Category Science & Technology
Reaching for the stars: 50 years of space astronomy
In December 1968, the world’s first autonomous space-based astronomical observatory carried seven telescopes from UW–Madison, designed and built by a plucky band of scientists in an unassuming warehouse on South Park Street.
Where the ocean meets the sky, chemists look for clues to our climate
Chemists at the University of Wisconsin–Madison are studying how our past, present and future climates are affected by a complex aerosol made up of seawater, air and bits of organic matter from the organisms that call the ocean home.
Biomanufacturing projects stepping out at UW–Madison
The Forward BIO Institute institute aims at making Wisconsin a Midwestern hub of the ongoing merger of pharmaceuticals, medical devices and cutting-edge tissue engineering.
Five questions with Su-Chun Zhang, forger of brain cells
In light of the 20th anniversary of James Thomson’s derivation of human embryonic stem cells, we had some questions for one of the founders of stem cell neuroscience.
Two UW–Madison professors named AAAS Fellows
Donata Oertel and Chang-Beom Eom are among 416 fellows recognized for their scientifically or socially distinguished efforts to advance science or its applications.
Switching identities: Revolutionary insulator-like material also conducts electricity
The new material could lay the groundwork for ultrafast electronic devices, such as the cellphones and computers of the future. Most importantly, the material remained stable and retained its unique characteristics.
Study calls for curbing congestion by building fewer roads
By funding public transportation, limiting parking and preserving the walkability of neighborhoods, a UW-based think tank argues, cities and states can reduce congestion generated by new development better than if they only plan for cars.
NOAA listening session to focus on weather research, forecasting improvements
“It’s an honor to have NOAA leadership visiting campus,” says Associate Vice Chancellor Steve Ackerman. “It acknowledges our history and expertise in this area of science and recognizes that we have important contributions to make."
‘Foray’ draws scientists to Wisconsin in search of mushrooms, fellowship
Now in its 44th year, the Smith Lake States Mycological Foray gathers mushroom experts to collect samples, share mycological gossip and debate the evolution of these enigmatic organisms.
EatStreet snaps up campus award for entrepreneurship
EatStreet now serves more than 15,000 restaurants in more than 275 cities. It has 175 employees at its headquarters, just off the Capitol Square in Madison, and more than 1,200 drivers.
Could yesterday’s Earth contain clues for making tomorrow’s medicines?
UW-Madison researchers have described initial steps toward achieving chemistries that encode information in a variety of conditions that might mimic the environment of prehistoric Earth.
UW–Madison physics professor receives Moore Inventor Fellowship
Victor Brar is making new light sources the old-fashioned way, developing one to fill a niche where lasers are too expensive and LEDs inefficient.
After 20 years, stem cells mean business in Wisconsin
At least 10 Wisconsin businesses fundamentally depend, in one way or another, on pluripotent stem cells. In our continuing series, we profile each of these companies, spun off from UW–Madison research.
Venom shape untangles scorpion family tree
It’s the first time that the shape of molecules has been used in place of anatomy to organize evolutionary relationships, suggesting new ways to disentangle the many complicated family trees found throughout nature.
Need to talk to your data? UW–Madison spinoff is happy to translate
UW-Madison computer science professor Jignesh Patel and Rogers Jeffrey Leo John, a recent graduate student, founded DataChat in June, 2017, with the goal of making it more efficient for businesses to get insights from data.
Bridging the gap: Teaching bridge safety to next generation of railroaders
After taking an Engineering Professional Development class at UW–Madison, these professionals will be in a better position to ensure safety on rails that carry passengers, freight and flammable or toxic chemicals.
Broad genome analysis shows yeasts evolving by subtraction
An analysis of the way yeasts evolved individual appetites for particular food sources may be a boon to biofuels research.
Woodland hawks flock to urban buffet
A team of Wisconsin researchers documents that woodland hawks — once in precipitous decline — have become firmly established in urban environments, thriving primarily on a diet of backyard birds.
Randolph Ashton named SCRMC associate director
Ashton, a leading UW–Madison stem cell scientist whose lab develops novel tissue engineering methods to derive brain and spinal cord tissues from human pluripotent stem cells, will assume a leadership position with the Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Center.
New master’s in quantum computing offers training for a growing field
In a single calendar year, the program will catch students up on the fundamentals of quantum physics, cover the theory behind quantum computing, and teach students laboratory skills to construct the devices.