supercomputers. Read More