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.
A new study measures US diets' water scarcity footprints, with meat consumption accounting for 31% of the impacts. The top contributor is beef, followed by tree nuts and high-water-intensity fruits and vegetables.
A University of Michigan study found that emergency room visits related to suicide attempts and self-harm decreased by 40% during the first eight months of the pandemic. The decline was observed despite initial concerns about an increase in suicidal behavior during a worldwide crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic.
A University of Michigan study found that female nurses are twice as likely to commit suicide as the general female population and 70% more likely than female physicians. The study highlights the need for high-quality wellness programs for nurses, who face extraordinary demands from COVID-19 and often struggle with work-life balance.
University of Michigan researchers observe RNA regulating protein synthesis in bacteria through transcription-translation coupling. The study reveals the unique mechanism allows for synchronized processes, enabling bacteria to adapt to external threats.
Researchers suggest most of Earth's carbon was delivered from the interstellar medium, avoiding vaporization entirely. This discovery sheds light on the origin of life on Earth and suggests a delicate balance between too little or too much carbon for habitability.
A new project led by the University of Michigan explores how coughs disperse virus particles into the air, revealing complex airflow patterns. By studying these
Researchers discovered an effect known as nonlinearity that can modify and detect extremely weak light signals using a quantum dot array. The team created an 'egg carton' of quantum dots in a 2D semiconductor, allowing for the control of energy levels with light.
A new University of Michigan study suggests that adolescents who vape cannabis are at greater risk for respiratory symptoms indicative of lung injury than those who smoke cigarettes or vape nicotine. The study found that vaping marijuana was associated with a stronger relationship between respiratory symptoms and asthma diagnosis.
A University of Michigan study finds that groundwater depletion could significantly impact Indian agriculture, with potential losses of up to 20% in winter cropped acreage nationwide. The researchers estimate that even partial replacement with canal irrigation may not be enough to maintain current production levels.
Researchers found that sleep helps connect fear memories to sensory events, allowing accurate associations to be made. Without sleep, brain processing of fear becomes impaired, potentially contributing to anxiety and PTSD.
A new study reveals that Lake Erie sediments release nearly as much phosphorus into the surrounding waters as enters the lake each year, exacerbating the annual 'dead zone'. This self-fertilization process contributes up to 11,000 metric tons of phosphorus to the lake water each summer.
A new study from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry confirms that low-dose naltrexone is a good option for patients with orofacial and chronic pain, reducing pain intensity and improving quality of life. Low-dose naltrexone works by targeting sensitized nervous cells to reduce pain threshold and sensitivity.
A new analysis of thousands of Michigan bees reveals that the most diverse bee communities have the lowest levels of three common viral pathogens. This study suggests that promoting diverse bee communities may be a win-win strategy to reduce viral infections in managed honeybee colonies while maintaining native bee biodiversity.
A new study from the University of Michigan estimates virtual conference CO2 emissions using a framework that includes energy usage, network data transfer, and server energy consumption. The study found that a May 2020 virtual conference produced 66 times less greenhouse gas emissions than an in-person meeting in San Francisco.
A new University of Michigan study found that verbal reasoning can have both positive and negative outcomes on children's emotional development. While it promoted prosocial behavior, it also increased aggression and distraction. Positive discipline methods like providing structure and open communication are recommended instead.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have made a significant breakthrough in electron transfer for grid-scale batteries, which could lead to more efficient and cost-effective energy storage. The study found that bridging plays a critical role in improving the reaction rate of flow batteries.
Researchers have found that physical specimens of suspected wildlife hosts were rarely preserved, limiting our ability to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors recommend adopting vouchering practices and collaborating with museums to archive host specimens.