Scientists at the University of Michigan have decoded the molecular signals that enable cancer cells to spread throughout the body. By understanding how tumor cells recruit healing cells, researchers can now develop drugs to block these messages and prevent metastasis.
Long-term exposure to air pollution may be linked to heart attacks and strokes by speeding up atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. Higher concentrations of fine particulate air pollution were found to be linked to faster thickening of the inner two layers of the common carotid artery.
Scientists used a new lab technique to analyze fossil snail shells, gaining insights into an abrupt climate shift 34 million years ago. The study found a drop of up to 10 C in land temperature and linked atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations to surface temperatures.
A University of Michigan study examines how community size affects interracial friendships and found that larger groups discourage such relationships. Researchers tested a theoretical model using data from 4,745 US high school students, revealing the impact of group size on friendship formation.
Researchers found that animals use various methods to self-medicate, including learning and innate behaviors. This practice has significant implications for the ecology and evolution of animal hosts and their parasites.
GapSense software controls traffic to dramatically reduce interference, enabling devices to communicate more efficiently and reducing collisions by up to 45%. The technology could also address the 'hidden terminal' problem and reduce energy consumption of WiFi devices.
Researchers at the University of Michigan identified a new potential therapeutic target for lowering cholesterol, inhibiting a gene responsible for transporting a protein that interferes with liver cell function. This approach preserved the liver's capacity to clear plasma cholesterol from the blood without affecting overall health.
University of Michigan researchers create a new single-photon emitter that improves upon existing technology and is easier to make, paving the way for practical quantum cryptography. The device releases one photon at a time, allowing for secure communication by encoding messages in photons.
Researchers found that resistance training promotes the growth of white muscle, which helps regulate blood glucose levels. The study also identified potential drug targets for obesity and metabolic disease.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed a method to build robust blood vessels using adult stem cells, which may lead to new treatments for circulatory diseases such as diabetes. The technique involves injecting endothelial cells and support cells into a scaffolding carrier, resulting in mature, functional capillaries.
Researchers found that Green Pea galaxies, compact and highly star-forming, may leak ionizing radiation. This could confirm the prevailing theory of reionization during the Big Bang's early stages.
A recent study suggests that the record-breaking 2011 Lake Erie algae bloom was caused by a combination of intense spring rainstorms and agricultural practices. The researchers used climate models to predict an increase in extreme precipitation events, which will likely fuel future massive blooms.
New research found that planting trees on non-forested lands significantly increases soil carbon levels. This effect is most pronounced after surface mining and industrial processes have been terminated, leading to doubling of soil carbon within two decades.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have discovered a way to reverse copper nanoparticle oxidation using light, potentially leading to an eco-friendly production process for propylene oxide. The discovery has significant implications for the chemical industry, which currently produces large quantities of unwanted chemicals.
A new laser-powered terahertz source and detector system has been developed, offering 1,500 times more power and sensitivity than existing technologies. This enables deeper tissue imaging and sensing applications with improved efficiency.
A University of Michigan study found that gay couples establish 'sexual agreements' to prevent HIV transmission, with 80% keeping their agreements. However, only 57% of couples confirm having an agreement, and 50% of those break it, increasing the risk of HIV transmission.
University of Michigan engineers create thin-layer, conducting, highly aligned film for high-performance plastic electronics by designing semiconducting polymers with natural twist and flexible arms. This breakthrough enables faster charge carrier mobility and could lead to cheaper, greener electronics.
Researchers found that urine mercury concentrations may overestimate exposure to dental amalgam fillings, especially in populations with low occupational exposure. The study used mercury isotopes to accurately assess human exposure and provides a novel method for determining health risks.
Researchers discovered three new, previously unknown clam species that diverged from a common ancestor over 10 million years ago. A climate-cooling event may have played a role in their evolution, leading to the creation of distinct biogeographic provinces along Australia's coastline.
A study by University of Michigan researchers found that strictly protected areas and indigenous lands successfully limit deforestation in the Amazon. The research used remote-sensing data from 292 protected areas and found that these types of protection are more effective than sustainable-use areas.
A recent genetic study of house dust mites demonstrates reversible evolution, contradicting Dollo's law. The research found that these tiny creatures evolved from parasites, but then returned to a free-living lifestyle, speciating in various habitats, including human habitations.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have discovered that green tea extract can prevent the misfolding of specific proteins in the brain, which is associated with Alzheimer's disease. The study found that a molecule in green tea, EGCG, prevented aggregate formation and broke down existing structures in proteins containing metals.
Researchers found that prolonged exposure to the stress hormone corticosterone enabled tadpoles to increase the size of their tails, improving their ability to avoid lethal predator attacks. The study provides new insights into the mechanisms of phenotypic plasticity and its role in animal survival.
A University of Michigan researcher has developed a new early warning system that can predict malaria epidemics in northwest India up to four months in advance using sea surface temperature forecasts. The system improves public health by increasing lead time for disease prevention strategies.
Researchers have discovered a new method to prevent graft-versus-host disease, a severe complication of bone marrow transplants. By inhibiting the Notch signaling pathway, they were able to block the disease without compromising the anti-cancer effects of transplantation.
Researchers at the University of Michigan are studying how exercise affects lean and obese rats to better understand insulin resistance and muscle glucose uptake. By comparing responses in both groups, they aim to develop more effective treatments for improving health across different populations.
Researchers studied cockroaches' gait patterns using kinematic phase analysis, revealing a substantial delay in the nervous system's response time. This finding suggests that periodic feedback systems might lead to more stable walking robots.
Researchers detected water in lunar anorthosites, contradicting the popular moon-formation model that suggests the moon was formed from debris generated by a giant impact. The discovery indicates that the early moon was wet and that water may have played a key role in its development.
Researchers discovered a genetic program that promotes longevity in roundworms at cold temperatures and found it exists in humans. The study links calcium signaling to aging for the first time, suggesting exposure to cold air or stimulation of this genetic program may promote mammalian longevity.
A recent study found that Arctic permafrost's ancient carbon is released into the atmosphere at a rate 40% faster than previously thought when exposed to sunlight. Sunlight increases bacterial conversion of carbon into carbon dioxide, which accelerates climate warming.
A team of researchers at the University of Michigan's Life Sciences Institute has found that amlexanox, an off-patent drug, can reverse obesity, diabetes, and fatty liver in mice. The study suggests that the drug works by inhibiting two genes involved in metabolic balance, leading to increased metabolism and weight loss.
Researchers found that cues for rewards can instantly transform motivation, with even unpleasant events becoming desired. The study used salt appetite to demonstrate how powerful neural mechanisms can turn a repulsive cue into an attractive one.
Researchers at the University of Michigan developed a new reflective color display technology that can lock in color and reduce power consumption. The technology uses nanoscale metallic grooves to funnel light into specific wavelengths, resulting in vibrant colors that remain true regardless of viewing angle.
Researchers at University of Michigan discover that nanoparticles have an Achilles heel - they can't escape the bloodstream to reach diseased tissue. However, larger microspheres can be used as drug carriers, ferrying nanospheres to vessel walls or using different shapes to evade red blood cells.
A recent University of Michigan study found that young adults in Generation X maintain a healthy balance between personal and electronic social networking. The study, which included responses from 3,027 Gen Xers, also revealed that individuals with higher levels of education tend to have larger social networks.
Researchers found that the amino acid composition of red oak and sugar maple leaves is strikingly similar, contradicting conventional wisdom. Protein quality in oak leaves was higher than in maple leaves, partly explaining why maple trees are less nutritious.
A study of over 75,000 adults found that late middle-aged adults, particularly women, report higher levels of emotional reactivity and perspective-taking. This inverted U-shaped pattern suggests a potential link between age-related cognitive changes and empathy.
Scientists have created a way to produce crystalline silicon directly at just 180 F by using liquid metal, offering a more efficient and environmentally friendly process. The new method has the potential to significantly reduce production costs and make alternative semiconductors more viable for solar energy applications.
Researchers found that female mice exposed to BPA through their mother's diet had increased activity and leaner body mass than those not exposed. The study contradicts previous findings on BPA's role in obesity, highlighting the importance of exposure timing and duration.
Researchers at University of Michigan developed a nanoscale coating that repels over 95% of liquids, including oils, alcohols, and toxic acids. The coating uses air pockets to reduce intermolecular forces, causing liquids to bounce off the surface.
Researchers have identified a specific section of chromosome 2 that regulates von Willebrand factor levels, a key substance in blood clotting. The findings may lead to improved diagnosis and treatment for bleeding disorders.
Researchers used electric stimulation to release an opiate-like substance that reduces pain in the brain. The study found a significant improvement in patients' threshold for cold pain, but not their clinical pain levels. Repeated sessions are required for lasting effects.
A new therapeutic ultrasound approach converts light to sound, focusing high-pressure waves to finer points than ever before. The device can blast and cut with pressure, rather than heat, potentially operating painlessly.
A comprehensive environmental threat map reveals high stress levels in some areas of the Great Lakes, with cumulative effects of multiple stressors impacting ecosystem health. The map provides a scientific foundation for sustainable management of the lakes, highlighting areas where human benefits and stress intersect.
A new study reveals that many Amazon tree species are likely to survive human-caused climate warming in the coming century. However, researchers warn of the impact of extreme drought and forest fires as temperatures rise. Conservation efforts should focus on reducing greenhouse-gas emissions and preventing deforestation.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have found that Vega, a star used as a reference point for measuring other stars' brightness, is approximately 200 million years older than previously estimated. The star's rotation rate and mass were also precisely measured using the Michigan Infrared Combiner tool.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have devised a system to capture and study circulating tumor cells, which carry cancer around the body. The device uses nanoscale roughness to trap cancer cells regardless of their surface proteins or physical sizes.
A University of Michigan-led study found that individuals of mixed ancestry among hybrid howler monkeys are physically indistinguishable from pure individuals of each species. The findings suggest that the role of interbreeding in human evolution may have been underestimated due to limitations in the fossil record.
Scientists have found elusive Dirac electrons in a unique material, paving the way for faster and more secure quantum computing. The discovery uses superconducting properties to create a new kind of qubit, potentially overcoming local noise problems in quantum computers.
Researchers at U-M found BPA in fetal liver tissue, with varying levels of exposure detected. The study suggests that fetuses may not be able to metabolize BPA as effectively as adults, highlighting the importance of understanding internal doses for health effects.