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University of Maryland


Hibernation slows biological aging in bats

A study led by UMD researchers found that hibernating big brown bats experience slower epigenetic aging, with their biological clock extending by nearly a year. The study established the link between hibernation and longer lifespans in small mammals.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·DateAug 9, 2022

Structural racism drives higher COVID-19 death rates in Louisiana, study finds

Researchers found that Black communities with high population densities and moderate levels of aggregate stress experience higher COVID-19 mortality rates. The study highlights the disproportionate burden on Black communities due to decades of institutional and societal bias, leading to increased risks of chronic illness and stroke.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 27, 2022

Adding up costs to enroll in stormwater management incentive programs

A University of Maryland study estimates the dollar value of barriers to homeowners participating in cost-sharing programs for stormwater management. The researchers found that features requiring effort from homeowners can significantly reduce the incentive's effectiveness, with some combinations resulting in a mere $1.85/sqft cost sha...

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalAmerican Journal of Agricultural Economics·TypeSurvey·DateJun 8, 2022

The deadly cost of pandemic politics

A new study by University of Maryland researchers found that people in Republican counties were more likely to die from COVID-19, with nearly 73 more deaths per 100,000 people compared to Democratic counties. The disparity was due to structural and policy differences in the more conservative counties.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalHealth Affairs·TypeObservational study·DateJun 6, 2022

International land use scientists urge policymakers to adopt new approaches to addressing climate change, biodiversity and other global crises

A new report identifies 10 key facts about global land use, highlighting opportunities for a more sustainable and equitable approach. The study emphasizes the need for policymakers to consider trade-offs and marginalized groups' rights in developing effective solutions.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 7, 2022

Researchers develop new metrics to better decipher how companies exploit investment opportunities

Researchers have developed a new text-based analytics model that analyzes firms' tailoring of investments to their portfolio of products, using the four-stage product cycle. This framework provides insights into how firms exploit investment opportunities, including disclosure patterns and strategic alliances.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalReview of Financial Studies·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 13, 2022

UMD researchers unlock the potential of trees for managing environmental impacts in cities

Researchers found that individual urban trees, such as street trees, can capture and store rainfall at a rate of three times that of clusters or patches. The study used sap flux sensors to monitor transpiration rates in 18 mature red maple trees, revealing significantly higher transpiration rates in single trees compared to cluster trees.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalScientific Reports·DateNov 18, 2021

Wide heads help sperm swim together

Researchers used machine learning to discover that sperm with a wide head relative to length are more likely to clump together and swim collectively, a rare behavior that sometimes helps them reach an egg faster. The study provides a new method for understanding how form and function are related in cells with complex behaviors.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 22, 2021

University of Maryland researchers uncover critical barriers to improve sustainability and green infrastructure adoption across two Chesapeake Bay watersheds

Researchers found socio-cultural barriers, lack of maintenance and funding, economic challenges, institutional barriers, technological and environmental barriers hinder GI adoption. Community-based approach identified the need for increased transparency and communication from government, as well as resident participation and engagement.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalSustainable Cities and Society·DateSep 9, 2021

UMD associate professor awarded $1.5 million to examine the role of copper in heat generation and fat burning, with implications for human health

The University of Maryland associate professor will use genetics, cell biology, and pharmacology to examine the mechanisms of copper transport and its connection to thermogenesis and fat burning. The research aims to improve human health by understanding how copper relates to hypothermia, obesity, and diabetes.

Study shows privilege, politics influence vaccine’s racial disparity

Researchers found that socioeconomic privilege and political ideology play a significant role in racial disparities in COVID-19 vaccination rates. Counties with higher median incomes displayed lower disparities, while county-level educational disparities had a greater impact on unequal vaccination rates.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 11, 2021

Why does Mercury have such a big iron core? Magnetism!

A new study from the University of Maryland disputes the prevailing hypothesis on Mercury's big core, instead attributing it to solar magnetism. The model shows that a planet's core density and proportion of iron are correlated with the strength of the sun's magnetic field during planetary formation.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalProgress in Earth and Planetary Science·DateJul 2, 2021

Four Maryland engineers receive CAREER awards

University of Maryland faculty members Shelby Bensi, Gregg Duncan, Katrina Groth, and Katharina Maisel have received CAREER grants for their innovative research in hazard assessment, gene therapy, risk assessment, and immunotherapy. Their work aims to advance the fields of civil engineering, bioengineering, and mechanical engineering.