UW-Madison Science

Anchoring helpful genes away from parts of their chromosomes that were more likely to be remixed made tiny saltwater crustaceans better prepared to survive in freshwater ecosystems — like the Great Lakes. New research from Carol Eunmi Lee's UW–Madison lab shows how important genome architecture can be to adaptation to rapid environmental change.

UW researchers turn to the tiny copepod for a big discovery, showing that gene location influences natural selection The new study provides the first empirical evidence connecting the chromosomal location of genes to natural selection and how populations adapt to rapid environmental change.

Growing the future UW-Madison’s research stations help Wisconsin farmers stay on agriculture’s leading edge.

A team of scientists led by UW Madison Astronomy Department's Ke Zhang has published new measurements of gases in the disks swirling around young stars. The upshot? Gather ye Jupiters while ye may. Those gases will go a-flying.

Measuring gases around young stars, astronomers unlock major clues to planet formation UW–Madison astronomers and international collaborators have produced the most accurate measurement of the gases swirling around young stars and their changing mass over time. The discovery offers clues to how different types of planets form.

For decades, we've known a handful of changes to an otherwise unremarkable stretch of our genes upped the risk of coronary artery disease. But it took University of Wisconsin-Madison scientists to figure out why. Using stem cells coaxed into developing into the types of cells that line blood vessels, they could see the ones with the risky variations in their DNA take on some of the harder, less-flexible qualities of bone and cartilage cells — stiffening much like diseased arteries.

UW–Madison researchers find hidden genetic clues upping cardiovascular disease risk Understanding how the change in the genome increases risk for CAD is a step toward potentially preventing its damaging effects and perhaps one day developing therapeutic strategies to block the risky changes in arteries.

Science on the Square fused with the Madison Night Market last week for a fun and energetic night of hands-on science and local vendors in downtown Madison! Booths about physics, insects, soil science and even potatoes got attendees excited and engaged with and researchers⚛️ 🐝 🌱 🥔

Researchers overboard!! 🤿🐟Don’t worry though, they meant to do that.🫧 Freshwater scientists from and around the world have been heading up north to study the lakes in and around Trout Lake Station for over 100 years. This summer, we tagged along with some of our researchers as they checked on sensors with the help of scuba gear, collected water quality data, counted fish species, checked on wild rice restoration efforts and more, all the while enjoying the great outdoors of Northern Wisconsin. Read more at the link in our bio🔗

While reducing emissions is the primary way to achieve net-zero, according to a new report written by researchers , and other leading scholars, carbon dioxide removal technologies have a critical role to play in the global efforts to limit warming. “Regardless of how much carbon removal we deploy, we still need to make rapid and deep reductions in emissions,” says Nemet, one of the lead researchers. “But we can only avoid dangerous global temperatures if we scale up carbon removal to very large scale over the next two decades—and meeting that level requires active policymaking in the near term.” Read more about the report at the link in our bio.

Engineers have developed low-cost sensors that allow for real-time, continuous monitoring of nitrate in soil types that are common in Wisconsin. These printed electrochemical sensors could enable farmers to make better informed nutrient management decisions and reap economic benefits. “By measuring the nitrate, moisture and temperature at different depths, we can now quantify the process of nitrate leaching and capture how nitrate is moving through the soil, which hasn’t been possible before,” says Joseph Andrews of .

Join the science communicators and researchers behind Tomorrow's Yellowstone next Wednesday April 17th at 7pm for an engaging panel about the Yellowstone, climate change and the importance of science!Bring your curiosity and your questions!

We're so excited to be partnering with Crossroads of Ideas for this chance to share a behind the scenes look at the multimedia project. We'll be in person though a virtual option is available, be sure to register below. And in the meantime, check out Tomorrow's Yellowstone if you haven't already (link in comments). https://illuminatingdiscovery.wisc.edu/event/crossroads-of-ideas-yellowstone-climate-change-and-sharing-science/

What does your dog consider must-see TV? UW Madison School of Veterinary Medicine researchers want to know what pups would put in their streaming queue, with plans to improve canine eye exams.

Knowing what dogs like to watch could help veterinarians assess their vision Researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison have taken a novel approach to assessing canine vision. Their recent study uses a dog's interest in a variety of video content to better measure the quality of its vision.

The volunteer crew from UW MIA Recovery and Identification Project is in Belgium on a case, working to identify the remains of missing American service members. Follow their progress on their page and at https://mia.biotech.wisc.edu/

It’s a holiday back home, but in Belgium it’s a Tuesday, and for us, a workday.
The work continues…




Defense POW / MIA Accounting Agency
University of Wisconsin–Madison

New observations and excavations in South African caves by John Hawks and other University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers have found that early human ancestor Homo naledi intentionally buried their dead and made crosshatch engravings in the cave walls nearby.

Archeologists uncover evidence of intentional burial, cave engravings by early human ancestor Until now, scholars believed that the mental capacity behind complex cultural behaviors like burial and mark-making required a larger brain, like those of Neanderthals and Homo sapiens.