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University of Michigan


Evolution caught in the act

A research team at the University of Michigan and the University of Texas describes how a resourceful bacterium developed an entirely new way to make disulfide bonds. This breakthrough could have significant implications for disease states like Alzheimer's and cystic fibrosis, as well as biotech applications.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalScience·DateFeb 19, 2004

Students get insider's view of Earth

A University of Michigan professor is developing new computer animations to help students better understand the Earth's structure and internal processes. His approach complements existing techniques, allowing students to progress from simpler models to more complex representations.

Birds do it. Bugs do it. But why don't we?

Research by University of Michigan biologist Jianzhi Zhang found that humans lost pheromone signals after a gene duplication event around 23 million years ago. This duplication allowed for the development of color vision, making pheromones unnecessary as a channel for sexual signaling.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 16, 2003

Paper discusses circuitry for quantum computing

The paper proposes an experimentally realizable circuit and an efficient scheme to implement scalable quantum computing. Researchers aim to overcome two major stumbling blocks: preparing, manipulating, and measuring fragile quantum states and controlling connectivity between many qubits.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateOct 23, 2002

Climate and cholera: An increasingly important link

A new study reveals that climate change has strengthened the connection between El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and cholera cycles, leading to increased disease outbreaks in warmer years. The researchers found that ENSO events trigger cholera increases after warm events and decreases after cold events.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 27, 2002

A look at development, rural trends, birds

Researchers at the University of Michigan found that low-density exurban development increased by 2000 to occupy nearly 10 times the area of urbanized land, while agricultural land use decreased in some areas. Special planning can help minimize environmental impact through designs that deliver public benefits like clean water and nativ...

Rock-eating fungi helps trees

Researchers discovered that some trees use fungi to obtain calcium from an intermediate pool of apatite, previously unknown as a plant-available source. This finding has implications for forest management and understanding the effects of acid rain on forests.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalNature·DateJun 12, 2002

Quantum computing with individual atoms

The University of Michigan researchers have successfully cooled a single atom to near absolute zero using laser cooling, a crucial step toward scaling up trapped atom computers. The proposal outlines a 'quantum charge-coupled device' architecture that could be used for large-scale quantum computing.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalNature·DateJun 12, 2002

Lakeshore development affects birds

A study by researchers at the University of Michigan found that lakeshore housing development affects breeding bird communities in ways that conventional methods may miss. The study suggests that property owners can take steps to lessen the effects, such as keeping lawns small and encouraging native vegetation.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalBiological Conservation·DateJun 11, 2002

Waiting to have a baby

A recent study published in the American Journal of Human Biology found that women who reproduce later in life have a lower chance of having their descendants survive and thrive. In contrast, women who start families earlier tend to have more lineage success. The researchers used statistical models to analyze the impact of education, i...

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalAmerican Journal of Human Biology·DateMay 9, 2002

Preventive medicine residency

The University of Michigan's new two-year Preventive Medicine Residency aims to address a critical shortage of medical epidemiologists. Residents will gain expertise in disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, and immunization plans, with initial participants already securing jobs in the field.

Earth's warming trend is truly global

A team of researchers has found that the continents have warmed significantly over the past half-century, similar to the warming of the oceans, atmosphere, and ice. The study used temperature readings from six continents to reconstruct a temperature history for the Earth's surface over the past 500 years.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateApr 11, 2002

Genomics and public health

The University of Michigan has launched a new Center for Genomics and Public Health, which aims to narrow the gap between genomics and public health practice. The center will examine population-based data to describe genes associated with cardiovascular disease and understand their interaction with other risk factors.