Latest news with #UW-Madison
Newsweek
07-07-2025
- Science
- Newsweek
More Explosive Volcanoes Expected As Glaciers Melt
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Melting glaciers may be setting the stage for more frequent and explosive volcanic eruptions in the future. This is the conclusion of a study of six volcanoes in the Chilean Andes, which is being presented at the Goldschmidt Conference in Prague this week. Analysis indicates that hundreds of dormant volcanoes currently buried under glacial ice across the globe—particularly in Antarctica—could become more active as climate change accelerates glacier retreat. The connection between retreating glaciers and increased volcanic activity has been known in Iceland since the 1970s. However, the latest study is the first one to explore the phenomenon in continental volcanic systems and helps scientists better understand and predict volcanic activity in glacier-covered regions. Pablo Moreno-Yaeger from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, who is presenting the research at the conference, said in a statement: "Our study suggests this phenomenon isn't limited to Iceland, where increased volcanicity has been observed, but could also occur in Antarctica. Other continental regions, like parts of North America, New Zealand and Russia, also now warrant closer scientific attention." Pablo Moreno-Yaeger is collecting samples near the caldera of Mocho-Choshuenco, which the researchers dated at 11,500 years ago. "Mocho" means "headless" in Mapuche language, referring to the caldera that is always covered by ice. Pablo Moreno-Yaeger is collecting samples near the caldera of Mocho-Choshuenco, which the researchers dated at 11,500 years ago. "Mocho" means "headless" in Mapuche language, referring to the caldera that is always covered by ice. Pablo Moreno-Yaeger / UW-Madison In their study, researchers used argon dating and crystal analysis across six volcanoes in southern Chile, including the now dormant Mocho-Choshuenco volcano, to observe how the Patagonian Ice Sheet's advance and retreat previously impacted volcanic behavior. The scientists were able to track how the weight and pressure of glacial ice changes the characteristics of magma—an extremely hot liquid rock mixture found under the Earth's surface, known as lava when it flows onto the Earth's surface—by ascertaining the dates of previous eruptions and analyzing crystals in erupted rocks. Their investigations showed that thick ice cover suppressed the volume of eruptions and allowed a large reservoir of silica-rich magma to accumulate around 32,800 to 49,200 feet below the surface during the height of the last ice age, which is nearly 26,000 to 18,000 years ago. The ice sheet melted rapidly at the end of the last ice age and this sudden loss of weight caused the crust to relax and gasses in the magma to expand. The volcano was formed as a result of this pressure buildup, which caused explosive volcanic eruptions from the deep reservoir. "Glaciers tend to suppress the volume of eruptions from the volcanoes beneath them. But as glaciers retreat due to climate change, our findings suggest these volcanoes go on to erupt more frequently and more explosively," Moreno-Yaeger explained. He added: "The key requirement for increased explosivity is initially having a very thick glacial coverage over a magma chamber, and the trigger point is when these glaciers start to retreat, releasing pressure—which is currently happening in places like Antarctica." While the volcanic response to glacial melting is nearly instant in geological terms, the process of changes in the magma system is gradual, taking place over centuries, which allows some time for monitoring and early warning. The scientists warn that heightened volcanic activity could have global climate impacts. In the short run, eruptions release tiny particles in gases, known as aerosol, that can temporarily cool the planet . This occurred after the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines, which dropped global temperatures by about 0.5 degrees Celsius. However, multiple eruptions can see the effects be reversed. Moreno-Yaeger said: "Over time the cumulative effect of multiple eruptions can contribute to long-term global warming because of a buildup of greenhouse gases. "This creates a positive feedback loop, where melting glaciers trigger eruptions, and the eruptions in turn could contribute to further warming and melting," he added. Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about glaciers, volcanoes or climate change? Let us know via science@
USA Today
21-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Wisconsin files lawsuit against Miami for tampering during Xavier Lucas recruitment
The Xavier Lucas-Wisconsin saga is far from over. Early Friday, Yahoo's Ross Dellenger reported that the University of Wisconsin-Madison has filed a lawsuit against the University of Miami over tampering allegations regarding the recruitment of the former Badgers defensive back. After learning about Wisconsin's lawsuit against the University of Miami, the Big Ten released their own statement on the matter: "The Big Ten Conference is aware of the litigation recently filed by the University of Wisconsin-Madison against the University of Miami and is supportive of UW-Madison's position. As alleged, the University of Miami knowingly ignored contractual obligations and disregarded the principle of competitive equity that is fundamental to collegiate athletics. The Big Ten Conference believes that the University of Miami's actions are irreconcilable with a sustainable college sports framework and is supportive of UW-Madison's efforts to preserve." With the latest house settlement regarding revenue sharing, it became clear that lawsuits like these would become more frequent. While college student-athletes making money off their name, image and likeness was long in the works, the rollout of the new structure was flawed. That new legislation, along with the new transfer portal rules, have shifted college sports in massive ways. It seems as if there has been little done to organize a clear structure to address those issues. Wisconsin's position in this lawsuit is extremely important for the future of revenue sharing and will set a precedent for all deals made with student athletes. Wisconsin is looking not only to sue Miami for financial damages but also deeming UM's recruitment tactics as "wrongful.' UW-Madison also alleges that Miami knowingly sent a coach and important alumnus to the Florida home of Xavier Lucas in December, where they offered "financial terms more lucrative than those included in the contracts" that he had already signed with the Badgers. This is one of the first instances of a university going after another university with credible allegations of tampering and could set a new standard for how situations like these are handled in the college sports world. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
Business Wire
02-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Winners of AM Best's 2025 Student Challenge Announced
BUSINESS WIRE)-- AM Best has announced Hernán Burgos and Alexander Porte of UW-Madison – Wisconsin School of Business as the winners of AM Best's 2025 Student Challenge for their tropical storm parametric insurance solution for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). The 2025 Student Challenge tasked risk management and insurance students with creating innovative solutions for insurance risks. The proposed insurance solution from Burgos and Porte would provide coverage to low-income individuals and micro enterprises in LAC coastal regions using real-time meteorological data. 'In LAC, where insurance penetration is extremely low and the poverty rate is significantly high, access to insurance products is basically impossible for low-income communities,' said Burgos in an AM Best TV interview about the proposal. 'In the region, access to insurance is considered to be a luxury. Millions are left financially vulnerable and unprotected in the face of increasingly frequent and severe natural catastrophes.' Porte explained that the winning Student Challenge entry proposes leveraging the high level of banking products in LAC to create insurance markets and deliver products: 'When you're trying to create an insurance marketplace—you're trying to create appetites for these products—you need to use other distribution channels.' In addition to Burgos and Porte, students from University of Akron and Florida State University were finalists in the national competition, which was open to undergraduate and graduate students. 'The innovative ideas and thoughtful proposals put forward by these students point to a bright future for the insurance industry,' said Lee McDonald, AM Best's senior vice president, publication & news services. To view video interviews and Best's Review magazine interviews with the winning team and other finalists, please visit the 2025 Student Challenge landing page. AM Best's 2025 Student Challenge is a company initiative to support the development of new talent in the insurance industry. The company also provides an analytical development program.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump visa changes put UW-Madison international students at risk again
UW-Madison's Bascom Hall (Phil Roeder | Flickr) The visas of UW-Madison's Chinese students, who make up about half of the school's international student body, could be at risk after the administration of President Donald Trump said Wednesday night it plans to 'aggressively' revoke Chinese student visas and pause the rescheduling of visa review appointments. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that international students with ties to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in 'critical fields' could have their visas revoked. Rubio didn't define what those critical fields would be and also provided little detail when he said that the State Department would 'enhance scrutiny' on new student visa applications. The administration has also said it plans to increase the vetting of visa applicants' social media accounts. The announcement that the administration would be revoking the visas of Chinese students came the same day the State Department announced it had paused scheduling appointments for visa applicants. UW-Madison had 3,414 international students from China this spring semester. In recent years, the university has worked to expand its international student body, aiming to increase the international population from 4% to 8% by 2028. The acceptance of international students helps the university increase revenue as state aid has remained flat and inflation has increased costs because international students pay an average of four times the amount of tuition as in-state students. The university said Thursday it is monitoring the situation. 'We are deeply concerned about the impact of such a policy on our Chinese student community,' the university said. In a message to its international students, the university advised them to attend visa appointments that are already scheduled and inform university staff if an appointment is canceled. The message also told the students to schedule appointments as quickly as possible once the pause on scheduling is lifted and to enroll in classes for the fall. These moves are the latest in the Trump administration's efforts to attack international student visas. Earlier this spring, the administration deleted visa records for some students over minor traffic infractions and encounters with law enforcement. That effort temporarily canceled the visas of more than two dozen students and alumni at UW schools across the state. The Trump administration rolled back that decision and reinstated the visas after a federal judge ruled in favor of a number of students who sued to stop the revocation. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
29-05-2025
- Health
What we know -- and don't know -- about who will be able to get COVID-19 shots
Want a COVID-19 vaccination this fall? For many Americans, it's not clear how easy it will be to get one – or if they've lost the choice. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who was a longtime anti-vaccine activist, said this week that the shots are no longer recommended for healthy children and pregnant women, usurping a decision normally made by scientific experts, not political appointees. The announcement follows an earlier Trump administration step to limit COVID-19 vaccinations among healthy people under age 65. Until now, the U.S. – following guidance from independent experts who advise the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – has recommended yearly COVID-19 vaccinations for everyone age 6 months and older. Together, the moves have left health experts, vaccine makers and insurers uncertain about what to advise and what comes next. 'It's going to add a lot of confusion overall,' said Ajay Sethi, an epidemiologist at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Some of this season's vaccine is still available. Insurance industry experts say if people had insurance coverage before Kennedy's announcement, it's highly unlikely that would have ended instantly based on the secretary's video announcement. That means if someone could find a shot, they'd likely be able to get one for now. Who will be able to get what vaccines this fall is still unclear. Vaccine manufacturers plan to issue updated COVID-19 shots in the late summer or fall. But the Food and Drug Administration has said it plans to limit approval of seasonal shots to seniors and others at high risk, pending more studies of everyone else. Even if the U.S. approves vaccines only for certain groups, it still may be possible for others to get the shot depending on the outcome of upcoming advisory meetings, regulatory moves and decisions from insurers and employers. Insurers base coverage decisions on the recommendations of that CDC panel, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. It's not clear what role that panel now will play. Paying out of pocket could cost about $200. But some insurers and employers may decide to still cover the shots regardless of the new recommendations, said Jen Kates, a senior vice president at the non-profit KFF, which studies health care issues. She noted that they may view the expense as worthwhile if it avoids a higher bill from someone hospitalized by the coronavirus. The FDA published a list of health conditions it said would qualify, including asthma, cancer, diabetes, obesity and physical inactivity. The CDC has a more extensive list. But, again, it isn't yet known how this will play out. For example, it could be hard for people to prove they're qualified. If they're vaccinated at a drugstore, for instance, the pharmacist wouldn't normally know about underlying health problems or even ask. Kates said it's unclear whether Kennedy's move would affect whether doctors recommend the shot. And Sethi, the UW-Madison expert, said 'this elephant in the room' is that blocking vaccination to the healthy may mean people who have a risk factor and simply don't know it will miss out. Adding to the confusion, the FDA included pregnancy and recent pregnancy on the list of conditions that would qualify someone for a shot — but Kennedy said that pregnancy was no longer a qualification in his announcement this week. COVID-19 complications during pregnancy can include preterm birth as well as serious illness in the mother, and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine said it 'strongly reaffirms' its recommendation for vaccination during pregnancy.
