A University of Michigan-led team discovered how mollusks build pearls with precise symmetry and layers, governed by the phenomenon of 1/f noise. The study found that pearls lack true long-range order but exhibit medium-range order, maintaining consistency and durability.
University of Michigan researchers have identified a zinc and calcium ion permeable channel within a cell's lysosome that can be targeted to selectively kill cancer cells. Targeting this channel with small molecule pharmaceuticals triggers rapid and selective cell death in cancer cells while sparing normal cells.
After a mass extinction event 66 million years ago, early snakes evolved novel dietary adaptations and prey preferences, capitalizing on the ecological opportunity. This rapid diversification of snake diets was driven by the emergence of mammals and birds as prey species.
Researchers found that mindful breathing can reduce pain by modulating the somatosensory cortex, a region responsible for processing pain. The study compared two types of meditation: traditional mindful breathing and virtual reality guided breathing, which used immersive visual and audio stimuli to decrease pain sensitivity.
A new study suggests that ground-dwelling and semi-arboreal mammals were better able to survive the mass extinction event, while tree-dwelling mammals were more likely to perish. Early primates may have maintained their arboreal habits through forested refugia or behavioral flexibility.
Researchers have discovered a way to make larger quasicrystals without defects, which could revolutionize materials science. The discovery involves a self-healing phenomenon that merges tiny crystals into larger ones, rendering them more practical for commercial use.
Researchers will compare blood samples from 400 patients with ALS to a control group to determine the impact of environmental exposures on the disease. The team aims to develop personalized treatments by understanding how environmental toxins trigger ALS progression.
Researchers at the University of Michigan developed a new nanoparticle system called CMP that significantly increases cellular uptake and triggers robust STING activation, turning 'cold' tumors into 'hot' tumors. This breakthrough could lead to improved cancer immunotherapy treatments.
Spotted hyenas remove 207 tons of animal carcass waste annually, preventing five infections of anthrax and bovine tuberculosis. This service saves the city $52,000 annually in treatment costs and livestock losses avoided.
A new machine vision system detects and quantifies radiation-induced defects in real-time, accelerating the development of nuclear components. The system uses a convolutional neural network to analyze electron microscope video frames, providing instant results on structural integrity.
Researchers discovered that earless worms can detect airborne sounds in a range of frequencies and localize the source. This finding opens a new field for studying auditory sensation and challenges the assumption that organisms without ears cannot sense sound.
A study published in Neuron suggests that graduate students can reduce mental health stress by creating structure in the lab with deadlines, well-defined work hours, and short-term goals. Cultivating a safe and collaborative lab culture is also crucial.
A study of Michigan cities under state emergency management found that the likelihood of takeover was not driven solely by financial distress, but also by factors such as race and economic status. Changes to drinking water systems were common in takeovers, often leading to poor water quality and increased bills.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed transparent solar cells that can achieve silicon-rivaling efficiencies of 18% while lasting over 30 years. The breakthrough design incorporates zinc oxide and a carbon-based material buffer to protect against degradation.
A new study redefines the concussion recovery process, finding it takes up to 28 days for most athletes to recover from injury. The study's lead researcher suggests reframing expectations to avoid stigmatizing concussed athletes who take longer than previously suggested recovery times.
Researchers at University of Michigan and University of Tokyo developed a system to safely deliver electricity over the air, delivering 50 watts of power using magnetic fields. The technology can untether phones, laptops, and even implanted medical devices, opening new possibilities for mobile robotics.
A new University of Michigan study analyzes 20 potential uses of captured carbon dioxide, ranking them by climate benefit. Only four pathways have a greater than 50% likelihood of generating a net climate benefit. The researchers found that using CCU to make products like concrete and chemicals could help reduce emissions.
Researchers at the University of Michigan used machine learning to predict how metal alloy compositions affect electronic structures, linking fingerprints to material performance. The model simplifies density of states into two principal components, capturing correlations between composition and reactivity.
A new study reveals that public acceptance of evolution in the US has surpassed the halfway mark, with education and civic science literacy identified as key factors leading to its adoption. The study found a decline in religious fundamentalism's impact on rejecting evolution, with approximately 30% of Americans still holding fundament...
A University of Michigan study found that substituting 10% of daily caloric intake from beef and processed meats for fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes and select seafood could reduce carbon footprint by one-third and gain 48 minutes of healthy life. The study developed an epidemiology-based nutritional index, the Health Nutritional Ind...
A University of Michigan study found that package delivery robots and automation contribute less than 20% to a package's carbon footprint, while the vehicle itself is the largest contributor. The researchers suggest that switching to electric vehicles and reducing electricity intensity can have the biggest impact on sustainable parcel ...
Researchers found that male chimpanzees with strong social bonds are more successful at siring offspring. The study revealed that males who form stronger ties with the alpha male and other dominant males have a higher likelihood of becoming fathers.
Researchers at University of Michigan develop faster path planning approach for rubble-roving robots, enabling them to find stable paths in treacherous terrain more efficiently. The new algorithm outperformed traditional methods in success and total time to plan, with an 84% success rate in virtual experiments.
A new study suggests that a slower spinning Earth may have boosted oxygen production by cyanobacteria, contributing to the planet's two great oxygenation events. This finding is based on research of microbial communities in a submerged Lake Huron sinkhole.
A new study by University of Michigan researcher Parth Vaishnav suggests that deploying residential heat pumps can cut greenhouse gas emissions and save households money if the US grid becomes cleaner. However, raising heating costs for some houses is a concern, especially in areas with dirty electrical generation mixes.
Researchers developed a three-step process to recycle superabsorbent polymers from diapers into reusable adhesives. The acid-based method requires less energy and generates lower greenhouse gas emissions than traditional adhesives made from petroleum, resulting in significant environmental benefits.
Elite runners exhibit 'stiffer' spring-mass systems with steeper impact angles, spending more time in the air and less on the ground. This may allow for better energy recycling and improved performance.
A study from University of Michigan researchers found that electric delivery vehicle charging practices can greatly impact their potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Optimizing charging strategies can lower emissions by up to 37% and protect investment. Charging from a cleaner energy source, such as renewables, is key.
A study by Karan Bedi and colleagues found that RNA splicing is inefficient, leaving many intronic sequences unspliced. The team analyzed Bru-seq data from six cell lines and identified variable patterns of splicing across genes and cell types.
A new chemical catalyst has been developed to efficiently produce propylene from natural gas, which is used to make polypropylene. The catalyst, made of platinum and tin nanoparticles supported by silica, can make propylene at least 10 times more efficiently than current commercial catalysts.
A five-nanometer-thick layer of silver and copper outperforms conventional indium tin oxide in OLED displays, freeing up 20% more light. This innovation enables devices to maintain brightness while using less power, extending battery life and making displays more energy-efficient.
Researchers developed a new dietary fiber formulation that modulates the gut microbiome, improving potency of immunotherapies against cancer. The inulin gel doubled the rate of tumor eradication in rodents with colon carcinoma and melanoma, expanding beneficial microbes in the gastrointestinal tract.
A University of Michigan-led research team found that birds are migrating earlier, but their bodies have been getting smaller and wings longer. The study used museum specimens from bird collisions in Chicago to analyze long-term trends in bird migration timing.
A team of scientists used the world's smallest computer to study the survival of a native snail species in Tahiti. The study found that the white-shelled Partula hyalina can tolerate more sunlight than its darker-shelled predator, allowing it to persist in sunlit forest edge habitats.
Researchers have developed a new method to track ocean microplastics using satellite data, revealing seasonal changes in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and releases from the Yangtze River. The study provides valuable information for cleaning up microplastic pollution and deploying resources more efficiently.
Researchers have created a system called PrivacyMic that uses ultrasonic sound frequencies to identify household and office activities, with greater than 95% accuracy. This technology enables smart home systems to recognize services needed without recording audible speech.
A new study by University of Michigan researchers highlights common barriers to improving equitable access to transportation, including data collection and information on needs. Practitioners cited need for better communication between disciplines and structures in place to advocate for equity-minded funding allocations.
Researchers at University of Michigan identify key questions in developing lithium metal solid-state batteries for increased EV range and improved safety. However, addressing these challenges, such as ceramic production and battery management system design, is crucial to their commercialization.
Researchers discovered that head and neck cancer cells subvert adjacent normal tissue to promote aggressive invasion and metastasis. The study found that two proteins secreted by cancer cells suppress a key gene, DMBT1, in nearby healthy tissue.
Newly discovered fish fossils from an eastern Egyptian desert site show that marine fishes thrived in at least some tropical areas during the PETM. The study provides a snapshot of an ecosystem during an extreme warming event and may provide insights for the future.
A University of Michigan climate scientist and his colleague argue that planting trees won't curb climate change due to its inevitable effects on vegetation. Keeping existing forests healthy is key, while proactive forest management can help mitigate the crisis.
The DESI instrument will capture light from tens of millions of galaxies and other distant objects to construct a detailed three-dimensional map of the universe. The data will help scientists better understand dark energy's repulsive force and its impact on the expansion of the universe.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have determined the first steps in converting light into energy for a type of bacteria that uses photosynthesis. By studying heliobacteria's reaction centers, they identified which pigments initially donate and accept electrons during charge separation.
A team at the University of Michigan has developed a material that boosts magnetostriction, allowing for more energy-efficient computing devices. The material could lead to significant reductions in electricity requirements and improve magnetic sensors for medical and security devices.
A machine learning algorithm, FARDEEP, has been developed to assess an individual patient's risk of regenerative outcomes after surgical treatments of peri-implantitis. The study found that immune cell types central to microbial control are strongly correlated with superior clinical outcomes.
Researchers found that plants on the opposite side of a road received significantly less pollen than those on the same side, with effects varying by road size and bee species. The study suggests modifying existing pedestrian overpasses to include planter boxes could help facilitate pollinator movement.
A new University of Michigan study reveals that nearly 1 in 4 adolescents reported at least one concussion in 2020, up from 20% in 2016. Concussion rates increased among Hispanic and non-Hispanic youth who participated in sports, contradicting emergency department data showing a decline in sports-related traumatic brain injuries.
A team of University of Michigan researchers identified many genes crucial for fruit fly neuron development, including three previously unknown ones. The discovery provides insights into the complex process of neurogenesis and may lead to new approaches for understanding human brain development and regeneration.
A new real-time 3D motion tracking system combines transparent light detectors with advanced neural network methods to enable fast tracking speed, compact hardware, and lower cost compared to existing solutions. The technology has promising applications in automated manufacturing, biomedical imaging, and autonomous driving.
Researchers have developed a specialized technique to capture unique protein structures associated with neuropathy disorders, such as Charcot Marie Tooth and Dejerine-Sottas syndrome. The technique, ion mobility-mass spectrometry (IM-MS), reveals that an unstable mutant version of the PMP22 protein forms a stable complex called a dimer.