Science

Transforming Energy Will Require A Biomass Movement

UW-Extension

In spite of their rich history, biologically derived sources of energy like wood, grass, dung and alcohol have failed to ignite the public "buzz" of the other renewables: solar, wind or even geothermal.

Series: The Yahara Watershed

Series: Phosphorus In Wisconsin's Land And Water

The Cyanobacteria Stalemate In Wisconsin's Lakes

Scott Gordon

WisContext

One organism, exploding in population, thrives at the expense of others in its ecosystem. That's essentially what happens when a toxic algal bloom spreads a slimy, stinky trail across a body of water.

Series: The Yahara Watershed

Series: Phosphorus In Wisconsin's Land And Water

Four Visions Of Change For The Yahara Watershed

Kristian Knutsen

WisContext

The year 2070 may sound like an impossibly distant date from the vantage point of 2016, but it's as near into the future as John Glenn's first orbit of the Earth is in the past.

Safety, Learning, Love And 'Pokémon Go'

Anne Clarkson

UW-Extension

With such a fast rise to fame, understanding the long-term effects of Pokémon Go on kids is impossible. However, what is known about other technologies can help predict how to make the use of new media, like Pokémon Go and other social platforms, a safe and positive experience for kids and parents.

Series: The Yahara Watershed

A Look Into The Future Of The Yahara Watershed

Video:

Zac Schultz

PBS Wisconsin

The Yahara 2070 research project uses science to project potential changes in the watershed surrounding Madison. Monica Turner, an ecology professor at UW-Madison and one of the project's principal investigators, discusses the research.

Series: Hate In Wisconsin

How Kids Learn About Race, Stereotypes And Prejudice

Scott Gordon

WisContext

Anyone who has spent much time with young children knows they have a way of forming their own ideas about the world around them, no matter what lessons family and teachers try to instill. Kids also can pick up on things that adults would rather they not.

Series: Local Food Science

Fermentation Is Serious Food Science In Wisconsin

Scott Gordon

WisContext

Fermentation — the process by which microorganisms metabolize sugar into alcohol and other byproducts — has been an important part of the human diet for thousands of years. But the art and science of this practice is undergoing a bit of a renaissance.

The Simple Device That Transformed The Dairy Industry

Audio:

Erika Janik

Wisconsin Public Radio

The Babcock butterfat test, developed at the University of Wisconsin, provided a simple and inexpensive way to assess the quality of milk.

Toxoplasma Parasite Opens New Doors For Disease Research

Scott Gordon

WisContext

Biologists define parasitism as a relationship where one organism benefits in the course of taking advantage of another. By understanding how parasites prey on their hosts, medical researchers could develop some novel ways to fight disease.

Series: Drinking Water Quality

What Karst Is, And How It Affects Wisconsin's Drinking Water

Scott Gordon

WisContext

Any serious look at Wisconsin's geology and groundwater will at some point likely encounter the term "karst." The concept is hardly specific to Wisconsin, but it's helpful for understanding the land and drinking water across much of the state.