Category Science & Technology
Fossil fuel formation: Key to atmosphere’s oxygen?
“Why is there oxygen in the atmosphere?" asks researcher Shanan Peters. The high school explanation is 'photosynthesis.' But we’ve known for a long time ... that building up oxygen requires the formation of rocks like black shale." Read More
UW-Madison student places second in nationwide engineering contest
Anna Scheibengraber, a fifth-year senior studying Mechanical Engineering at UW–Madison, was one of eight students from across the nation to receive an award for “exceptional thinking and innovation” during the PepsiCo/Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Student Engineering Challenge. Read More
Ocean temperatures faithfully recorded in mother-of-pearl
Mother-of-pearl or nacre (pronounced nay-ker), the lustrous, tough-as-nails biomineral that lines some seashells, has been shown to be a faithful record of ancient ocean temperature. Read More
From public outreach to peer review, UW–Madison scientists find value in social media
At the University of Wisconsin–Madison, a survey of 372 scientists engaged in biological or physical science research shows that scientists are increasingly using social media to communicate with nonscientific audiences. Read More
UW-Madison spinoff in Janesville awarded $10 million for critical medical isotope
SHINE Medical Technologies, Inc. of Janesville has been awarded $10 million from the U.S. Department of Energy to advance production of an isotope used in cancer and heart diagnosis. Read More
Fred Blattner: genetics pioneer, entrepreneurial success, and all that jazz
Fred Blattner has been doing DNA research for more than 50 years, and he founded or co-founded three successful companies all focused on DNA: DNASTAR, Nimblegen and Scarab Genomics. Read More
Fast Plants Program’s new varieties are tailored for classroom use
A UW–Madison program built around plants that mature quickly enough to engage the scientific curiosity of elementary through college students is releasing two new varieties that make the popular plants even better suited to classrooms. Read More
Staying in the loop
What’s the future of high-speed transportation? A team of UW–Madison students thinks it’s on the right track — actually, more of a tube — with Badgerloop, a 200-mph pod that levitates its passenger through an above-ground vacuum tube. Read More
Designer switches of cell fate could streamline stem cell biology
The ability to convert cells from one type to another holds great promise, and the new Wisconsin study could help speed research and bring the technology to the clinic faster. Read More
Weather satellite extends beyond mission, into classrooms
Teachers from around the country are taking their experiences from the launch back to their schools through a program spearheaded by UW–Madison's Margaret Mooney. Read More
Novel catalysts improve path to more sustainable plastics production
The second most-produced organic chemical in the world, propene is a key component of plastics found in consumer goods such as electronics, clothing and food packaging. Read More
Magnetic brain stimulation can bring back stowed memories
The lab of Brad Postle, a psychology professor at UW–Madison, is challenging the idea that working memory remembers things through sustained brain activity. Read More
Split brain activity allows you to listen and drive, research shows
A team of University of Wisconsin–Madison consciousness researchers has used brain imaging to show how the brain allows you to drive a familiar path while concentrating on a radio show: It literally splits the tasks in two. Read More
Study shows many lakes getting murkier, but gives hope for improvement
While water clarity in most Wisconsin lakes has not changed in 20 years, researchers say the fact that more lakes are getting worse signals there is work to be done. Read More
Young children’s spatial talk predicts their spatial abilities
Researchers are hoping that focusing on this early in childhood will promote interest in the science, technology, engineering and math fields. Read More
Jo Handelsman named director of Wisconsin Institute for Discovery
Handelsman, a Yale professor and White House science official, has a long history with UW–Madison. Read More
OnLume receives SBIR support for image-guided surgery innovation
The novel technology was developed in collaboration with researchers at the Morgridge Institute for Research and UW–Madison. Read More
Food scientist aiding fuel ethanol with new engineered bacteria
James Steele’s new company, Lactic Solutions, is advancing a judo-like remedy: using genetic engineering to transform enemy into friend. Read More
UW–Madison researchers study plant aging, gain insights into crop yields
New insights into the mechanism behind how plants age may help scientists better understand crop yields, nutrient allocation, and even the timing and duration of fall leaf color. Read More
UW-Madison dips in research rankings
It has been a challenging year for Wisconsin’s top research university, and the ability of the university to keep pace with the nation’s elite research institutions has been affected as UW–Madison saw its ranking drop from fourth to sixth. Read More