Wisconsin researchers have found a way to make acetaminophen — the active ingredient in Tylenol — from plants. Traditionally, the popular pain reliever has been made using a fossil fuel. And there's no way to switch to the plant material cost-effectively. However, with the finite nature of fossil fuels and their widespread implications on climate change in mind, scientists are increasingly preparing for an economy in which petroleum takes a back seat to natural resources we already have in abundance.

Estimates of the economic impact large-scale developments will have on a community are just that – estimates. Wisconsin Public Radio looks into how multimillion-dollar projects affect local economies. Then, James Tinjum, UW–Madison associate professor of engineering professional development, delves into how waste is managed in Wisconsin as the state's largest landfill considers new ways to deal with garbage. 

Machines that draw carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere could demand up to a quarter of global energy in 2100, according to a new study. Gregory Nemet, a professor in the La Follette School of Public Affairs, weighs in on this new demand for energy. 

There are four Bioenergy Research Centers across the U.S., including one in Madison. This summer, these centers will be celebrating their 500th patent application. The Larry Meiller Show hosts Tim Donohue, Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC) director, to talk about the research currently happening at the GLBRC and the role UW-Madison plays in helping turn that research into new patents and inventions.

In the wake of increased solar-powered infrastructure at UW–Madison, Greg Nemet and other leaders in sustainability on campus weigh in on UW efforts to combat the effects of climate change, as well as how the projects are started, funded and inhibited.