Science

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Ask Ms. Scientist: road salt and naps

What are the effects of road salt on the environment? How long is the perfect nap?

UW-Madison evolutionary biologist awarded Lewis Thomas Prize

Rockefeller University announced Thursday that Sean B. Carroll, UW-Madison evolutionary biologist and author, won the Lewis Thomas Prize for Writing about Science. The award was established in 1993 to honor individuals writing about science “whose voice and vision can tell us about science’s aesthetic and philosophical dimensions, providing not merely new information but cause for reflection, even revelation,” according to a university release.

Land arrangement alters water quality

The Yahara Watershed reaches around the city of Madison and its defining lakes. It’s a large stretch of land, spanning farms and forests and dotted by the occasional construction site that slowly reshapes and urbanizes its traditional farms and prairies.  In the center are five lakes, each one fed by the rain that flows down the periphery of the watershed and into the Yahara River, ultimately leading through the rivers and streams that join the Mississippi and drain into the Gulf of Mexico almost a thousand miles away.  In a Birge Hall lab seemingly isolated from that network of water that flows around it, Jiangxiao Qiu studied models of the region, observing data sets created from Department of Natural Resources mapping, UW-Madison’s Center for Limnology and other organizations.

Ask Ms. Scientist: windchill and chopping onions

How is the windchill index calculated? Why does chopping onions make me cry?

PTSD predator stress model reveals overactive neurotransmitter response

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a severe anxiety disorder that affects more and more people every day. Resulting from experiences of traumatic events, PTSD is characterized by intense recurring flashbacks and high emotions of fear when the patient is overly triggered by a normally mild stimulus.

Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies increases breadth in student education

With a variety of courses and flexible curriculum, the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies offers students the broad education they need to collectively solve environmental problems.

Ask Ms. Scientist: chronic stress and staying warm

Dear Ms. Scientist,

Bill Gates excitedly awaits death, biopics

After seeing the most recent film about the life and career of Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, software pioneer and co-founder of Microsoft, is absolutely ecstatic about the biographical films he expects to come out about him after he dies. “It’s just so exciting to think about all the great movies they might make about me,” said Gates while energetically bouncing around in his seat.

Ask Ms. Scientist: Thanksgiving and study jams

Dear Ms. Scientist,

Rocks reveal an oxygenated ocean earlier than assumed

The oceans of the Archean were nothing like today’s vast blue pools. In fact, these oceans lacked free oxygen. Until recently, it was thought the oceans’ water columns were uniformly anoxic until the Great Oxidation Event, which occurred 2.4-2.2 billion years ago. However, researchers at UW-Madison have discovered evidence of free oxygen in Earth’s shallow oceans much earlier.

Extending the bounds of modern chemistry

UW-Madison electron storage ring named historic site

The American Physical Society named a UW-Madison electron storage ring a historic site Friday, recognizing it as an imperative tool for many scientific studies over its 20 years of operation.

Science Podcast: Dr. Falh on Cancer

Dr. William Fahl has a long history at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He completed his B.S in zoology and chemistry in 1972 and went on to complete his Ph.D in physiology and oncology here in 1975. He is now a Professor of Oncology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and runs a research lab in the McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research. His lab's main interests involve finding a way to enable cells to protect their genomes against natural, environmental, or chemotherapy induced toxins. In this podcast, Dr. Fahl discusses the modern day approach to combating cancer as well as his lab's recent discoveries. One of these, which is a focus of this podcast, is the development of a protective drug molecule to prevent hair follicles from deteriorating during chemotherapy. This molecule is applied via a topical lotion which is absorbed into the scalp which then acts as a vasoconstrictor on hair cells and prevents them from receiving the toxic chemotherapy drugs which cause hair loss. This discovery is currently in clinical trials. If successful, this revolutionary discovery by Dr. Fahl and his lab has the potential to completely eliminate the adverse side effect of hair loss due to chemotherapy. 

Wisconsin Science Festival: Designing genes with synthetic biology

There are many committees held for the regulation of synthetic biology, the design and construction of new biological parts, devices and systems, including the redesigning of our existing biological systems such as designer genes. Many argue that designer genes could be used to cure diseases, such as Huntington’s disease, autism and cancer. Others argue that scientists are playing god when they can design genes. Most are unsure of the impact that it will have on society.

Wisconsin Science Festival: Pursuing science in a male-dominated field

Every year, the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery hosts the Wisconsin Science Festival, a two-day event where many local organizations set up activities for Madison-area children. Throughout the day, they also schedule a variety of talks centered on topics in science.

Ask Ms. Scientist: post-Halloween candy hangover

Dear Ms. Scientist,

Taking a stroll on the Lakeshore Path

The light shines through the branches and casts illuminated streaks on the surface of the Lakeshore Path.

Managing our ecosystems in smart and efficient ways

In an age where many things are micromanaged and controlled for the most efficient results, aquatic ecologist Stephen Carpenter says that this kind of management may end up being detrimental in the long run.

New museum celebrates local science

The city’s longstanding ties with historical scientific achievements have a new home in the Madison Science Museum, which opened Thursday.

Pharmacy garden embodies research of herbal medicine

Flaxseed, ginkgo, milk thistle–these recognizable names can likely be found at any grocery store.