I&D

• World phosphorous use crosses critical threshold Feb. 14, 2011 Recalculating the global use of phosphorous, a fertilizer linchpin of modern agriculture, a team of researchers warns that the world's stocks may soon be in short supply and that overuse in the industrialized world has become a leading cause of the pollution of lakes, rivers and streams.
• Leafcutter ant genome reveals secrets of fungus farming ways Feb. 10, 2011 Leafcutter ants, signature denizens of New World tropical forests, are unique in their ability to harvest fresh leaves to cultivate a nutrient-rich fungus as food.
• Program merges dual interests in science and policy Feb. 8, 2011 Melding of mind and policy matters is all in a day's work for the graduate students in the Neuroscience and Public Policy program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
• Art from above: Satellites see Wisconsin Feb. 7, 2011 Few know that the genesis of observing the Earth's weather from space is a Wisconsin idea.
• Rhythmic vibrations guide caste development in social wasps Jan. 24, 2011 Future queen or tireless toiler? A paper wasp's destiny may lie in the antennal drumbeats of its caretaker.
• Sharing the Joy: It’s a win-win situation for Badger Volunteers and community groups Jan. 18, 2011 Talk about Badger spirit. A volunteer program that started small now spreads the enthusiasm and generosity of more than 400 UW-Madison students each semester to schools, community centers, food banks and more. Starting Tuesday, Jan. 18, students can begin registering online to take part in the program during spring semester.
• Ever-sharp urchin teeth may yield tools that never need honing Dec. 22, 2010 To survive in a tumultuous environment, sea urchins literally eat through stone, using their teeth to carve out nooks where the spiny creatures hide from predators and protect themselves from the crashing surf on the rocky shores and tide pools where they live.
• World's largest neutrino observatory completed at South Pole Dec. 17, 2010 Culminating a decade of planning, innovation and testing, construction of the world's largest neutrino observatory was successfully completed today.
• Satellites give an eagle eye on thunderstorms Dec. 15, 2010 It's one of the more frustrating parts of summer. You check the weather forecast, see nothing dramatic, and go hiking or biking. Then, four hours later, a thunderstorm appears out of nowhere and ruins your afternoon.
• Study finds prayer can help handle harmful emotions Dec. 14, 2010 Those who choose to pray find personalized comfort during hard times, according to a University of Wisconsin-Madison sociologist.
• Good grades in high school linked to better health, study finds Dec. 7, 2010 The "A" grades that high-schoolers earn aren't just good for making the honor roll - they also make them healthier as adults, too.
• Age at first pregnancy associated with breast cancer risk Dec. 1, 2010 Having children later in life or not at all, combined with a trend in obesity may increase risk of a breast cancer that is hard to detect.
• Glowing squid rely on resident bacteria Nov. 30, 2010
• Banking on predictability, the mind increases efficiency Nov. 22, 2010 Like musical compression saves space on your mp3 player, the human brain has ways of recoding sounds to save precious processing power.
• Scientists ferret out a key pathway for aging Nov. 18, 2010 A team of scientists from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and their colleagues describe a molecular pathway that is a key determinant of the aging process.
• Months of geologic unrest signaled reawakening of Icelandic volcano Nov. 17, 2010 Months of volcanic restlessness preceded the eruptions this spring of Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull, providing insight into what roused it from its centuries of slumber.
• New GreenHouse for sustainability nurtures community Nov. 15, 2010 Though enticing, the food spread across the tables is only part of the point of this meal. The two dozen students at this Global Food for Thought dinner are here to feed their minds as well as their stomachs.
• Embryonic stem cell culturing grows from art to science Nov. 14, 2010 Growing human embryonic stem cells in the lab is no small feat. Culturing the finicky, shape-shifting cells is labor intensive and, in some ways, more art than exact science.
• Home-Field Advantage Nov. 5, 2010
• Chancellor conducts TelePresence meeting from China Nov. 5, 2010 As part of her trip to China and Taiwan, Chancellor Biddy Martin helped to inaugurate a cutting-edge videoconferencing device now available to the greater UW-Madison campus community.