Category Science & Technology
Want to fight cyberthreats? Start with clean code
Barton Miller has a surprise for his University of Wisconsin–Madison class of 250 software programming undergraduates this fall: No code assignment is complete until it’s declared weakness-free by a suite of software analysis tools. Read More
Is fire the new normal in the American West?
In a video, Professor Monica Turner and her research team and colleagues explore how the patterns of fire and recovery are changing, particularly as the climate warms and drought becomes more common. Read More
Researchers discover how to protect yeast from damage in biofuel production
The researchers found a strain of yeast with outstanding tolerance to ionic liquids, and identified a gene that makes a protein that works as a pump to remove toxins. Read More
Corn that acquires its own nitrogen identified, reducing need for fertilizer
The corn secretes copious globs of mucus-like gel harboring bacteria that convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form, answering a longtime quest of scientists. Read More
Combining on and off switches, one protein can control flowering in plants
With Wisconsin's short growing seasons, reducing a plant’s life cycle and completing the season earlier "could be very important for many crops.” Read More
Elementary and middle-school-aged girls show off their AI skills
A summer-term course for 4th- to 6th-grade girls taught them the basics of programming and AI, and even more importantly, taught them they belong in the STEM world. Read More
Nanoparticles improve tumor treatment in mice
In mouse models of human lung cancer, the improved drug inhibited tumor growth more effectively than the standard drug. “Ultimately, our goal is to get this into human beings,” says pharmacy professor Glen Kwon. Read More
Strong showing from Badgerloop at SpaceX Hyperloop Pod Competition
The UW–Madison Badgerloop team was among the top teams at the 2018 SpaceX Hyperloop Pod Competition, reaching the final four. Read More
National Atmospheric Deposition Program moves to hygiene lab
The NADP monitors North America’s precipitation and atmosphere for a range of chemicals, and uses the data to determine trends in where pollution is concentrated and over what period of time. Read More
Meditation affects brain networks differently in long-term meditators and novices
UW-Madison researchers examined brain activity in non-meditators, new meditators, and long-term meditators, and they discovered differences in emotion networks of the brain among these groups. Read More
Eagle-eyed machine learning algorithm outdoes human experts
UW–Madison's Dane Morgan and collaborators used machine learning to make artificial intelligence better than experienced humans at analyzing damage to potential nuclear reactor materials. Read More
Can plants and trees change the weather?
An array of towers, aircraft and researchers will keep watch over the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in northern Wisconsin, focusing on an area from a region of the country sensitive to changes in climate. Read More
Data Science Initiative supports faculty research
Ten highly innovative projects, addressing such diverse topics as the microbiome, climate change, limnology, Alzheimer's disease, genomics and math, have been chosen to receive funding. Read More
Study suggests buried internet infrastructure at risk as sea levels rise
The most susceptible U.S. cities are New York, Miami and Seattle, but the effects would ripple across the internet — potentially disrupting global communications. Read More
UW–Madison’s Mathieu appointed to National STEM Education Advisory Panel
Mathieu is a leading academic voice for transforming undergraduate teaching and learning within STEM disciplines, experience he will contribute as one of nine higher education representatives on the 18-member NSF panel. Read More
Chemistry professor awarded prestigious Steenbock Professorship
In addition to advancing fundamental science, Shannon Stahl has been involved in numerous industrial collaborations that have led to practical applications and has been recognized nationally for his contributions to "green chemistry." Read More
Sussman to lead Genome Center of Wisconsin
Mike Sussman, longtime director of the UW–Madison Biotechnology Center, has announced that he is stepping down from that position to serve as director of the genome center. Chris Bradfield has been named interim Biotechnology Center director. Read More
California-bound Badgerloop team aims for top prize
Badgerloop Pod III, a teardrop-shaped vehicle designed and built by UW–Madison students, is making its way from Madison to Hawthorne, California, to compete in the third SpaceX Hyperloop Pod Competition on July 22. Read More
In a warming world, could air conditioning make things worse?
A team of UW–Madison researchers forecasts as many as a thousand additional deaths annually in the Eastern United States alone due to elevated levels of air pollution driven by the increased use of fossil fuels to cool the buildings where humans live and work. Read More