Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

UW–Madison Science @uwmadscience.bsky.social · Sep 3

Have you heard somewhere that people may soon live to be 150 years old? Well, big gains in life expectancy may instead be on the wane. lafollette.wisc.edu/news/new-res...

New research reveals longevity gains slowing, life expectancy of 100 unlikely

A new study co-authored by a University of Wisconsin-Madison professor finds that life expectancy gains made by high-income countries in the first half of the 20th century have slowed significantly, a...

lafollette.wisc.edu

Reposted by UW–Madison Science

UW–Madison @uwmadison.bsky.social · Aug 7

When H5N1 avian influenza made a jump into dairy cattle in early 2024, the development prompted health and economic concerns. Since then, a team of researchers at UW–Madison has been working to answer important public health and food-safety questions: news.wisc.edu/uw-madison-v...

UW–Madison virologists are at the forefront of efforts to keep tabs on avian influenza in dairy milk

When H5N1 avian influenza made a jump into dairy cattle in early 2024, the development prompted health and economic concerns. Since then, a team of researchers at UW–Madison has been working to answer

news.wisc.edu

1 7

Reposted by UW–Madison Science

WARF (Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation) @warfnews.bsky.social · Jul 16

100 years ago, a ‪@uwmadisoncals.bsky.social discovery sparked the founding of WARF. Today, that partnership continues to drive innovation‬.

Here's to a century of impact and the future ahead!

#WARF100

https://grow.cals.wisc.edu/departments/features/a-century-of-research-partnerships

1 3

Reposted by UW–Madison Science

UW–Madison @uwmadison.bsky.social · Jul 2

Ecological restoration at the UW–Madison Arboretum helps create and manage the land's healthy native plant communities, and volunteer work parties are a vital part of the ongoing work.

A different kind of work party: Practicing ecological restoration at UW Arboretum

Ecological restoration at the UW Arboretum helps create and manage the land's healthy native plant communities, and volunteer work parties are a vital part of the ongoing work.

news.wisc.edu

2 11

Reposted by UW–Madison Science

UW–Madison @uwmadison.bsky.social · Jun 25

James Dahlberg received the Bayh-Dole Coalition’s American Innovator Award for his commitment to advancing federally funded inventions from the laboratory to real-world applications, including bringing several types of health screenings to homes and hospitals everywhere.

UW professor emeritus who paved the way for at-home colon cancer testing and other screenings earns national recognition

Earlier this month, the Bayh-Dole Coalition awarded James Dahlberg the American Innovator Award, recognizing his commitment to advancing federally funded inventions from the laboratory to real-world a

news.wisc.edu

4 7

UW–Madison Science @uwmadscience.bsky.social · Jun 17

'Baby' stars are typically surrounded by disks loaded with gas, but it isn't long before that mass starts to drift away. #UWMadison astronomers say that might mean gas giants like Jupiter need to form earlier than rocky planets like ours. news.wisc.edu/measuring-ga...

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 clue

news.wisc.edu

2 6

UW–Madison Science @uwmadscience.bsky.social · Jun 11

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 #UWMadison stem cell scientists in @valels.bsky.social's lab to figure out why. news.wisc.edu/uw-madison-r...

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

news.wisc.edu

4

UW–Madison Science @uwmadscience.bsky.social · Jun 10

Saved that tots recipe immediately.

2

UW–Madison Science @uwmadscience.bsky.social · May 28

Want a listen that will, as @kacarlab.bsky.social puts it, 'wire you up?'

"I will never forget that: I can hold a pen. And I can write. So, now, what do you do with it? What is the biggest question you can ask? What is the most important thing you can do with you life?"

Science Friday @scifri.bsky.social · May 27

From studying enzymes in zebrafish to leading efforts to resurrect ancient proteins, Betül Kaçar has taken a truly unique career path.

Hear the story of this pioneer in molecular paleobiology in Ep. 3 of “The Leap,” with @hypothesisfund.bsky.social‬.

pod.link/73329284/epi...

2 6

UW–Madison Science @uwmadscience.bsky.social · May 28

That's not MSN?

1

UW–Madison Science @uwmadscience.bsky.social · May 22

Love the bear. Way to go, @hollyrucker.bsky.social.

1 2

Reposted by UW–Madison Science

Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Center @wisconsinadrc.bsky.social · May 21

How much can family history impact one's Alzheimer's risk? Drs. Sterling Johnson and Jessica Langbaum join #DementiaMatters to discuss the latest research on family history and genetic risk factors, focusing on the APOE gene as a risk factor. Listen 🎧 go.wisc.edu/665xnq

3 6

Reposted by UW–Madison Science

UW–Madison @uwmadison.bsky.social · May 19

With proposed changes to NIH support, potentially life-saving research at UW–Madison would become slower and less ambitious. And the true cost would fall on those waiting for the next medical breakthrough, who would have to wait even longer.

The real costs of research funding cuts

UW–Madison could lose tens of millions of dollars in annual research support due to a proposed change in federal funding. But what’s really at stake? The university’s ability to advance life-saving re

news.wisc.edu

18 40

UW–Madison Science @uwmadscience.bsky.social · May 13

Congratulations to UW chemistry professor Martin Zanni on election to the @nasonline.org! Zanni pioneered a technique called ultrafast two-dimensional spectroscopy and has received many honors for his research and teaching. news.wisc.edu/uw-madison-c...

UW–Madison chemistry professor Martin Zanni elected to National Academy of Sciences

Only 120 American and 30 international scientists are elected to the academy each year for what the academy describes as their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research.

news.wisc.edu

9

Reposted by UW–Madison Science

Wisconsin Energy Institute @uwenergy.bsky.social · May 12

Scientists at UW-Madison have reprogrammed a microbe that eats toxins from broken down plant fiber while leaving the sugars untouched. A major step forward in biofuel production! Read more: energy.wisc.edu/news/rewired... #biofuels #bioenergy #uwmadison #microbe

1 3 5

UW–Madison Science @uwmadscience.bsky.social · Apr 24

Before you leave campus for the summer (or for a brief post-commencement breather) enter your most remarkable, surprising and revealing science images in the 2025 Cool Science Image Contest. news.wisc.edu/enter-your-a...

Enter your amazing science visuals in the 2025 Cool Science Image Contest

To celebrate the exploratory and aesthetic value of the photos, renderings, videos, images, art and more made in the process of fulfilling curiosity and advancing science, the 15th annual Cool Science

news.wisc.edu

1 2

UW–Madison Science @uwmadscience.bsky.social · Apr 15

Join alum and Science Journalist in Residence @alecluhn.bsky.social, carbon removal researcher Rob Anex and Floodlight News editor Dee Hall for "Beyond 1.5°C: Covering Controversial Climate Solutions." Thursday, April 17. 4 p.m. Memorial Union. news.wisc.edu/uw-grad-and-...

UW grad and international climate reporter returns to campus as spring Science Journalist in Residence

Now based in London, Alec Luhn has worked from Istanbul and Moscow to cover an array of environmental- and climate-related stories, including wildfires, droughts, earthquakes, melting glaciers and int...

news.wisc.edu

1 4

UW–Madison Science @uwmadscience.bsky.social · Mar 13

Ann Palmenberg was a trailblazer in virology and infectious disease research — but that was just for starters. A great scientist, mentor and friend, she lived every day to its fullest. news.wisc.edu/remembering-...

Remembering Professor Emerit Ann Palmenberg, renowned leader in virology

Enthusiastic, jovial and persistent, Palmenberg rarely did anything halfway, at work or at home. She made it her mission to find ways to connect with everyone she met — and if that meant an opportunit...

news.wisc.edu

1 7 15

UW–Madison Science @uwmadscience.bsky.social · Feb 18

No surprise UW–Madison's incoming dean of engineering works on supersonic flight and cutting-edge power cycles. He's all energy and can't wait to get up to speed. news.wisc.edu/devesh-ranja...

Devesh Ranjan named dean of UW College of Engineering

Devesh Ranjan, a mechanical engineer and a leader at one of the country’s largest and highest-ranked engineering programs, will be the tenth dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Wis...

news.wisc.edu

1 7

UW–Madison Science @uwmadscience.bsky.social · Jan 23

Public mass shootings push alcohol sales upward for years in the surrounding community, though similar violence in private settings does not. news.wisc.edu/communities-...

Communities that experience mass shootings drink more alcohol in the aftermath, a new study finds

The findings, published this week in the journal PNAS Nexus, add to the evidence that mass shootings have lasting effects on health that reach far beyond the lives of those directly involved.

news.wisc.edu

6

UW–Madison Science @uwmadscience.bsky.social · Dec 11

The 2024 WARF Innovation Awards go to early cancer detection and a process to break down "forever chemicals," #UWMadison research developments with some great potential impact. www.warf.org/news/2024-wa...

2024 WARF Innovation Award winners take on cancer detection, forever chemicals

A simplified cancer screening process and a new way to break down ‘forever chemicals’ have taken top honors from WARF.

www.warf.org

1 2 11

Reposted by UW–Madison Science

Kyle Cranmer @kylecranmer.bsky.social · Nov 25

Wow! UW–Madison is now 6th in national research ranking, surpasses $1.7 billion in research expenditures
news.wisc.edu/uw-madison-6...

UW–Madison 6th in national research ranking, surpasses $1.7 billion in research expenditures

UW moved up two spots in the ranking, and it had a 13.7% increase in research expenditures over the previous fiscal year, an increase of more than $208 million for the period covering July 2022 throug...

news.wisc.edu

1 11 33

UW–Madison Science @uwmadscience.bsky.social · Nov 26

Creating bespoke tests to detect small molecules like opioids or environmental contaminants can be a long, expensive "bio-prospecting" slog ... until now? @uwbiochem.bsky.social researchers have sped up the process. news.wisc.edu/new-tool-mak...

New tool makes quick health, environmental monitoring possible

Vatsan Raman, who has received a provisional patent for this work, sees broad applications for the technology his lab developed, including field tests that identify pollutants in local water sources i...

news.wisc.edu

1 5

UW–Madison Science @uwmadscience.bsky.social · Nov 22

@ahnaskop.bsky.social has a good start on that: go.bsky.app/TEnn93j

1 2

UW–Madison Science @uwmadscience.bsky.social · Nov 18

We can hear that.

1