Science

Climate Change Will Mean Less Wisconsin Maple Syrup

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Wisconsin Public Radio

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Climate change could rob Wisconsin of its maple syrup, a North Woods forest ecologist says. According to projections by federal scientists, if carbon emissions aren't cut back, the state will become much less hospitable to the sugar maple, along with a host of other tree species.

Series: The Novel Coronavirus, COVID-19 And Wisconsin: February 2020

With The Coronavirus Case In Wisconsin, How Useful Are Medical Face Masks?

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Kealey Bultena

Wisconsin Public Radio

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A case of the novel coronavirus in Wisconsin was confirmed by the state Department of Health Services on Feb. 5. WisContext associate editor Will Cushman discusses why medical face masks are a visible part of this outbreak and what public health officials say about using them.

Series: Growing Rural Wisconsin's Economy

Demand For Broadband Internet Remains High In Rural Wisconsin

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Shamane Mills

Wisconsin Public Radio

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Wisconsin will provide a record amount of money for broadband internet in underserved areas of the state that need it for business, government and school. But it is not enough to meet demand.

Series: The Science Of Brain Health

What Fruit Flies May Be Able To Reveal About Football Injuries

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Megan Hart

Wisconsin Public Radio

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Flies were used during early research into human genetics, said Dr. Doug Brusich. An assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, Brusich is among a group of researchers who now use the insect to study traumatic brain injuries.

Series: Literacy In Wisconsin

Technology Is Changing The Way Wisconsin's Public Libraries Work

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Miranda Suarez

Wisconsin Public Radio

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People in Wisconsin are going to the library for different reasons, and libraries are serving them in different ways, thanks to the technological changes of the last two decades.

Series: Climate Science And Wisconsin

What 'Normal' Weather Is Will Be Recalculated

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Shamane Mills

Wisconsin Public Radio

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What's considered normal weather changes over time. To account for that, the National Weather Service will recalculate a 30-year average of weather patterns from 1991 to 2020.

Series: The Novel Coronavirus, COVID-19 And Wisconsin: January 2020

The Novel Coronavirus And Public Health Preparations In Wisconsin

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Frederica Freyberg

PBS Wisconsin

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PBS Wisconsin

The novel coronavirus originated in Wuhan, China, but as anxieties rise around the world, communities are working to prevent its spread. Wisconsin state epidemiologist Ryan Westergaard details the status of preparations for a potential outbreak in Wisconsin.

Series: Drinking Water Quality

PFAS 'Forever Chemicals,' Explained

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Rob Ferrett

Wisconsin Public Radio

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PFAS "forever chemicals" have become a fixture of public attention and policymakers are taking steps to address their use. UW-Madison civil and environmental engineering professor Christy Remucal discusses what is known about PFAS and the risks associated with them.

Series: Chronic Wasting Disease In Wisconsin's Deer

For The First Time, Chronic Wasting Disease Proteins Found In Deer Semen

Audio:

Miranda Suarez

Wisconsin Public Radio

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For the first time, the proteins that cause chronic wasting disease have been detected in white-tailed deer semen — which is a commodity for deer farmers, who sell it for breeding purposes.

Series: Extreme Precipitation And Wisconsin's Climate

As Rains Intensify, Sewage Surges Into Wisconsin Waters

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Danielle Kaeding

Wisconsin Public Radio

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Wisconsin in 2018 saw its most sewer overflow events since 2010, with increasing volumes of discharged waste. Experts say the problem plagues communities across the Great Lakes. Driving the spike: intensifying rainfall due to climate change.