Researchers found that approximately 3.3% of families engage in 'coupon-collection behavior', where they have children of both sexes except for the last-born child, reducing sex-ratio variation. The trend is more pronounced in recent decades and suggests a growing desire for gender equality.
A study by the University of Michigan found that incorporating online 'boosters' into existing safety programs increased knowledge and attitude towards hearing conservation practices among farm youths. The research showed significant improvements in favorable attitudes, but no impact on actual behavior.
A study of wild female baboons found that early life trauma had a significant negative impact on adult glucocorticoid concentrations, which are a measure of health. Despite having strong social relationships as adults, the stress hormone levels were still significantly higher in those who experienced trauma in early life.
University of Michigan engineers have created centimeter-sized robots capable of more than ever before, leveraging origami principles to enhance their speed, agility, and control. The microbots can form complex shapes, complete tasks, and reconfigure into new shapes up to 80 times per second.
The team discovered a technique to compress brain signals, focusing on neural activity spikes called threshold crossing rate or TCR, which requires less data while still being able to predict firing neurons. By listening to a specific feature of neuron data called spiking-band power, the SBP method is highly accurate and takes in one-t...
A new University of Michigan study estimates that wealthy American homes generate about 25% more greenhouse gases than lower-income residences, mainly due to their larger size. The researchers used data from over 93 million American homes to create nationwide rankings by state and zip code.
A University of Michigan study found that Michigan coyotes in the Upper Peninsula have a less meat-based diet due to coexistence with gray wolves. The researchers analyzed scat samples and gut microbiomes to determine the animal's position in the local food web.
Researchers developed a new robotic prosthetic leg that consumes half the battery power of state-of-art robotic legs while producing more force. The streamlined design features regenerative braking, which charges the battery with energy captured when the foot hits the ground, enabling users to walk for over twice as long on one charge.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have discovered a method to stabilize plasma compression using twisted magnetic fields. The technique reduced escaping plasma tentacles by 70% and improved conditions for studying extreme plasma states.
The Flint water crisis resulted from simultaneous failures of federal drinking water standards and Michigan's emergency manager law, which exacerbated local financial challenges. The crisis offers lessons during the COVID-19 pandemic on building healthy communities through investments in modern infrastructure.
A new study finds that climate warming and nutrient pollution reduce the effectiveness of quagga mussels in preventing Asian carp invasion. The researchers simulated historical conditions and projected future changes, showing that Asian carp habitat improves in warmer waters, benefiting the invasive fish.
Researchers created a three-layer anti-reflection surface to improve transparency and conductivity in plastic, achieving a transmittance of 88.4% compared to 88.1% for the plastic alone.
Paper wasps use social eavesdropping to learn about the fighting ability of potential rivals, allowing them to rapidly assess and avoid opponents. This complex behavior is surprising given their relatively small brains, highlighting the importance of social environment in shaping sophisticated behaviors.
A team of researchers discovered that distinct neural circuits in the forebrain send signals to the brain's control center to regulate sighing in response to stress, anxiety, or relief. Sighing rate increased when mice were confined, indicating a complex interplay between physiological and emotional inputs.
Researchers at the University of Michigan developed a system that measures occupants' facial temperature to determine optimal temperatures for comfort. The Human Embodied Autonomous Thermostat (HEAT) aims to reduce energy consumption and enhance indoor comfort.
A University of Michigan study found that organic carbon in thawing permafrost soils can be converted to carbon dioxide by sunlight, known as photomineralization. This process could contribute an additional 14% of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, increasing global warming by 0.3-0.4°C.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have discovered a new signaling pathway that can regulate beige fat thermogenesis independently of adrenergic signaling. This discovery opens a new direction for approaching metabolic disorders and could potentially provide a treatment option for patients with catecholamine resistance.
Neutrophils, a key player in the immune system, have been found to preferentially phagocytose (eat) rod-shaped particles. This preference may lead to targeting neutrophils and leaving other white blood cells to do their jobs, potentially preventing acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by COVID-19.
Researchers at the University of Michigan and Purdue University have developed a method to measure electron energy distributions in metal nanostructures, which could lead to more efficient energy conversion and storage applications. The technique uses surface plasmons to give extra energy to charge carriers, enabling faster reactions.
A University of Michigan study found that up to 60% of students in certain schools vape daily, highlighting the importance of understanding individual and school-level factors driving e-cigarette use. The study's findings suggest that tailoring interventions to specific school environments can be effective in reducing vaping prevalence.
A study on chicken adaptation reveals that genetic changes play a more prominent role when organisms return to their ancestral homelands. Researchers found that plastic phenotypic changes are sufficient to help animals adapt when reintroduced to familiar environments, but mutation-induced changes are necessary for initial adaptation.
Warming temperatures are causing increased aridity across the western United States, leading to declining river flows, tree death, and agricultural stress. Climate scientists warn that this trend will continue eastward, resulting in more frequent and severe dry spells, flash droughts, and interannual droughts.
People with ACL injuries can lose up to 40% of muscle strength due to muscle atrophy. A new University of Michigan study found that adding eccentric exercises to physical therapy can increase muscle volume and improve outcomes.
A study by University of Michigan researchers maps China's export-driven CO2 emissions to specific coastal manufacturing hubs, revealing that 1% of the country's land area generates 75% of these emissions. The findings highlight key sectors and cities driving climate change.
A new neural probe design captures lost signals in brain activity, enabling experiments previously impossible. The probe's improved shielding and boron-infused silicon increase conductivity, allowing researchers to modulate neurons with high temporal resolution.
Climate researchers question CESM2 model's extreme warming projections, citing geological evidence from a 50-million-year-old warming period. The study highlights the need to benchmark climate models using geological data to ensure accurate predictions.
A new algorithm developed by researchers at the University of Michigan can quickly differentiate between benign and illicit radiation signatures in cargo, enabling cost-effective detectors at borders. The algorithm works even in high-radiation backgrounds and can identify weak signals from plutonium encased materials.
A new study found that existing and planned roads in tiger habitats will exacerbate threats to the species, including prey depletion, habitat degradation, and poaching. By 2050, nearly 15,000 miles of new roads are expected to be built, deepening the big cat's extinction risk.
Researchers unveil the structure of a key protein in human metabolism, which could lead to better obesity treatments. The study found that calcium ions play a crucial role in the protein's function, opening new paths for developing targeted pharmaceuticals.
A new study reveals that transposable elements contribute to cell-specific chromatin looping, gene regulation, and species divergence. The researchers developed software MapGL to track physical gain and loss of genetic sequences across species, shedding light on the evolutionary influences of structural variations.
A new data-processing approach developed by researchers at the University of Michigan Life Sciences Institute offers a simpler path to analyzing cryo-electron microscopy data. The pipeline uses machine learning and connects various tools to streamline the process, making it more accessible to researchers from diverse backgrounds.
A study by Geoffrey Hoffman found that active older veterans experience 11% more noninjury falls but 28% fewer injurious falls compared to non-veterans. Despite the increased risk of falls, physically active veterans are less likely to suffer serious injuries.
A new study from the University of Michigan found that offshore oil and gas platforms in the Gulf of Mexico emit approximately one-half a teragram of methane each year, comparable to large emitting oil and gas basins. The effective loss rate of produced gas is roughly 2.9%, significantly higher than current inventory estimates.
A University of Michigan-led team has produced a synthetic microparticle with a twisted, spiky structure that surpasses nature's complexity. The particles show promise for improving fluid-and-particle mixes and could lead to new technologies in holographic projectors and biosensors.
Researchers found that four common human coronaviruses are sharply seasonal in Michigan, peaking between December and April/May. They also show similar transmission potential to the flu virus. The study's findings could help investigators prepare for SARS-CoV-2 behavior.
Researchers demonstrate the potential for using existing optical fibers as seismic sensors, providing high-resolution maps of shallow subsurface and validating a new technique. The approach has great potential for use in large earthquake-threatened cities with extensive networks of buried optical cables.
A new study by University of Michigan-led researchers found that West African lions do not favor life inside park boundaries over hunting concessions. Habitat quality in national parks is inadequate, leading to a lack of preference among lions.
A new machine-learning algorithm helps design lightweight glass compositions that are very stiff, suitable for next-gen materials in vehicles and wind turbines. The goal is to reduce weight while maintaining strength, leading to fuel efficiency improvements.
A new study from the University of Michigan and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has found no evidence that sterile neutrinos are dark matter. The research team used archival data from the XMM-Newton space X-ray telescope to search for signs of dark matter in the Milky Way galaxy, but their analysis yielded no results.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed a small, precise, and affordable gyroscope that can help drones and autonomous cars navigate without a GPS signal. The device, made from a nearly symmetrical mechanical resonator, is 10,000 times more accurate than existing gyroscopes.
Researchers found that patients prescribed opioids after tooth extraction reported worse pain, and half of prescribed opioids remained unused. The study suggests that alternatives such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or acetaminophen control pain better and improve patient satisfaction.
Researchers propose axion as solution to three mysteries: matter-antimatter asymmetry, dark matter, and the strong CP problem. The axion's rotation creates a tiny excess of matter over antimatter, explaining why we exist.
A University of Michigan study reveals that ostrich eggshell beads were exchanged over long distances for at least 30,000 years, facilitating relationships between hunter-gatherer groups. The findings provide evidence of a complex exchange network used to share information on resources and landscapes.
A new study by researchers from the University of Michigan found that several commercially available arsenic test kits performed poorly, with some underestimating arsenic levels by a factor of two. The most accurate kits returned field-test values closest to lab-tested arsenic values, while others produced lighter color test strips tha...
University of Michigan researchers create a way to tame temperamental nerve endings, separate thick nerve bundles into smaller fibers, and amplify signals to enable precise control. The approach involves tiny muscle grafts and machine learning algorithms, allowing for intuitive prosthetic control with no learning required.
A new study led by University of Michigan researchers found that highly active gray and cubera snappers in a Bahamian mangrove estuary spread the highest levels of essential nutrient nitrogen through their urine, nearly doubling its presence. This fertilizer supports more plant growth and food at the base of the food web.
A new study from the University of Michigan presents the first genetic evidence of resistance in some bats to white-nose syndrome, a deadly fungal disease that has decimated some North American bat populations. Genetic differences were found in genes associated with regulating arousal from hibernation and breakdown of fats.
Researchers from University of Michigan found that using a manual dishwasher with the two-basin method can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 18% compared to machine washing. They also suggest avoiding pre-rinsing and selecting energy-efficient settings to minimize environmental impact.
A new study found that parents who report loving each other tend to have children who stay in school longer and marry later. The researchers followed the children of 151 married couples in Nepal for 12 years, using data from the Chitwan Valley Family Study.
Scientists at U-M identified distinct excitatory neurons in the retrosplenial cortex, which can continuously encode direction-related information over long durations. These low rheobase neurons are ideal for navigation, providing persistent sense of direction that complements other brain signals.