A new machine learning model developed at the University of Michigan uses data from wearable sensors to predict how physical therapists would assess balance training performance. The model was trained with sensor data combined with analysis from physical therapists and predicted patients' balance ratings with nearly 90% accuracy.
A new University of Michigan study found that most young Americans continue to use tobacco products, despite the harm associated with these products. The research also revealed that co-use of multiple types of nicotine, tobacco, and cannabis is a concerning trend among young people.
A University of Michigan study reveals that Ghana's informal e-waste recycling industry exposes workers to severe air pollution, compromising their health and the environment. The study finds that urbanization drives population growth, which exacerbates pollution in settlements like Agbogbloshie.
Researchers have discovered nanodomains within biomolecular condensates that aggregate FUS protein, a key regulator of cellular RNA metabolism. The movement of these nanodomain clusters can be slowed down or accelerated by applying drugs used to treat ALS, offering potential new avenues for slowing neurodegenerative disease.
Researchers identified three generalized pathways for creating actionable climate knowledge that is scalable. These pathways involve getting a lot of people involved and using approaches like crowdsourcing food production at potlucks to broaden participation.
Yumna Dagher, a U-M student with double majors in English and the Environment, has been named a 2025 Rhodes Scholar. She will pursue graduate degrees in nature, society and environmental governance and visual, material and museum anthropology at Oxford University.
A University of Michigan study flips the Neutral Theory of Molecular Evolution on its head, finding that good mutations occur at a higher rate than previously thought. The researchers suggest that beneficial mutations may become harmful in new environments, leading to inconsistent adaptation rates across populations.
A new technology developed by Fibarcode uses photonic fibers to create unique codes that can be scanned to verify a garment's fabric content and designer labels. The technology has the potential to increase recycling rates and prevent counterfeiting.
A new study by the University of Michigan reveals that climate change is causing smaller fish in Michigan's inland lakes. Researchers found that old and young fish were significantly smaller than their typical size in 1945.
A U-M-led team is working to minimize latency in virtual and augmented reality games for people with Parkinson's disease. They are developing two games: an adaptive soccer game and a word game that enables players to fight the progression of the disease through physical and cognitive exercise.
The University of Michigan's three-year project, ORACLE, harnesses laser links for power and momentum transfer, enabling satellites to move without fuel. This innovation aims to transform constellations into dynamic, interconnected systems, improving sustainability and resilience.
Research shows that families exposed to war and political violence exhibit aggressive behavior, influencing children's lives. The trauma alters family interactions and dynamics, creating harsh interactions that transmit injury across the household system.
A team led by Lu Li has made a groundbreaking discovery in the field of materials science, finding that quantum oscillations arise from the bulk of insulators rather than just their surface. This new understanding challenges the current perception of material behavior and opens up new avenues for research and potential applications.
A new study suggests that collecting and testing cancer cells in patients' blood could help doctors choose the right breast cancer treatment. The 'labyrinth chip' technology separates cancer cells from other blood cells, allowing researchers to identify biomarkers that distinguish aggressive treatments from less invasive ones.
Researchers found that dementia caregivers who interacted with friends experienced lower levels of momentary loneliness. These small social interactions can make a significant difference in their emotional well-being and provide an essential emotional lift during caregiving.
The research partnership aims to develop stronger aluminum alloys for high-performance applications. Three projects focus on reducing iron impurities through electrical or chemical approaches.
Researchers found that certain gobies overexpress genes inhibiting growth, keeping them miniaturized. They also discovered that miniature gobies have used the same genetic pathways since the Eocene to regulate their size.
Researchers mapped greenhouse gas emissions associated with producing meat for cities across the contiguous US, providing city-specific information to reduce environmental impact. The study found that cutting half of beef consumption can result in similar greenhouse gas savings, and transportation emissions are not a major factor.
A new technique allows engineers to more precisely place patches on microscopic building blocks, controlling their assembly into designer structures. This stenciling method provides a quantum leap in control over the building blocks' designs, enabling the creation of sophisticated materials from nanoparticles.
A new analysis from the University of Michigan predicts that hurricane-induced power outages will increase along the Atlantic coast, particularly in northern Florida and southern Atlantic states. The study finds that Hispanic, non-white, low-income, and elderly populations will be disproportionately affected by these outages.
A new study suggests that electric vehicles can help mitigate climate change and public health issues by strategically charging and discharging from the grid. By doing so, EVs can sell stored energy back to the grid, reducing emissions and helping to build more renewable energy generators.
A new study found that 22% of young adults aged 19-30 use cannabis or alcohol to initiate sleep. Cannabis was more common than alcohol for this purpose, with 41% of past-year users using it specifically to sleep. The study highlights the risks of long-term substance use for sleep problems and increasing risk of substance use disorder.
A new University of Michigan study finds that providing practical help to a close friend can improve daily mood in older adults. However, men and women exhibit different patterns of emotional support, with men potentially experiencing lower moods when providing emotional support.
A new study reveals how circadian rhythms impact medicine interactions, suggesting that taking certain drugs at the right time can prolong their effects and improve treatment outcomes. The model also explores interactions between modafinil and an ultradian rhythm affecting dopamine levels, offering insights into fundamental biology.
A team of researchers at the University of Michigan and AFRL has developed a new method to create structures that passively impede vibrations, using complex geometry to elicit beneficial properties. The innovation builds on decades of theoretical research and utilizes advanced fabrication technologies like 3D printing.
Researchers developed HandProxy, a software that allows users to interact with virtual spaces by commanding a disembodied hand. The AI-powered hand can perform complex tasks without being explicitly told every step, making it more flexible than current VR voice-command features.
The University of Michigan's Center for Sustainable Systems has released its 2025 collection of factsheets, covering topics like energy, water, climate change, and transportation. The new edition includes two all-new sheets on artificial intelligence and the Great Lakes, with information gathered from over 1,270 reputable sources.
Research suggests that the US can mine sufficient graphite to produce batteries for electric vehicles and stationary storage, but economic factors make it challenging. The country's supply of natural graphite exceeds demand projections, while synthetic graphite demand is expected to outpace supply.
Researchers developed a new control algorithm that enables powered knee prostheses to mimic natural human motion, reducing tripping risks and strain on users' bodies. The study showed significant improvements in activities of daily living, such as sitting, standing, walking, and climbing stairs.
A solar sail probe could provide a new vantage point for detecting space tornadoes, also known as flux ropes, which can disrupt Earth's magnetic field. These smaller features are too small for typical simulations, but a solar sail probe can help scientists see them and predict potential hazards.
A new study found that NCAA athletes who experienced more concussions reported worse health outcomes, while those in higher-contact sports and longer-term participants showed improved mental health scores. The research suggests that team environments may play a protective role in mitigating mental health deficits associated with concus...
Researchers developed META-SiM, an AI foundation model that can track the behavior of single molecules and identify unique patterns. This technology has potential applications in understanding cellular processes, tracking diseases, and analyzing complex systems like animal migration or celestial movements.
Researchers developed a new tool called CATNIP that connects proteins with substrates, allowing chemists to identify suitable biocatalysts for green chemical reactions. The platform uses machine learning to optimize a predictive model and provides ranked lists of potential enzymes or starting compounds.
A new University of Michigan study found a 7.4% jump in deaths due to high pollen counts, suggesting that allergies' physiological effects may contribute to increased suicide risk. The study suggests that public health and education are key to reducing the impact of pollen on mental health.
Flavored marijuana vaping is now the most common form of cannabis use among American teenagers who vape, with use increasing by 20% between 2021 and 2024. The trend suggests that flavored solutions are gaining traction among youth, leading to growing public health concerns about changing patterns of substance use.
Researchers at U-M have established a quantum testbed that links two labs with optical fibers, enabling remote quantum experiments and expanding access to quantum technology development. The testbed allows for the transfer of entangled light over long distances, revolutionizing communication, computing, and scientific discovery.
University of Michigan researchers have made significant progress in developing a more accurate simulation approach for density functional theory, a widely used method in fundamental chemistry and materials science studies. The new approach has improved the calculation of exchange-correlation functionals, which describe how electrons i...
A University of Michigan researcher has discovered a 310-million-year-old fossil that shows an early innovation in the way fish eat. The Platysomus fish had a toothy, tongue-like apparatus for biting, which was a convergent adaptation among different groups of fishes.
A University of Michigan study reveals that the sudden loss of dinosaurs allowed forests to flourish, stabilizing sediments and creating broad meanders in rivers. This change had a profound impact on landscapes, demonstrating how life can alter its environment through catastrophic events.
Researchers have developed a liquid helium-cooled sample holder that allows scientists to maintain specimen temperatures as low as -423 degrees Fahrenheit for over 10 hours. This enables the study of how materials acquire properties useful in quantum computers, such as superconductivity and quantum computing capabilities.
A new nanostructure acts like a wire and switch that can control the flow of quantum quasiparticles called excitons at room temperature. The transistor-like switch developed by University of Michigan engineers could speed up information transfer or enable circuits that run on excitons instead of electricity.
Researchers mapped key aspects of electron pulses that can generate laser-like X-ray pulses, improving access to XFELs. The technique enables studying molecule behavior in detail and advancing fields like chemistry and medicine.
A new University of Michigan study found that between 2000 and 2023, 38,429 children in Michigan experienced a parental death due to suicide, homicide, overdose or other substance-related death, with stigmatized deaths increasing from 28% to 42%. The study aims to provide bereavement services to the most affected areas.
The Longitudinal Study of Health and Ageing in Kenya (LOSHAK) aims to understand drivers of health and economic well-being in later life. The five-year grant will survey thousands of Kenyans to analyze the impact of demographic shifts on healthcare delivery.
A new AI oracle aimed at solving complex physics problems has received $19.4 million in funding from the US Department of Energy. The project, led by the University of Michigan, will focus on developing artificial intelligence models to generate trustworthy data for engineering design of complex devices.
The Center for Land Surface Hazards will develop new scientific frameworks and modeling tools to forecast and mitigate cascading hazards. CLaSH also aims to broaden and grow a workforce of experts in land surface hazards and foster community engagement.
Researchers found that nutrients can increase seagrass's ability to store carbon, but an overload of nitrogen can lead to increased phytoplankton growth, shading out and killing seagrass. Increasing phosphorus and nitrogen in nutrient-poor beds helps seagrass grow, storing more carbon.
A University of Michigan study shows that lobe-finned fishes experienced rapid jaw innovation and evolution between 359-423 million years ago, while ray-finned fishes evolved more slowly. This finding highlights the importance of ancient fossil records in understanding vertebrate evolution.
The University of Michigan has expanded its open-access Battery Lab with a new facility, increasing capacity for lithium-ion battery production and prototyping. The lab now offers advanced equipment, including an automated laser welder and three-megawatt-hour battery production line.
Researchers found that people with Alzheimer's disease show more frequent brain reorganization than those without the disease, and this can be used to identify risk. Higher neural flexibility in specific brain networks may also predict transition to Alzheimer's disease.