Category Science & Technology
Power walk: Footsteps could charge mobile electronics
When you’re on the go and your smartphone battery is low, in the not-so-distant future you could charge it simply by plugging it into your shoe.
Long-term picture offers little solace on climate change
A new study finds that the catastrophic impact of another three centuries of carbon pollution will persist millennia after the carbon dioxide releases cease.
Small-scale protein production a big business for UW spinoff
Unlike many young biotech spinoffs, Fritz Schomburg's company — Lytic — earns its income not from federal research grants, but from shipping product.
Lithium battery component found to harm key soil microorganism
The growing use of nanoscale materials in the rechargeable batteries that power portable electronics and electric vehicles may have untold environmental consequences.
Virtual reality makes its best users the most queasy
In a twist of virtual fate, people with the best 3-D vision are also the people most likely to suffer from motion sickness while using virtual reality displays.
Lewis Thomas Prize to be awarded to Wisconsin’s Sean Carroll
Carroll was instrumental in building the field of evolutionary developmental biology, known colloquially as evo devo.
Nanosheet growth technique could revolutionize nanomaterial production
Tiny sheets of the semiconductor zinc oxide could have huge implications for the future of a host of electronic and biomedical devices.
Partnering with NASA to grow plants in space
For many people, outer space and agriculture do not go together. But Simon Gilroy, professor of botany at UW–Madison, is working to learn how to effectively grow plants, and eventually gardens, in space. A sustainable, self-contained food source will allow astronauts to travel farther.
Lab keeps cancer treatment radiation machines honest
As radiation sources used to attack cancer grow in number and complexity, a UW–Madison center offers the last word on accurate radiation doses.
WARF’s Gulbrandsen to receive lifetime award
His tenure has seen WARF increase grant support for UW–Madison, expand its entrepreneurial mission, and chart scientific milestones from embryonic stem cells to life-saving vaccine research.
UW scientists contribute to state’s Pollinator Protection Plan effort
Wisconsin’s honey bees help support an $88 billion agricultural enterprise and play an important role in ecosystems throughout the state. But our bees face challenges.
Study illuminates war between the sexes: fruit fly edition
New research from the Laboratory of Genetics pinpoints the effect on reproduction of a female's ability to masquerade as a male.
WARF taps Fujifilm chief, local executives for Entrepreneurons series
WARF, in conjunction with BioForward, is hosting a special two-part series exploring why Wisconsin is the right environment for tech businesses.
UW astronomer recognized for demystifying star system
Sebastian Heinz has been honored by the American Astronomical Society for his work to unravel the mystery of Circinus X-1, a bizarre binary star system in our galaxy that exploded some 2,500 years ago.
NSF awards $5 million for cybersecurity effort including UW–Madison
The security of more than $7 billion in federally-funded research will be significantly bolstered by establishment of the Center for Trustworthy Scientific Cyberinfrastructure.
Tunable materials clear the way for advanced optics
In books and movies, wizards use magic spells to make the visible see-through. In reality, materials with properties called phase transitions can pull off a similar trick.
Clouds, like blankets, trap heat and are melting the Greenland Ice Sheet
A new study shows clouds are playing a larger role in heating the Greenland Ice Sheet than scientists previously believed, raising its temperature by 2 to 3 degrees compared to cloudless skies.
Working group recommends coordination of campus research cores
“Implementation of these methods should contribute to a supportive, sustainable environment for research at UW–Madison,” the group says in its report.
UW agricultural economists recap trends of 2015, share forecasts for 2016
After a fantastic 2014, Wisconsin’s total net farm income took a big hit in 2015 — to the tune of $2 billion. While that’s a scary number, UW–Madison agricultural economists remind people to keep it in perspective.
Urban Canid Project helps track Madison’s coyotes and prevent conflicts
Since 2014, the Urban Canid Project has heavily emphasized outreach and public engagement in the study of Madison’s foxes and coyotes. So far, its efforts have met success.