Researchers developed a new thermoelectric material using common materials found in dirt, improving efficiency and reducing production costs. The material has potential applications in waste heat recovery from industrial power plants and conversion of vehicle exhaust gas heat into electricity.
The NSF is highlighting the importance of incorporating human factors into geophysical research to address environmental issues. By combining natural and social sciences, researchers can gain a more comprehensive understanding of sustainability challenges., Researchers supported by the CNH program are exploring ways to balance human ne...
A team of scientists has discovered an ancient thriving colony of microbes in the brine of Lake Vida, Antarctica, which is estimated to have been isolated for over 2,800 years. The microbes live in a highly saline environment with high concentrations of ammonia and nitrous oxide.
A new diagnostic method for Parkinson's disease is noninvasive and effective in over 90% of cases. The method tracks speech patterns to detect the disorder's early signs.
A MSU team is working to collar Baird's tapirs in Nicaragua to monitor their movements and determine how they can co-exist with local farmers. The research aims to find a balance between the animals' survival and crop protection.
Michigan State University will use a $7.8 million grant to help eight African nations intensify sustainable farming methods and improve environmental quality. The project aims to promote effective government strategies, build capacity of national policy institutes, and support small farmers.
A study led by Michigan State University researcher Gwen Wyatt found that reflexology can significantly ease cancer symptoms such as shortness of breath, improve physical functioning, and reduce fatigue. The results suggest that reflexology may be a useful complementary therapy for mainstream care.
Scientists from Michigan State University predict climate change will kill off swaths of bamboo, making prime panda habitat inhospitable by 21st century. The study suggests proactive planning to protect areas with suitable food sources and creating natural bridges for pandas to escape bamboo famine.
A Michigan State University-led team is working with Puerto Rican police to improve homicide investigation techniques, aiming to solve more homicides and reduce the murder rate. The goal is to increase clearance rates from 25% to 65% and lower the homicide rate below 20 per 100,000 people.
A new study by Michigan State University finds that community colleges in the US have made significant strides in global workforce development since 2008, with 85% offering basic international business courses. The study also highlights the importance of investment in faculty and the growing demand for international business education.
Research shows that warmer oceans will cause phytoplankton populations to thrive near the poles and shrink in equatorial waters, leading to significant changes in the food chain and global carbon cycles. This shift could have measurable consequences for the world's climate.
A new guidebook provides a performance-based approach to police staffing and allocation, taking into account multiple factors such as crime rate, shift length, and community policing. The approach offers a more efficient way for agencies to determine the number of officers needed and deploy them effectively.
A new paper by a Michigan State University professor argues that medical organizations should consider the varying degrees of health risk within racial groups when making recommendations. He suggests adding phrases to dietary guidelines and screening recommendations to be more specific and socially responsible.
A new study by Christine Greenhow at Michigan State University found that Twitter use among students improves course engagement and grades. Students who tweet as part of their instruction are more engaged with the content and have higher grades.
A new study published in The Journal of Pediatrics suggests that exercise can improve inhibitory control and academic performance in children with ADHD. The study found that after just 20 minutes of physical activity, kids with ADHD were better able to focus on tasks and ignore distractions.
A study by Michigan State University researchers finds that private school students in India do not outperform their counterparts in public schools. The study analyzed the reading, writing and math performance of 10,000 Indian students aged 8 to 11 and found no consistent benefit of attending a private school.
Researchers at Michigan State University are studying plant adaptation to space stress using Arabidopsis mutants without functional IRE1 pathways. The goal is to gain insight into gene regulation and develop protocols for managing stress levels in space.
A study by Michigan State University scholar Roger Baldwin finds that only 130 of the original 212 liberal arts colleges remain, with many evolving into career-oriented institutions. The trend threatens to diminish America's renowned higher education system.
Michigan State University is providing a $1.5 million grant to help India develop online tools for carbon monitoring and measurement. The project aims to enhance the country's forest management and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Michigan State University has been awarded a $1.6 million grant from the USDA to support specialty crop yields and profit through improved pollination management. The five-year project aims to develop region- and crop-specific Integrated Crop Pollination approaches using honey bees, wild bees, and alternative managed bees.
A Michigan State University study found that genetic factors play a significant role in the development of thin-ideal internalization, with heritability at 43%. Environmental influences also contribute to the pressure, but non-shared factors have a greater impact.
A team of MSU researchers will conduct a three-year study on how teams work together, using surveys, interviews, and high-tech devices to monitor interaction. The goal is to measure the effectiveness of both formal and informal structures when multiple teams are involved.
A pair of MSU-led projects aim to support Michigan National Guard members and their families by studying resiliency in military families and training mental health counselors to work with them. The projects are expected to help the military improve reintegration efforts and prevention and treatment programs.
Researchers at Michigan State University have discovered a link between bone marrow and inflammatory bowel diseases, such as colitis and Crohn's. The study suggests that targeting the bone marrow's ability to produce inflammatory cells may help alleviate symptoms of these conditions.
Researchers at Michigan State University are studying the E2F family of transcription factors in relation to HER2 breast cancer. By understanding how these genes control tumor growth and spread, they hope to develop more effective treatments.
A team of researchers analyzed 29 genomes from different generations of E. coli bacteria to understand how they evolved to supplement their traditional diet with citrate. They discovered a three-step process: potentiation, actualization, and refinement, which led to the development of new biological functions.
A study by Michigan State University scholars suggests that CEOs who have three times as much prospective wealth as current wealth are more willing to take risks. Companies can influence CEO risk-taking behavior by issuing equity pay strategically, rather than relying on predetermined quantities.
A new gene has been discovered that can help make domestic tomatoes more resistant to pests, a trait shared by their wild cousins. The research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, identifies a gene involved in producing acyl sugars that fend off bugs.
Researchers are studying how plants overcome stress as a key to growth and survival. They hope to gain insights into human stress relief through this study.
A Michigan State University sociologist argues that Russia's pursuit of liberalization has not led to democracy, but rather created a culture of greed, corruption, and disloyalty. The country's elite prioritize personal wealth over national interests, undermining its global influence.
In Chitwan National Park, Nepal, tigers have shifted their nocturnal activity to coexist with people, indicating a potential middle ground for human and tiger survival. The study suggests that conservation efforts can consider both nature and humans, paving the way for sustainable solutions.
Hyenas' scent glands harbor diverse microbial communities that produce unique chemical signatures, enabling clan recognition and social behavior. This symbiotic relationship highlights the importance of microbes in animal behavior, with future studies planned to explore their role further.
Researchers created digital organisms in Avida to study mate attraction, finding that even costless displays evolved as indicators of genetic quality. This challenges traditional theories on ornamental displays serving as signals for virility.
Research demonstrates that plants trigger their defense mechanisms against freezing temperatures with shortening daylight, unlike trees which do it with waning sunlight. This understanding gives potential tools to fine-tune regulation and increase crop productivity.
A study published in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry found that individuals infected with the T. gondii parasite are seven times more likely to attempt suicide. The researchers also discovered that the parasite can cause inflammation in the brain, leading to changes in brain chemistry and potentially contributing to depression.
A team led by an MSU professor has created a cost-effective way to remove phosphorous from wastewater, reducing eutrophication and toxic algae growth. The new method uses nanoparticles composed of iron to efficiently absorb phosphorous, which can be recovered for fertilizer products.
A team from MSU's College of Osteopathic Medicine applies four osteopathic manipulative treatments to patients with moderate to severe COPD. The study aims to determine the biochemical changes in patients' blood following manipulation and correlate it with pulmonary function.
A recent study found that soil microbes play a crucial role in helping plants survive the effects of global changes, such as increased CO2 concentrations and altered precipitation patterns. By interacting with microbes, plants can adapt to drought stress more quickly, allowing them to thrive in new environments.
Organisms build unnecessary structures during development to avoid disrupting later stages of growth. This approach allows newly evolved traits to emerge at the end of development with less risk of disruption.
A study by Michigan State University scholars reveals that poor urban residents travel long distances for healthy food due to inadequate access to amenities. The research highlights the disproportionate impact of urban planning on low-income communities, leading to higher rates of obesity and related health problems.
China's water crisis is characterized by severe pollution, eutrophication, and lack of access to safe drinking water, with two-thirds of cities experiencing shortages. To achieve sustainability, experts suggest adopting a systems approach that considers multiple perspectives and values.
Researchers at Michigan State University found that hyenas that tried multiple solutions and took risks were more successful in solving a steel puzzle box. The study suggests that large brains may enable hyenas to think flexibly and come up with novel solutions.
A recent study published in Health Education and Behavior found that most exergames provide only light-to-moderate intensity physical activity, which is insufficient to meet daily exercise recommendations. However, the games can be useful for certain populations, such as seniors or those with more suitable fitness levels.
Researchers at Michigan State University found that dividing tasks among individuals is efficient for multicellular life. They used digital organisms to demonstrate how task switching costs led to the evolution of division of labor, enabling complex tasks and dependent relationships.
Michigan State University will lead a new global food security effort using a $7.3 million federal grant. The program aims to strengthen agricultural research institutions and train researchers in Africa and Asia, focusing on plant breeding, food science, and food security.
A study by Michigan State University found that parents use physical discipline more frequently in public settings, with 23% of children experiencing negative touch, including arm pulling and spanking. Positive touch, such as hugging and patting, is more effective in encouraging compliance.
Researchers at Michigan State University have developed a computational technique that reduces memory requirements by 40-fold, allowing scientists to analyze large genomic sequence datasets without supercomputers. This breakthrough enables the efficient examination of complex microbial communities living in soil or the ocean.
Researchers at Michigan State University have identified a key protein called MLK3 that drives breast cancer cell migration and invasion. By targeting this protein, they hope to develop new therapies to prevent the spread of cancer.
A Michigan State University study reveals that people's attitudes towards tigers are influenced by benefits and pragmatic costs of having tigers nearby, suggesting a combination of psychological responses drives tolerance. The research provides critical information on how to protect species by understanding human-neighbour relationships.
A Michigan State University study reveals that exposure to environmental harm increases the likelihood of environmentally-friendly behaviors among urban Chinese residents, regardless of economic status. People are more likely to act when they feel a sense of personal responsibility and can take control of their actions.