Tag Research
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
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
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
UW-Madison life-expectancy paper nabs top honor from APHA
Work published by three University of Wisconsin researchers regarding decreasing the gap in life expectancy of the United States population compared to European peers, earned top honors from the American Public Health Association. Read More
Study: Division I college athletes outpace student peers in mental health
The finding is surprising, as previous research examining smaller groups of international, elite or college athletes had offered mixed results on athlete mental health. 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
NOAA cooperative institutes, like the University of Wisconsin–Madison Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS), play a key role in mitigating weather-related losses by increasing innovation and research opportunities. Read More
Are Fitbits the answer to nurse fatigue?
A UW–Madison School of Nursing professor is using activity trackers on nurses to uncover important data about what causes fatigue in the work environment and what health systems can do to minimize its impact. 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
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
New gene editing tool drives stem cell services and discovery
At just two-and-a-half years old, the University of Wisconsin–Madison Human Stem Cell Gene Editing Service is already contemplating expansion, partly because of demand for a new gene editing tool called CRISPR-Cas9. Read More
Humans may be reversing the climate clock, by 50 million years
According to a new study, Earth climates by 2150 could compare to the warm and mostly ice-free Eocene, an epoch that characterized the globe 50 million years ago. Read More
Forget ‘needle in a haystack.’ Try finding an invasive species in a lake.
A new study may explain why the tiny and invasive spiny water flea passed undetected in Lake Mendota, one of the most-studied lakes in the world, for a decade. Read More
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. Read More
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. Read More
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. Read More
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. Read More