FacultyResearch June 12, 2026 · 3 min read A new roadmap points to longer-lasting lithium-metal batteries that could extend the range of electric vehicles With their exceptionally high energy density, lithium-metal batteries could dramatically increase electric vehicle driving ranges and speed up charging. However, there’s a big hurdle for creating practical rechargeable lithium-metal batteries: the formation of dendrites. Dendrites,…
AlumniEducational Innovation June 2, 2026 · 5 min read New aerospace engineering major ready to soar Sam Snyder came to the University of Wisconsin-Madison smitten with the city and campus and confident in his career aspirations: He hoped to work in the aerospace sector, preferably as part of efforts to introduce…
ResearchWisconsin Idea May 6, 2026 · 3 min read Second fusion summit at UW-Madison signals the Midwest’s rise as a fusion powerhouse As audacious of a challenge as achieving nuclear fusion continues to be—let alone producing net-positive energy from the reaction—it’s merely one piece of the equation when it comes to making fusion a viable piece of…
FacultyResearch May 4, 2026 · 6 min read To power our nation’s progress, we’re supercharging the energy superhighway The energy sector is transforming rapidly. Renewable, distributed energy sources like solar, wind, battery storage and small nuclear reactors will continue to change how energy enters the grid. Massive data centers are spiking demand. The…
Faculty April 21, 2026 · 3 min read Focus on new faculty: Adam Dempsey develops heavy-duty engine technologies to enhance sustainability As a new associate professor in the UW-Madison Department of Mechanical Engineering, Adam Dempsey is excited to return to his alma mater and the department where he earned his PhD 13 years ago. “I’m actually…
Faculty April 6, 2026 · 2 min read Alumna, nuclear leader Kathryn Huff named nuclear engineering and engineering physics chair Kathryn (Katy) Huff, an associate professor of nuclear, plasma and radiological engineering at the University of Illinois, will succeed Grainger Professor of Nuclear Engineering Paul Wilson as chair of the Department of Nuclear Engineering and…
FacultyResearch April 1, 2026 · 2 min read A new digital twins research experience will help undergrads keep an eye on our nation’s roads A new summer research program will give University of Wisconsin-Madison civil engineering undergraduates hands-on exposure to the future of roadway construction. Zhenhua Zhu, an associate of civil and environmental engineering at UW-Madison, says the 10-week…
FacultyResearch March 27, 2026 · 3 min read Algorithm increases the chance that we’re counting nanoplastic concentrations correctly A growing environmental concern, nanoplastics have been found in water around the world—from the deep oceans to Arctic ice. New University of Wisconsin-Madison research, published in the August 2025 issue of the journal Environmental Science…
FacultyResearch March 16, 2026 · 4 min read The safety breakthrough behind tomorrow’s compact nuclear reactors Compact heat exchangers could enable advanced nuclear reactors that are smaller, more efficient and more affordable—but a critical step in their adoption is verifying they can withstand the high temperatures and possibly high pressures in…
AwardsFaculty March 16, 2026 · 6 min read Grants empower bold thinking and transform vision into momentum Expanding a consortium that strengthens ties between the college and the steel industry. Commercializing chip-cooling tech. Designing an economical nuclear microreactor. Through funding and in-kind support, Wisconsin Impact Nexus grants are igniting a ripple effect,…