Students, faculty and staff are motivated by a tradition known as the "Wisconsin Idea," described by UW President Charles Van Hise in 1904 as the compelling need to carry "the beneficent influence of the university ... to every home in the state." The Wisconsin Idea permeates the university’s work and helps forge close working relationships among university faculty and students and the state’s industries and government.

Scientists find gene in obese mice that increases Type 2 diabetes

30 September 2006 - University of Wisconsin-Madison In a painstaking set of experiments in overweight mice, scientists from the University of Wisconsin-Madison have discovered a gene that appears to play an important role in the onset of type 2 diabetes.

New approach allows closer look at smoker lungs

03 September 2006 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Aided by a powerful imaging technique, scientists have discovered they can detect smoking-related lung damage in healthy smokers who otherwise display none of the telltale signs of tobacco use.

New semiconductors fashioned into flexible membranes

03 September 2006 - University of Wisconsin-Madison University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers have demonstrated a way to release thin membranes of semiconductors from a substrate and transfer them to new surfaces, an advance that could unite the properties of silicon and many other materials, including diamond, metal and even plastic.

Basic work on E Coli identifies two new keys to regulation of bacterial gene expression

02 September 2006 - University of Wisconsin-Madison The cellular process of transcription, in which the enzyme RNA polymerase constructs chains of RNA from information contained in DNA, depends upon previously underappreciated sections of both the DNA promoter region and RNA polymerase, according to work done with the bacterium E. coli and published in the journal Cell by a team of bacteriologists from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Scientists discover master key to microbes’ pathogenic lifestyles

02 September 2006 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Inhaled into the lungs of a mammal, spores from a class of six related soil molds found around the world encounter a new, warmer environment. And as soon as they do, they rapidly shift gears and assume the guise of pathogenic yeast, causing such serious and sometimes deadly afflictions as blastomycosis and histoplasmosis.

Researchers find new clues to biochemistry of anti-aging

01 September 2006 - University of Wisconsin-Madison University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers have found that sirtuins, a family of enzymes linked to a longer life span and healthier aging in humans, may orchestrate the activity of other enzymes involved in metabolic processes in the body.

New technologies provides Virtual symposium on nanotechnology

01 September 2006 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Educators from around Wisconsin will join with educators in Indiana and Minnesota to explore the convergence of nanotechnology and biotechnology with a panel of experts drawn from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the National Science Foundation and Wisconsin's biotechnology community. The New Technologies symposium will originate from the Pyle Center at UW-Madison and will be broadcast live via Internet2 beginning at 8 a.m.

Mechanical engineers have developed a method for fabricating 'packages' of tiny sensors

31 August 2006 - University of Wisconsin-Madison University of Wisconsin-Madison mechanical engineers have developed a method for fabricating 'packages' of tiny sensors that measure temperature more accurately than bulk thermocouples. Inserted unobtrusively in critical locations, these metal-embedded micro-thin film thermocouples could more effectively monitor conditions and diagnose problems during manufacturing processes such as injection-molding or die-casting.

New process makes diesel fuel, industrial chemicals from simple sugar

31 August 2006 - University of Wisconsin-Madison The soaring prices of oil and natural gas have sparked a race to make transportation fuels from plant matter instead of petroleum. Both biodiesel and gasoline containing ethanol are starting to make an impact on the market.

Researchers study why waste in bioreatctor landfills degrades in haste

31 August 2006 - University of Wisconsin-Madison It's not that the University of Wisconsin-Madison professor of civil and environmental engineering is excessively messy. Rather, he's studying bioreactor landfills, a relatively recent technology in solid-waste management that may help landfill owners make better use of their land-and of the waste itself.

Morgridge discovery grants spark creative, collaborative proposals for research

30 August 2006 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Response to the effort by John and Tashia Morgridge to jump-start the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery by providing $3 million in seed grants for research has exceeded expectations, generating more than 220 initial proposals.

Study, Body image is not just white woman’s burden

29 August 2006 - University of Wisconsin-Madison As the mass media continues to bombard us with airbrushed images of stick-thin supermodels, it's no surprise that scores of women in the United States now judge their own bodies by those standards, and often start hating themselves in the process.

Study, Exercise, diet may project against colorectal cancer

29 August 2006 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Voluntary exercise and a restricted diet reduced the number and size of pre-cancerous polyps in the intestines of male mice and improved survival, according to a study by a University of Wisconsin-Madison research published in the journal Carcinogenesis.

New smoking study shows extremely high quit rates

28 August 2006 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Early data from the Wisconsin Smokers' Health Study suggest that treatments provided in the study are producing some of the highest quit rates ever achieved. Among study participants receiving active medication, more than 60 percent have remained tobacco-free at the end of treatment (one of the measures used by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

New program to advance personal health care through technology

28 August 2006 - University of Wisconsin-Madison The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation today issued a call for proposals for a new program to stimulate innovations in personal health information technology. The project is directed by Patricia Flatley Brennan, professor of nursing and industrial engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Study finds emotional benefits from participation in computer support groups

22 March 2006 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Women with breast cancer who participate in computer support groups can obtain emotional benefits when they openly express themselves in ways that help them make sense of their cancer experience, according to a new study conducted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Center of Excellence in Cancer Communications Research.

Researchers say environmental pollution is important piece of social justice debate

22 March 2006 - University of Wisconsin-Madison While environmental pollutants constantly swirl around children in all walks of life, past research has shown that children in poor, minority populations are disproportionately likely to be exposed to harmful toxins such as lead and agricultural pesticides.

Researcher carves out role of champion of cheese

16 March 2006 - University of Wisconsin-Madison The most ironic thing about Mark Johnson, one of Wisconsin's leading experts on cheese, is that he spent the first half of his life simply hating the stuff. 'Even after I became a cheese-maker I just hated the taste of cheese,' he says. 'And cottage cheese was the worst.'

Scientists revealhow deadly toxin hijacks cells

16 March 2006 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Scientists have pinpointed exactly how botulinum neurotoxin A, a potential agent of biological warfare and one of the most lethal toxins known to humans - is able to sneak into cells.

New superconducting material packs an applied punch

07 March 2006 - University of Wisconsin-Madison The jolt of excitement from the January discovery of a new high-temperature superconducting metal, magnesium diboride, may get another voltage boost this week with evidence that the material can carry electrical currents at high density.

Liquid crystals show promise in controlling embryonic stem cells

06 March 2006 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Liquid crystals, the same phase-shifting materials used to display information on cell phones, monitors and other electronic equipment, can also be used to report in real time on the differentiation of embryonic stem cells.

New study, Baby’s face lights up emotional centre of new mum’s brain

27 February 2006 - University of Wisconsin-Madison When a new mom gazes at her baby, it's not just her mood that lights up, it's also a brain region associated with emotion processing, according to a new study from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Taste gene may play role in smoking

22 February 2006 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Recent research on the genetics of smoking has focused on genes that are thought to be related to nicotine metabolism, personality traits, and regulation of emotions. According to a genetic study just published in 'Nicotine and Tobacco Research,' genes responsible for taste also may yield important information about who smokes and why they smoke.

Study shows link between clear lakes and mercury contamination

15 February 2006 - University of Wisconsin-Madison As spring approaches, thousands of anglers eagerly anticipate the day they can cast their lines into a clear lake and pull out fish for dinner. But at the same time, departments of natural resources in approximately 40 states issue advisories that help fishermen avoid eating a mercury-contaminated catch.

Scientists find a way to make human collagen in the lab

13 February 2006 - University of Wisconsin-Madison It is the most important structural protein in the body, reinforcing connective tissue, bones and teeth, and forming long, fibrous cables to strengthen tendons. Collagen forms sheets of tissue that support the skin and every internal organ. There is nothing in the body, in fact, that does not depend in some way on collagen.

Study explains unexpected conductivity of nanoscale silicon

08 February 2006 - University of Wisconsin-Madison When graduate student Pengpeng Zhang successfully imaged a piece of silicon just 10 nanometers-or a millionth of a centimeter-in thickness, she and her University of Wisconsin-Madison co-researchers were puzzled. According to established thinking, the feat should be impossible because her microscopy method required samples that conduct electricity.

Archaeologists find evidence of earliest African slaves brought to new world

31 January 2006 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Now, digging in a colonial era graveyard in one of the oldest European cities in Mexico, archaeologists have found what they believe are the oldest remains of slaves brought from Africa to the New World. The remains date between the late-16th century and the mid-17th century, not long after Columbus first set foot in the Americas.

Scientists grow critical nerve cells

31 January 2006 - University of Wisconsin-Madison After years of trial and error, scientists have coaxed human embryonic stem cells to become spinal motor neurons, critical nervous system pathways that relay messages from the brain to the rest of the body.

Study finds Resume Padding prevalent in College-bound students who volunteer

30 January 2006 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Although the rates of volunteerism among high schoolers appear to be healthy, a study by a University of Wisconsin-Madison researcher suggests that 'resume-padding', not simple altruis, may be the driving force.

How to make mentors matter in the sciences

29 January 2006 - University of Wisconsin-Madison The sentiment is not without some truth in the challenging world of research science, where an advisor's ability to step in as an encouraging mentor is sometimes the one thing that keeps a student going.

New canine cancer vaccine shows early promise

26 January 2006 - University of Wisconsin-Madison It wasn't publicized, other than by word of mouth, and still the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine was overwhelmed with requests. Since 1998, the school's oncology department has been producing an anti-cancer vaccine for dogs diagnosed with melanoma.

UW Scientists unravel genetic puzzle for flu virus replication

25 January 2006 - University of Wisconsin-Madison But although much is known about the genes and inner workings of flu viruses, how the microbe organizes its genetic contents to seed future generations of viruses has remained an enduring mystery of biology.

Scientists link another gene to degenerative blindness

18 January 2006 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Researchers have labored for decades to understand blindness-inducing neurodegenerative diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa.

New study examines usage of online breast cancer support groups

18 January 2006 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Stereotypes about who will use online support groups are wrong, according to research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The researchers found that age, income and education did not predict participation, although minorities were not as active as other users.

New tools offers weather for the palm of your hand

16 January 2006 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Weather lovers have a new tool at hand to obtain weather information on demand through a PDA-friendly weather Web service created by Russ Dengel at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Study reveals classic symbiotic relationship between ants, bacteria

05 January 2006 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Ants that tend and harvest gardens of fungus have a secret weapon against the parasites that invade their crops: antibiotic-producing bacteria that the insects harbor on their bodies.

Radiation studies key to nuclear reactor life, recycling spent fuel

28 December 2005 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Two University of Wisconsin-Madison projects to study advanced materials and fuels for current and future nuclear reactors received roughly $1 million this month under the Department of Energy Nuclear Energy Research Initiative.

New study shows animal family tree looking bushy in places

22 December 2005 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Two decades ago, with the advent of methods to look at the family relationships of different organisms by analyzing DNA, scientists envisioned it would only be a matter of time before the various family trees for plants, animals, fungi and their kin would be resolved with genetic precision.

Alzheimer’s Research sheds light on creatine’s presence in Brain

21 December 2005 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Alzheimer's disease is one of the most hauntingly destructive maladies to wreak havoc on humans. It robs children of parents and spouses of each other-with lifetimes of memories lost forever behind blank stares.

New study on engineered stem cells

15 December 2005 - University of Wisconsin-Madison One of the great challenges for treating Parkinson's diseases and other neurodegenerative disorders is getting medicine to the right place in the brain. The brain is a complex organ with many different types of cells and structures, and it is fortified with a protective barrier erected by blood vessels and glial cells - the brain's structural building block, that effectively blocks the delivery of most drugs from the bloodstream.

New study offers strategy for treatment of fatal nervous system disorder

12 December 2005 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Working with mice, University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers have developed the basis for a therapeutic strategy that could provide hope for children afflicted with Krabbe's disease, a fatal nervous system disorder.

New maps reveal true extent of human footprint on earth

05 December 2005 - University of Wisconsin-Madison As global populations swell, farmers are cultivating more and more land in a desperate bid to keep pace with the ever-intensifying needs of humans. As a result, agricultural activity now dominates more than a third of the Earth's landscape and has emerged as one of the central forces of global environmental change, say scientists at the Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Advances may enable on-the-spot prostate cancer treatment

01 December 2005 - University of Wisconsin-Madison A trio of innovations may enable physicians to plan prostate cancer patients' treatment in real time and to implant cancer-killing radiation 'seeds' more accurately and efficiently.

Scientists report a new method to speed bird flu vaccine production

31 October 2005 - University of Wisconsin-Madison In the event of an influenza pandemic, the world's vaccine manufacturers will be in a race against time to forestall calamity. But now, thanks to a new technique to more efficiently produce the disarmed viruses that are the seed stock for making flu vaccine in large quantities, life-saving inoculations may be available more readily than before. The work is especially important as governments worldwide prepare for a predicted pandemic of avian influenza.

New study on Japanese marriage slump

24 October 2005 - University of Wisconsin-Madison It seems obvious to assume that marriage rates are waning in the industrialized world because women are more educated and financially independent than ever before. But sociologists say the connection is hardly so black or white.

New study shows deer in CWD Zone stick to home

21 October 2005 - University of Wisconsin-Madison That is the upshot of an intensive study of the traveling behaviors of 173 radio-collared white-tailed deer in south central Wisconsin. The new results, which surprised researchers by revealing how little deer move about the landscape, are important because they may help researchers and wildlife managers better understand how chronic wasting disease spreads.

White-tailed deer, it seems, are homebodies

21 October 2005 - University of Wisconsin-Madison That is the upshot of an intensive study of the traveling behaviors of 173 radio-collared white-tailed deer in south central Wisconsin. The new results, which surprised researchers by revealing how little deer move about the landscape, are important because they may help researchers and wildlife managers better understand how chronic wasting disease spreads.

Fatty acids found in milk may help control inflammatory diseases

18 October 2005 - University of Wisconsin-Madison One of the isomers of conjugated linoleic acid, a group of fatty acids found in milk, is a natural regulator of the COX-2 protein, which plays a significant role in inflammatory disease such as arthritis and cancer, according to a study published by University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers.

Flu virus reported to resist drug envisioned for pandemic

14 October 2005 - University of Wisconsin-Madison An avian influenza virus isolated from an infected Vietnamese girl has been determined to be resistant to the drug oseltamivir, the compound better known by its trade name Tamiflu, and the drug officials hope will serve as the front line of defense for a feared influenza pandemic.

New battery technology helps stimulate nerves

03 October 2005 - University of Wisconsin-Madison With the help of new silicon-based compounds, scientists, and patients, are getting a significant new charge out of the tiny lithium batteries used in implantable devices to help treat nervous system and other disorders.

Scratching the surface: Researchers reveal insights on silicon semiconductors

30 September 2005 - University of Wisconsin-Madison 'Smaller. Faster. Wildly complex.' This could easily be the motto for semiconductors-the materials that, among lots of other advances in electronics, allow cell phones to continuously shrink in size while increasing the number of their mind-boggling functions.

New research, Deep, deep sleep short-circuits brain’s grid of connectivity

29 September 2005 - University of Wisconsin-Madison In the human brain, cells talk to one another through the routine exchange of electrical signals. But when people fall into a deep sleep, the higher regions of the brain, regions that during waking hours are a bustling grid of neural dialogue, apparently lose their ability to communicate effectively, causing consciousness to fade.

Structures of marine toxins provide insight into their effectiveness as cancer drugs

26 September 2005 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Vibrantly colored creatures from the depths of the South Pacific Ocean harbor toxins that potentially can act as powerful anti-cancer drugs, according to research findings from University of Wisconsin-Madison biochemists and their Italian colleagues.

Student survey shows surging demand for wireless access

06 September 2005 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Mobility is the new mantra for student technology usage on campus, according to an annual survey that finds laptop computer ownership about to surpass desktop computers and an expanding interest in wireless access.

A single gene controls a key difference between maize and its wild ancestor

31 August 2005 - University of Wisconsin-Madison One of the greatest agricultural and evolutionary puzzles is the origin of maize, and part of the answer may lie in a plot of corn on the western edge of Madison, where a hybrid crop gives new life to ancient genetic material.

Microbiology at UW-Madison benefits from rich research tradition

31 August 2005 - University of Wisconsin-Madison The latest research from Rick Gourse's lab is another link in the chain of fundamental breakthroughs on the biology of E. coli that have come from UW-Madison scientists.

New study, Brain structures contribute to asthma attack severity

29 August 2005 - University of Wisconsin-Madison The mere mention of a stressful word like 'wheeze' can activate two brain regions in asthmatics during an attack, and this brain activity may be associated with more severe asthma symptoms, according to a study by University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers and collaborators.

Polymer bandages may give new life to old bridges

15 August 2005 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Long polymer 'bandages,' designed so that troops could quickly repair or reinforce bridges to bear the weight of 113-ton military tank transport vehicles, now could be used to quickly and inexpensively strengthen aging rural bridges and concrete culverts around the country.

Polymer bandages may give new life to old bridges

15 August 2005 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Long polymer 'bandages,' designed so that troops could quickly repair or reinforce bridges to bear the weight of 113-ton military tank transport vehicles, now could be used to quickly and inexpensively strengthen aging rural bridges and concrete culverts around the country.

Polymer bandages may give new life to old bridges

15 August 2005 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Long polymer 'bandages,' designed so that troops could quickly repair or reinforce bridges to bear the weight of 113-ton military tank transport vehicles, now could be used to quickly and inexpensively strengthen aging rural bridges and concrete culverts around the country.

Animal study suggests broader neurological damage from fetal alcohol syndrome

09 August 2005 - University of Wisconsin-Madison The chemical pathways by which alcohol causes neurological cell death in chick embryos overlap with the pathways that give alcohol its addictive properties, a University of Wisconsin-Madison fetal alcohol researcher announced in a study published this month in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.

New research into building better small machines

14 July 2005 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Do diamonds really last forever? That's the hope of University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers who are trying to solve the problems associated with building extremely small machines and having them withstand the test of time, wear and tear.

Engineer creates new tool for keeping computers cool

11 July 2005 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Anyone who has listened to the constant whir of a computer's fan or held a laptop for too long knows how blazing hot computers can get. In fact, today's ultra-powerful computers generate so much heat that air cooling technology can't keep pace anymore, says University of Wisconsin-Madison mechanical engineering professor Tim Shedd.

New oncologist at Veterinary School offers innovative cancer treatment options

22 June 2005 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Dr. Ruthanne Chun, a clinical veterinary oncologist who joined the staff this month of the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, is dedicated to finding new and better ways to treat animals with cancer.

Study spells out new evidence for roots of dyslexia

31 May 2005 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Addressing a persistent debate in the field of dyslexia research, scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Southern California have disproved the popular theory that deficits in certain visual processes cause the spelling and reading woes commonly suffered by dyslexics.

Researchers devise nano-scale method for investigating living systems

28 April 2005 - University of Wisconsin-Madison By observing how tiny specks of crystal move through the layers of a biological membrane, a team of electrical and computer engineers and biologists has devised a new method for investigating living systems on the molecular level.

Newly discovered pathway by which cells protect themselves from a toxic byproduc

25 April 2005 - University of Wisconsin-Madison A newly discovered pathway by which cells protect themselves from a toxic byproduct of photosynthesis may hold important implications for bioenergy sources, human and plant disease, and agricultural yields, a team of University of Wisconsin-Madison bacteriologists announced Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Unveiling a delivery method may one day help surgeons treat neurodegenerative disease

19 April 2005 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Unveiling a delivery method that may one day help surgeons treat the deadly neurodegenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have inserted engineered human stem cells into the spinal cords of ALS-afflicted rats.

Certain Chlamydia infections can be clearly linked to serious heart attacks in relatively young men

11 April 2005 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Certain Chlamydia infections, the kind that cause flu-like respiratory symptoms in thousands of people each year, can be clearly linked to serious heart attacks in relatively young men, according to a new study by University of Wisconsin Medical School researchers and their collaborators at Johns Hopkins University schools of medicine and public health.

In solution, tiny magnetic wires scatter light

13 March 2005 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Manoeuvring external magnets, scientists can command the direction in which light bounces off tiny, magnetic wires that sway like matchsticks in thick, slow-moving solutions.

Small genetic molecule may help pinpoint some cancers

08 March 2005 - University of Wisconsin-Madison In recent years, scientists have begun to catalog an astonishing array of small, distinct genetic elements that seem to play an important role in how genes function.

Brain tests suggest autistic children shy from eye contact because they perceive familiar face as a threat

07 March 2005 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Brain tests at the University of Wisconsin-Madison suggest that autistic children shy from eye contact because they perceive even the most familiar face as an uncomfortable threat.

Climate change is very likely to set the stage for an unhealthier one

21 February 2005 - University of Wisconsin-Madison As a result, governments and health officials need to begin to think about how to respond to an anticipated increase in the number and scope of climate-related health crises, ranging from killer heat waves and famine, to floods and waves of infectious diseases.

New instrument more befitting a space-based telescope than a ground-based monster

28 January 2005 - University of Wisconsin-Madison In the spring of 2005, when the new Southern African Large Telescope trains its huge eye on the southern sky for the first time, the starlight it gathers will be parsed and analyzed by an instrument more befitting a space-based telescope than a ground-based monster.

Researchers study enzymes, known as flavin-containing monoxygenases or FMOs

27 January 2005 - University of Wisconsin-Madison People with a rare enzyme mutation that makes their bodies smell like rotten fish find it devastating. Among those afflicted, suicide rates are high. But can those same enzymes yield desirable effects as well?

Scientists may have found a better way to sample bone calcium balance in humans

17 December 2004 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Adapting a technique used routinely by geologists to measure the chemical composition of rocks, scientists may have found a better way to sample bone calcium balance in humans. In a report to scientists here today (Dec. 17, 2004) at the fall meeting of the American Geophysical Union, University of Wisconsin-Madison paleontologist Joseph Skulan described the application of a standard geochemical technique to measure calcium isotopes in human urine.

New technology provides real-world data for distance athletes

14 December 2004 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Professional athletes, including cyclists and distance runners, soon will have a powerful new tool to predict energy expenditure and performance during a race, thanks to a collaboration between the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Saris Cycling Group of Madison. The technology also has potential medical applications, including helping to treat obese children and adults and cardiac patients.

Gene from 1918 virus proves key to virulent influenza

06 October 2004 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Using a gene resurrected from the virus that caused the 1918 Spanish influenza pandemic, recorded history's most lethal outbreak of infectious disease, scientists have found that a single gene may have been responsible for the devastating virulence of the virus.

Tiny arm shuttles electrons in a new transisto

29 September 2004 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Using a vibrating arm less than one-millionth of an inch long and one-thousand times thinner than a human hair, a new transistor toggles on and off through the movement of a single electron.

New program simplifies growers’ access to UW-Madison potato varieties

16 September 2004 - University of Wisconsin-Madison With guidance from Wisconsin's potato growers, the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation has launched a streamlined licensing program for seed potato farmers who wish to cultivate and sell varieties developed by the potato-breeding program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Researchers find new clues to biochemistry of anti-aging

01 September 2004 - University of Wisconsin-Madison University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers have found that sirtuins, a family of enzymes linked to a longer life span and healthier aging in humans, may orchestrate the activity of other enzymes involved in metabolic processes in the body.

Scientists struggle to pinpoint how the drugs work in the brain

29 August 2004 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Although millions depend on medications such as Ritalin to quell symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, scientists have struggled to pinpoint how the drugs work in the brain.

Scientists struggle to pinpoint how the drugs work in the brain

29 August 2004 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Although millions depend on medications such as Ritalin to quell symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, scientists have struggled to pinpoint how the drugs work in the brain.

Study reveals how ADHD drugs work in brain

28 August 2004 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Although millions depend on medications such as Ritalin to quell symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, scientists have struggled to pinpoint how the drugs work in the brain.

Heart health, New tool brings people out of the gray zone

10 August 2004 - University of Wisconsin-Madison A picture is worth a thousand words, especially if it's of your arteries, suggests a new study published in the July issue of Clinical Cardiology. By non-invasively imaging the thickness of carotid arteries, the major vessels running up the neck and supplying the brain with blood, preventive cardiologists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have helped to show people a clearer picture of their chances of developing heart disease or having a stroke.

Researchers work to prevent intentional food contamination

08 July 2004 - University of Wisconsin-Madison The University of Wisconsin-Madison will use its share of a three-year, $15 million grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to investigate ways to detect intentional contamination of the nation's food supply.

Tackling Tuberculosis, First steps towards new vaccine

08 July 2004 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Tuberculosis, a mycobacterium that infects human lungs, still claims the lives of about 2 million people every year. Existing vaccines provide questionable protection, and they can even cause disease in individuals with compromised immune systems.

A new technology developed will be a third eye during breast biopsies

06 July 2004 - University of Wisconsin-Madison A new technology developed by a research group headed by Nimmi Ramanujam, assistant professor of biomedical engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, will be a 'third eye' during breast biopsies and can increase the chance for an accurate clinical diagnosis of breast cancer.

New study shows phonics is critical for skilled reading

06 July 2004 - University of Wisconsin-Madison By developing a computer model that mimics how children learn to read, two researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Stanford University track the development of a skilled reader, ultimately showing that phonics gives readers an edge, especially early on.

Researchers & artists will start reaching larger audiences when new Research Channel shows

15 June 2004 - University of Wisconsin-Madison University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers and artists will start reaching larger audiences when the Research Channel shows four documentaries that focus on work at the university.

Researchers report major advance in gene therapy technique

03 June 2004 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Despite a roller-coaster ride of ups and downs during the past 15 years, gene therapy has continued to attract many of the world's brightest scientists. They are tantalized by the enormous potential that replacing missing genes or disabling defective ones offers for curing diseases of many kinds.

New technology enhances WWII memorial experience

28 May 2004 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Thousands of veterans and their families will attend the Memorial Day weekend dedication of the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. Those visitors can find their names and the names and service information of their friends and family members using touch-screen kiosks that incorporate accessibility technologies developed at the Trace Research and Development Center in the College of Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

New orbiting infrared telescope are revealing that the Milky Way is making new stars

27 May 2004 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Some of the first data from a new orbiting infrared telescope are revealing that the Milky Way, and by analogy galaxies in general, is making new stars at a much more prolific pace than astronomers imagined.

Study shows that genes can protect kids against poverty

25 May 2004 - University of Wisconsin-Madison For children growing up poor, money isn't the only solution to overcoming the challenges of poverty. According to a new study, the genes and warm support received from parents also can buffer these children against many of the cognitive and behavioral problems for which poverty puts them at risk. The findings are published in the May issue of the journal Child Development.

New research show that reasons for smoking vary

20 May 2004 - University of Wisconsin-Madison An article proposing a new method for measuring tobacco addiction, published in the latest edition of The Journal of Clinical and Consulting Psychology, suggests that one size does not fit all when it comes to motivations for smoking.

Researchers will investigate what happens if infectious prion

18 May 2004 - University of Wisconsin-Madison With funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a group of University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers will investigate what happens if infectious prion proteins, considered the cause of chronic wasting disease and mad cow disease, enter wastewater treatment plants.

New drug derived from hot peppers relieves post-shingles pain

30 April 2004 - University of Wisconsin-Madison The thousands of people who suffer from postherpetic neuralgia, the severe burning pain that often follows the skin infection commonly known as shingles, now have new, durable relief from an unexpected source: capsaicin, the alkaloid that makes hot peppers hot.

New storage method amplifies cells available for science

30 March 2004 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Like many other kinds of cells used in biomedical research, human embryonic stem cells are stored and transported in a cryopreserved state, frozen to -320 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature of their liquid nitrogen storage bath.

According to new research viruses may provide new way to defeat them

29 March 2004 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Viruses, often able to outsmart many of the drugs designed to defeat them, may have met their match, according to new research from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Microbes trick provides a template for willowy crystals

11 March 2004 - University of Wisconsin-Madison In recent years, scientists have unearthed a trove of subterranean microbial oddities, bugs that live and thrive in bizarre and extreme environments, and that accomplish remarkable feats to survive there.

Studies offer new insight into HIV vaccine development

16 February 2004 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Mutations that allow AIDS viruses to escape detection by the immune system may also hinder the viruses' ability to grow after transmission to new hosts, scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison announced this week in the journal Nature Medicine.

Coffee-shop research probes understanding of politics

15 January 2004 - University of Wisconsin-Madison When Katherine Cramer Walsh picked up a coffeepot and started pouring java for the regulars in a Michigan coffee shop one morning, she began three years of intimate research that revealed how ordinary people make sense of politics through casual conversation.

Lasers have been harnessed to an entirely new purpose: slicing cheese

12 January 2004 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Lasers do everything these days, from removing tattoos to playing music on compact discs. Now, in the great dairy state of Wisconsin, lasers have been harnessed to an entirely new purpose: slicing cheese.

Researchers identify key player in respiratory memory

15 December 2003 - University of Wisconsin-Madison By studying the 'memory' of the respiratory system, a group of researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison has identified a key player, a protein called BDNF that's involved in learning, responsible for the body's ability to keep breathing properly, despite the challenges it may face.

Research generates reliable energy source during outages

08 December 2003 - University of Wisconsin-Madison As utility companies search for ways to avoid blackouts, like the one that shut down the northeastern corner of the United States last summer, one idea comes from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Brain study shows some animals crave exercise

01 December 2003 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Like junkies without drugs, mice without running wheels crave what they lack, suggesting that some animals can develop an addiction for exercise, report scientists in the journal Behavioral Neuroscience.

Device may help keep dog knees limber

12 November 2003 - University of Wisconsin-Madison As our canine companions get older, a common joint problem could leave many of them stiff in the knee. Fortunately, a new device developed by researchers at UW-Madison's School of Veterinary Medicine may help veterinarians catch the problem early, before it results in permanent arthritis.

New nutritional solution for cat hairballs

30 September 2003 - University of Wisconsin-Madison It's a question most people wouldn't think, or want, really, to consider: What's in the average cat hairball besides hair? A team of scientists did ponder that question, however, and their curiosity has produced a new nutritional solution for hairballs that may improve the lives of thousands of felines and their owners.

Potent toxin reveals new antibiotic resistance mechanism

11 September 2003 - University of Wisconsin-Madison One of the great frustrations of modern medicine is the creeping ability of pathogenic microbes to develop resistance to the antibiotics we throw at them. More and more, microbes are able to eliminate, modify and sequester the toxic molecules that make up the arsenal of antibiotics that humans use to treat infection, making once-miraculous drugs increasingly impotent. Now, adding to the mix of devices dangerous microbes deploy to evade destruction by antibiotics, scientists have discovered another way pathogens escape from the most potent drugs: self-sacrifice.

Researchers study why waste in bioreatctor landfills degrades in haste

31 August 2003 - University of Wisconsin-Madison It's not that the University of Wisconsin-Madison professor of civil and environmental engineering is excessively messy. Rather, he's studying bioreactor landfills, a relatively recent technology in solid-waste management that may help landfill owners make better use of their land-and of the waste itself.

ES cell model could provide clues to causes, cures for diabetes

28 July 2003 - University of Wisconsin-Madison By studying embryonic stem cells from a mouse, researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have identified a potential model system for elucidating the stages of normal pancreatic development, as well as for developing a much-needed source of insulin-producing cells for the millions of people who need them to treat their diabetes.

New findings suggest flaws in studies of alcohol use and cognition

22 July 2003 - University of Wisconsin-Madison A growing compendium of research that suggests moderate alcohol consumption provides a cognitive boost at midlife is seriously flawed, according to a new study. 'Don't believe it if you're told moderate drinking is good for you cognitively,' says Robert Hauser, a University of Wisconsin-Madison professor of sociology and a co-author of a new study that examined the relationship of alcohol intake and cognition on people in their mid-50s. 'The research is deeply flawed.'

Critical biological processes at work in humans were in place before advent of multicellular life on Earth

17 July 2003 - University of Wisconsin-Madison With the help of an obscure microorganism with ancient roots, scientists have discovered that critical biological processes at work today in humans and other animals were in place before the advent of multicellular life on Earth hundreds of millions of years ago.

Gene found that protects against potato blight

14 July 2003 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Scouring the genome of a wild Mexican potato, scientists have discovered a gene that protects potatoes against late blight, the devastating disease that caused the Irish potato famine.

Nickel-tin catalyst can replace platinum in a new process for making hydrogen fuel from plants

26 June 2003 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Writing this week in the journal Science chemical and biological engineers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison report the discovery of a nickel-tin catalyst that can replace the precious metal platinum in a new, environmentally sustainable, greenhouse-gas-neutral, low-temperature process for making hydrogen fuel from plants.

Study spells out new evidence for roots of dyslexia

31 May 2003 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Addressing a persistent debate in the field of dyslexia research, scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Southern California have disproved the popular theory that deficits in certain visual processes cause the spelling and reading woes commonly suffered by dyslexics.

New technique narrows hunt for gamma-ray blazars

28 May 2003 - University of Wisconsin-Madison In the quest to peel back the mysteries of some of the most compelling physics in the cosmos, the enigmatic high-energy gamma-ray blazer, a jet spouting from a giant black hole, promises new insight into some astrophysical phenomena that, tantalizingly, seem to be just beyond the grasp of astronomers.

Model helps scientists home in on tropical climate controls

21 May 2003 - University of Wisconsin-Madison It has long been known that tropical climate, by redistributing vast amounts of solar energy through welling hot air and the formation of towering cumulous clouds, influences weather in other parts of the world.

Scientists return to rat as biomedical research tool

20 May 2003 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Ever a favorite of biologists because of its record as a model to understand ailments like diabetes and cancer, the lab rat lost its luster as a research tool during the past decade because it defied attempts to manipulate its genome in a prescribed way.

Newly discovered pathway by which cells protect themselves from a toxic byproduc

25 April 2003 - University of Wisconsin-Madison A newly discovered pathway by which cells protect themselves from a toxic byproduct of photosynthesis may hold important implications for bioenergy sources, human and plant disease, and agricultural yields, a team of University of Wisconsin-Madison bacteriologists announced Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Researchers find second Athrax toxin receptor

07 April 2003 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Building on their 2001 discovery of a cellular doorway used by anthrax toxin to enter cells, University of Wisconsin Medical School researchers have found a second anthrax toxin doorway, or receptor. The finding could offer new clues to preventing the toxin's entrance into cells.

Growth factor shows promise in Parkinson’s patients

30 March 2003 - University of Wisconsin-Madison By pumping a potent growth factor directly into the human brain, an international team of scientists and surgeons has demonstrated significant remediation of the debilitating symptoms of patients with Parkinson's disease.

Liquid crystals show promise in controlling embryonic stem cells

06 March 2003 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Liquid crystals, the same phase-shifting materials used to display information on cell phones, monitors and other electronic equipment, can also be used to report in real time on the differentiation of embryonic stem cells.

Diamond film may enable critical new sensors for bioterror

04 March 2003 - University of Wisconsin-Madison In this time of the chronic threat of terrorism and the possibility of war with an adversary who may be armed with biological weapons, high on the wish list of security agencies and battlefield commanders is a quick and easy way to detect the presence of dangerous biological agents.

Tapeworm’s chemical trick make drugs more

01 March 2003 - University of Wisconsin-Madison To survive and thrive in a decidedly hostile environment, the lowly tapeworm uses a chemical trick to evade the propulsive nature of its intestinal home. Capitalizing on that tapeworm chemistry, scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison believe they may have found a way to slow the transit of drugs through the intestine, making them more effective in their delivery and holding out the promise not only of more effective treatment, but also of lowering dosage and cost, and eliminating wasted medicine.

Rare texts reveal the history of oxygen’s discovery

27 February 2003 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Competition and contention were present in abundance in the 'discovery' of oxygen, and two special collections in the University of Wisconsin-Madison libraries tell much of this lively piece of 18th-century history.

Study on infant development, You may not know it, but you took a course in linguistics as a baby

17 February 2003 - University of Wisconsin-Madison By listening to the talk around them, infants pick up sound patterns that help them understand the speech they hear, according to new research from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. But this research also shows that some patterns are easier to identify, suggesting that the development of human language may have been shaped by what infants could learn.

Orphanage experience alters brain development

17 February 2003 - University of Wisconsin-Madison During the last decade, many American families have opened their hearts and homes to children adopted from Eastern European orphanages. But after coming to the United States, these children often suffer from a set of developmental problems that affect their growth, learning and social interactions.

Methods provide new tools for diagnosing heart disease

11 February 2003 - University of Wisconsin-Madison A quick and painless technique recently developed by University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers could help clinicians identify signs of coronary heart disease, a condition that claims the lives of 2,000 Americans every day.

Scientists solve puzzle of how influenza builds its infectious seeds

27 January 2003 - University of Wisconsin-Madison By solving a long-standing puzzle about how the influenza virus assembles its genetic contents into infectious particles that enable the virus to spread from cell to cell, scientists have opened a new gateway to a better understanding of one of the world's most virulent diseases.

Study shows preschool can prevent child abuse

21 January 2003 - University of Wisconsin-Madison In one of Chicago's poorest neighborhoods, a little girl with pigtails and a denim jumper stands in front of a table and fingers the shape of wooden letters as she fits them into a puzzle. In the next room, her mother talks to a parent-resource teacher about taking the GED and how she can help her daughter with homework.

Pioneering study examines aging og Happy Days cohort

15 January 2003 - University of Wisconsin-Madison They say money can't buy love, but could it change the structure of your brain? When the going gets tough, do the tough live longer? And if an apple a day keeps the doctor away, what can hard apple cider do?

New technologies developed at UW-Madison

13 December 2002 - University of Wisconsin-Madison This tip sheet, a service of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, provides a quick summary of some of the latest campus research to find real-world application through the assistance of the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation. Contact numbers are listed for all items.

Researchers identify key to cancer cell mobility

06 November 2002 - University of Wisconsin-Madison In the race to cure cancer, researchers look for roadblocks that could stop cancer in its tracks, preventing it from spreading to other parts of the body. Scientists from the University of Wisconsin-Madison may have found that blockade, an enzyme critical to the ability of cells to metastasize, a biological phenomenon by which cells migrate. The findings are published in the Nov. 7 issue of the journal Nature.

Researchers identify enzyme that turns on RNA

18 September 2002 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Scientists have long searched for triggers that activate ribonucleic acid, a key component in gene expression. Now, in the journal Nature, scientists from the University of Wisconsin-Madison report that they have found an enzyme that activates RNA, which could lead to new ways of regulating genetic information.

Scientists develop atomic-scale memory

03 September 2002 - University of Wisconsin-Madison In 1959, physics icon Richard Feynman, in a characteristic back-of-the-envelope calculation, predicted that all the words written in the history of the world could be contained in a cube of material one two-hundredths of an inch wide, provided those words were written with atoms.

Scientists find genetic pathway to potent anticancer agents

15 August 2002 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Exploring the genomes of two different but related soil microbes, scientists from the University of Wisconsin-Madison have found the genes that govern the production of a class of highly potent anticancer agents.

Medicated ecosystems: Human drugs alter key aquatic organism

07 August 2002 - University of Wisconsin-Madison The overuse of antibiotics not only leads to more resistant strains of infection, but, according to new research from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, antibiotics also may be adversely affecting zooplankton, tiny organisms that underpin the health of all freshwater ecosystems.

Advance may lead to practical quantum computing

23 July 2002 - University of Wisconsin-Madison For the first time, University of Wisconsin-Madison scientists have designed a semiconductor-based device that can trap individual electrons and line them up, an advance that could bring quantum computing out of the gee-whiz world of scientific novelty and into the practical realm.

New UW solution stores organs even longer

16 July 2002 - University of Wisconsin-Madison In the late 1980s, University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers developed a synthetic solution that could safely store organs outside the body for longer than ever before. Their advance, known as the UW Solution, became the gold standard of organ preservation techniques.

New oncologist at Veterinary School offers innovative cancer treatment options

22 June 2002 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Dr. Ruthanne Chun, a clinical veterinary oncologist who joined the staff this month of the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, is dedicated to finding new and better ways to treat animals with cancer.

New satellite technique helps spot fast-growing fires

17 June 2002 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Spotting forest fires in remote areas will be faster and easier this summer as fire-weather forecasters begin using a new technique that automatically detects wildfires in environmental satellite imagery.

New sky survey instrument called WHAM

03 June 2002 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Using a new sky survey instrument called WHAM, astronomers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison have detected a faint gas that spreads into the far reaches of the galaxy and sometimes forms distinct strands that stretch halfway across the sky.

New hearing test simulates noise or real world

22 May 2002 - University of Wisconsin-Madison University of Wisconsin-Madison researcher Ruth Litovsky has developed a hearing test that simulates the noisy real world, and the results could improve our understanding not only of hearing but also of developmental and learning disabilities among children.

Researchers devise nano-scale method for investigating living systems

28 April 2002 - University of Wisconsin-Madison By observing how tiny specks of crystal move through the layers of a biological membrane, a team of electrical and computer engineers and biologists has devised a new method for investigating living systems on the molecular level.

New device may ease MRI breast biopsy procedure

25 April 2002 - University of Wisconsin-Madison With breast cancer, early detection may mean the difference between life and death. Today's doctors are increasingly using magnetic resonance imaging to find tiny masses of suspicious breast tissue they cannot see with conventional mammography or ultrasound.

New study, Cold sore virus is cause of new genital herpes

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