Wisconsin

In 2010, Noreen Dertinger finally spotted her first loon chick on Lake Kennebec. Unfortunately, it did not survive the year.

Mysterious drop in loon population prompts cross-border collaborations in North America

Loons are having fewer and smaller chicks, which are less likely to survive. Most surprisingly, young, non-breeding adults are also dramatically in decline — but no one knows why. Volunteers from Canada and the United States are on a quest for answers. 

Mysterious drop in loon population prompts cross-border collaborations in North America
students and a teacher

Afghan women who escaped Taliban takeover continue their education at a Wisconsin university

Afghan women who escaped Taliban takeover continue their education at a Wisconsin university
A worker arranges yellow ginseng displays behind glass cases

American ginseng farmers battered by trade wars and pandemic

American ginseng farmers battered by trade wars and pandemic
White-tailed buck

Lead in hunted meat poses health risk to families and food banks

Lead in hunted meat poses health risk to families and food banks
Protesters with fists raised block an intersection while demonstrating against the Sunday police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wis., Aug. 26, 2020.

Are most white Americans guilty of 'supremacy' or just 'privilege'?

Are most white Americans guilty of 'supremacy' or just 'privilege'?
Latino leaders and immigration reform supporters gather at the University of Colorado to launch a voter registration campaign to mobilize Colorado's Latino, immigrant and allied voters on Oct. 28, 2015.

The key to winning the Latino vote in 2020? Latinas.

The path to victory in the US presidential election in November cannot afford to ignore the Latino vote. But Latinas' voting power goes beyond their individual votes: They’re likely to encourage friends and family to vote, too.

The key to winning the Latino vote in 2020? Latinas.
Rusty patched bumblebee

Here's how to convert your lawn into a bee pollinator habitat

Pollinators are in sharp decline across the US. A Minnesota program wants to encourage homeowners to help reverse this trend by paying them to convert turf to pollinator-friendly habitats.

Here's how to convert your lawn into a bee pollinator habitat
A team of researchers at the Vanderbilt Vaccine Center selects lead antibody candidates for further screening.

Racing to develop a drug to fight COVID-19

Doctors in China and the US have transfused antibodies from recovered patients directly into the blood of people with severe cases of COVID-19. Dr. Mario Ostrowski and his collaborators want to identify the genes that encode these antibodies and use them to mass produce lab-grown versions — to turn into a drug to treat the infection.

Racing to develop a drug to fight COVID-19
A group of dairy cows stand in a caged area inside a farm

Can this radical approach to dairies save US farms?

Canada's practice of limiting milk production ensures a stable market for its dairy farmers. It’s also being touted as a potential solution to the US dairy crisis.

Can this radical approach to dairies save US farms?
US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Matthew Levatich, CEO of Harley-Davidson, accompanied by Vice President Mike Pence in a picture with two motorcycles in the foreground and the White House in the background.

Harley-Davidson plans to shift US production to avoid EU tariffs

US President Donald Trump on Monday slammed Harley-Davidson after the motorcycle maker said it would move production for European customers overseas to avoid retaliatory tariffs that could cost it up to $100 million per year.

Harley-Davidson plans to shift US production to avoid EU tariffs
Those who have the neurological condition synesthesia often automatically see colors when they hear music or see numbers or letters.

Study begins to reveal genetic ties behind a neurological phenomenon

When you listen to a song, you hear music ... but do you see an accompanying color with it?

Study begins to reveal genetic ties behind a neurological phenomenon
Microsoft recently announced a commitment of $50 million and five years to its "AI for Earth" program.

Artificial intelligence could play a pivotal role in managing and protecting planet’s natural resources

Earth's oldest resources could receive needed protection and management from man's newest technologies.

Artificial intelligence could play a pivotal role in managing and protecting planet’s natural resources
WI State Capitol building

What’s the best way to test for partisan gerrymandering?

The topic was hot in the Supreme Court last month as justices heard oral arguments in the Wisconsin gerrymandering case.

What’s the best way to test for partisan gerrymandering?
“I don't want to have to do this,” Victoria Barrett says. “It's just I feel like it obviously needs to be done. It's frustrating... Sometimes I feel like people my age are fighting the hardest when we didn't even start this in the first place."

This 18-year-old from New York is suing the Trump administration over climate change

When it comes to setting climate change policy in the US, kids don't have much of a voice because they can't vote. But they can go to court. So a group of 21 young people are suing the Trump Administration for failing to adequately tackle the climate crisis.

This 18-year-old from New York is suing the Trump administration over climate change
Sorie Kondi and DJ Chief Boima of Kondi Band

Kondi Band connects West African thumb piano with US electronica

Sori Kondi is from Sierra Leone. DJ Chief Boima is from Wisconsin. Together they're the Kondi Band. And their music is a blend of traditional West African music with contemporary electronica.

Kondi Band connects West African thumb piano with US electronica