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Author: gbump

Scientists have uncovered a gigantic cosmic particle accelerator

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Tech Explorist

Francis Halzen, Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Principal Investigator of IceCube, who was not directly involved in the study, said, “We might only be seeing the tip of the iceberg here. In the future, we expect to find many more associations between high-energy neutrinos and their sources. A new generation of telescopes will be built that will provide greater sensitivity to TDEs and other prospective neutrino sources. Even more essential is the planned extension of the IceCube neutrino detector, that would increase the number of cosmic neutrino detections at least tenfold.”

How 5 universities tried to handle COVID-19 on campus

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Science News

In September, Wisconsin had one of the highest per capita rates of COVID-19 in the country. The University of Wisconsin–Madison was at the center of concern: Hundreds of students tested positive when campus opened in late August. Some students on campus gathered in large groups without masks despite university restrictions, according to the Badger Herald, a student newspaper. At the peak of the outbreak in early September, 911 students and staff tested positive in a single week.

Cape Cod robins gather in noisy flocks in winter to follow the food

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Cape Cod Times

Elizabeth Howard, founder and director of Journey North at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum, told The Nature Conservancy’s “Cool Green Science” that the birds “can withstand very cold temperatures. In most places you can see robins in the wintertime. You’ll see them wandering around and yet it’s not considered migration because basically they’re moving in a nomadic way, following the food.”

UW Madison’s UniverCity Alliance announces more partnerships across Wisconsin

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NBC-15

UW’s UniverCity Alliance was created six years ago to pair UW students and faculty with communities in need. Local governments working with the group can submit an application to get a project off the ground.“We help them scope out those projects and then we get them to the right people on campus and then those students actually produce some sort of deliverable for the local government- a report, a site analysis, an evaluation” says Gavin Luter, managing director of UniverCity Alliance.

Branch campuses need time to work — Mary Hoeft

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Wisconsin State Journal

Letter to the editor: University of Wisconsin System President Tommy Thompson has an idea for Wisconsin’s outstanding two-year universities. He’s wondering if they should be combined with the state’s technical school system. As a professor at one of UW System’s two-year campus for 49 years, I would like to answer President Thompson’s question with a resounding “no.”

UW-Madison, student government at odds over how to help students struggling during COVID-19 pandemic

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Wisconsin State Journal

UW-Madison administrators and the university’s student council are clashing over how to help students struggling because of the pandemic, with the council looking to put more money toward student rent payments using a strategy UW-Madison said is illegal, and the university taking an approach student government calls the bare minimum.

Tech colleges may help UW campuses — John Poole

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Wisconsin State Journal

Letter to the editor: The campuses have been severely underutilized for the past several years, ever since the concept of regionalization was implemented. Many thought returning to our roots (Richland started as a branch of Platteville) would be the saving grace for the campus, but that hasn’t proven to be the case.

“Covid Long-haulers”: Some Wisconsin patients battle symptoms one year later

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NBC-15

Dr. Aurora Pop-Vicas is working to crack the case. She explained she’s seen similar outcomes with other respiratory viruses, but Covid presents unique challenges.“We are increasingly aware of how common this is because covid-19 is on the forefront of our efforts,” Pop-Vicas, UW-Madison school of medicine and public health infectious disease assistant professor said.

UK COVID-19 variant discovered in Dane County

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NBC-15

“What we need to do is modify the vaccines to specifically target the variant that is causing trouble and the good news there is the ability to modify the vaccines is a little bit easier,” Dr. Jeff Pothoff, UW-Health’s chief quality officer said.

Thompson wants 75% of fall UW classes in-person

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NBC-15

Students at UW-Madison have to prove they’re COVID-negative before entering buildings and must get tested every three days. University officials even wrote to students this week, in part, “If you miss multiple tests, or if there is a pattern of missing tests, sanctions could be applied.”

Lines at the Nicholas Recreation Center send students into the arms of private gyms

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Daily Cardinal

The Nicholas Recreation Center is home to approximately 30,000 square feet of fitness space, including eight courts and five studios, as well as an Olympic size pool on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. But while the facility is only operating at 25% capacity, this seemingly enormous gym has proven to fill up incredibly fast, resulting in a crowded facility and long lines.

UW System plans at least 75% in-person classes next fall, back to pre-pandemic levels

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Capital Times

Thompson announced the plan to chancellors this week and said that they were all “very supportive” of the new goal. Given that about 20% of courses were taught virtually even prior to the pandemic, Thompson said this goal will bring System schools back to previous levels of in-person education while maintaining the benefits of online courses.

What Is a Mask Brace? Does It Work?

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Popular Mechanics

To bring surgical and cloth masks up to par with N95s and KN95s, you can opt for a mask brace, which is an even better solution than double masking, says David Rothamer, a professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison who has conducted work evaluating mask braces.”It’s kind of interesting that it’s taken awhile for mask fitters or braces to have more visibility,” Rothamer tells Popular Mechanics. “The whole double masking thing is really trying to do the same thing as a mask fitter or a brace, but in a more indirect way. My main concern with double masking is that it’s going to depend on the combination of the two masks.”

Evers’ Budget Proposes Significant Investment To Address Climate Change, Protect Public Lands

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Wisconsin Public Radio

Dallman argues public lands are vital to the state’s $24 billion forest economy and outdoor recreation economy, which contributes $7.8 billion each year. He added that every acre protected in the state provides a $3,000 return to the state’s overall economy, according to research from the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The program costs nearly $20 per person each year.

Proposed Legislation Aims To Address Racial Disparities In Maternal Health Care

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Wisconsin Public Radio

In Wisconsin, while the maternal mortality ratios are lower in absolute terms than the nationwide average, the magnitude of the gap between Black mothers and white mothers is larger, said Tiffany Green, University of Wisconsin-Madison assistant professor in the Departments of Population Health Sciences and Obstetrics and Gynecology.

US life expectancy falls by a year amid COVID-19 pandemic

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New York Post

But the US experienced a backslide due to the pandemic, according to Michal Engelman, associate professor of sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

“This has been an issue of concern for a while, that we weren’t making progress and we were sliding a little bit backwards,” Engelman told the newspaper. “After a couple of years of worrisome declines, we dropped as a country a whole year just in the first half of 2020.”