UW-Milwaukee  

The most effective way to study the Great Lakes is to go beneath the surface. UWM researchers currently use a converted vintage Army T-boat to work on Lake Michigan. We also peek into the future of research on the Great Lakes.

Nanomaterials are tiny particles made of various chemicals that are incorporated into products like cosmetics, medicine and food. They’re also constantly shed into the environment. How do nanomaterials affect organisms that live in Lake Michigan?

Cost may prevent many people who need a hearing aid from getting one. Those with hearing aids get relief, but it may not be a cure-all. A UWM engineer and an audiologist discuss two novel technologies that can help people hear better.

In the wild, frog romance is a raucous affair. When it’s time to mate, the female eastern gray tree frog makes her way to the pond, when there could be hundreds of potential suitors each calling to her in loud chirps that have different audible characteristics.In this nocturnal chorus, the male aims to charm the female with his particular call. But what makes a call “attractive?” On this episode of Curious Campus, we talk with two researchers who specialize in amphibian communication — how frogs message each other and then decide how to respond.Gerlinde Höbel is an associate professor in biological sciences at UW-Milwaukee. Michael Reichert is an assistant professor of integrative biology at Oklahoma State University.

In the wild, frog romance is a raucous affair with often hundreds of males calling to a female in a loud chorus. But what makes a call attractive? Two researchers explain how frogs message each other and then decide how to respond.

Peter Dunn is one of the country’s preeminent bird researchers. A distinguished professor of biological sciences, Dunn is part of a team that studied the common yellowthroat, which is a type of songbird found throughout much of North America.On this episode of Curious Campus, we talk with Dunn about the research that looked at the courtship preferences of the female common yellowthroat. Hint: It’s not just about the distinctive sounds of the male. For veteran birders, the study might help answer questions about why these songbirds have those distinctive black “masks” around their eyes. For those interested in getting into birding as a hobby, Dunn offers some tips on how to get started, too.

Peter Dunn is one of the country’s preeminent bird researchers. We talk with the UWM distinguished professor about a recent study looking at common yellowthroats. Dunn also offers some tips for aspiring birders.

We know that obesity can be harmful to our health, but dieting and exercise for the single goal of weight loss can often be disheartening and may even be harmful. What will it take for the fitness industry — and society — to make fitness more inclusive for both body types and marginalized identities?On this episode of Curious Campus, we talk about research and activism around body image and fitness with Christy Greenleaf, a professor of kinesiology in UWM’s College of Health Sciences, and Chrissy King, a certified personal trainer and creator of the Body Liberation Project. Both are members of the Future of Fitness Advisory Board for SELF magazine.

We know that obesity can be harmful to our health, but dieting and exercise for the single goal of weight loss can often be disheartening and may even be harmful. We talk to two experts about research and activism around body image and fitness.

Description copy: We take a look back at Pong, 50 years after the release of the video game that looked like a pixelated version of pingpong. It might seem simplistic now, but back in 1972, it was a smash hit and influential in the rise of video games.