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August 12, 2024

Research

Why Hurricanes And Tropical Storms Spawn Tornadoes

Posted on
Forbes

Let’s dig deeper to explore why tropical cyclone tornadoes can happen. Most explanations mention “frictional effects,” so I will start there. The Weather Guys blog is a legendary and informative platform administered by my colleagues Jonathan Martin and Steve Ackerman (retired), professors at the University of Wisconsin. They write, “When a hurricane makes landfall, the winds near the ground slow down, while the upper-level winds keep their momentum. This change in the wind speed — and sometimes direction — with height is called wind shear.” There’s more to the story, however.

Higher Education/System

State news

2 Republicans compete for chance to take on Pocan in 2nd Congressional District

Posted on
Wisconsin Public Radio

“It’s been a very quiet contest in a district that is not likely to elect a Republican anytime soon,” University of Wisconsin-Madison political science professor Barry Burden said of the GOP primary race. “But this is at least an opportunity for the party to pick a favorite and try to make a stab at winning a difficult seat.”

Wisconsin seeing record high employment, wage growth. Let’s break down what that means.

Posted on
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

In February, March, and May of this year, Wisconsin led the nation in “inflation adjusted hourly earnings growth,” the release said, citing data from the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics.

That means “wages are going up faster than prices” — a very good thing, said Ross Milton, an assistant professor of public affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Madison who specializes in state and local finance.

Wisconsin’s largest cities have synergies to make tech hub flourish with new partnership

Posted on
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Madison serves as the innovator – home to the University of Wisconsin-Madison where research is king. The school ranks eighth in nation for research expenditures among public and private universities according to the National Science Foundation with more than $1.5 billion invested annually. UW also ranks high in patents granted – 12th in 2023. Additionally, the city’s startup scene is consistently ranked within the top-150 ecosystems globally. This innovation leads to products that need to be manufactured. Enter Milwaukee.

Crime and safety

Health

Athletics

UW Experts in the News

Kamala Harris campaign leans into celebrity influence with Bon Iver, Megan Thee Stallion

Posted on
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Almost no one will cast a vote because of a celebrity endorsement alone, according to Michael Wagner, a professor of journalism and mass communication at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. But he said endorsements serve other purposes, like energizing blocks of voters, earning free media attention and shaping a narrative about the campaign.

“When the stories are about Kamala Harris being Brat and Tim Walz Midwestern dad memes, they aren’t about the things that candidates would rather not answer questions about on the campaign trail,” Wagner said.

Making friends as an adult can be hard. Here’s how some Madisonians do it

Posted on
Wisconsin State Journal

Strong social connectedness is a “protective factor” against depression and promotes stress resilience, said Shilagh Mirgain, UW Health distinguished psychologist. That makes it almost imperative to make friends, she said. She also said the health impacts of loneliness are as bad as smoking a dozen cigarettes a day. Friends help the immune system function more effectively and encourage a stable mood.

How Venezuela’s opposition proved its election win: ‘A brilliant political move’

Posted on
The Guardian

“It has been a brilliant political move by the opposition, an extremely impressive logistical achievement”, said Andrés Pertierra, a PhD candidate in Latin American and Caribbean history at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “Basically, the opposition is forcing Chavismo to own up to the fact that they’re stealing the election.”

Obituaries

June Blanchard

Posted on
Wisconsin State Journal

June went on to become a Professor of Law at the University of Wisconsin, where she taught and advocated for women’s rights for over two decades until her retirement.

William R. Risley

Posted on
Wisconsin State Journal

In 1986 he accepted a dual appointment at the University of WisconsinMadison in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese and the Department of Liberal Studies, Division of University Outreach. A consummate teacher-scholar, Professor Risley loved teaching undergraduate and graduate students, who appreciated his extensive knowledge, warmth and wit. While directing the University’s Spanish and Portuguese outreach programs, he enjoyed offering adult continuing education classes in the evenings and developing courses in new areas, especially in Latin American literature. He retired from the profession in 2011.