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.
Researchers discovered a new in-between quantum state with a power law decay, which could make accessing these states easier and more reliable. This breakthrough opens up novel concepts for fundamental physics and potential applications in emerging fields like quantum computing.
Researchers at the University of Michigan created woven metamaterials that return to their original shape after repeated compressions, while continuous sheets permanently deform. The structures demonstrated high stiffness and resilience, making them suitable for applications like soft robotics, car parts and architectural components.
A new study from the University of Michigan analyzed 35 different vehicle combinations and found that EVs have lower emissions over their lifetime than any other vehicle type in every county in the contiguous US. The lowest emission vehicle class was the compact sedan BEV with a range of 200 miles.
The study finds that dark energy's influence on the universe is changing over cosmic time, which can be understood as a signal of matter being converted into dark energy. The data also provides evidence for neutrinos having mass greater than zero, improving previous interpretations.
A recent study found that wolf hunting has a limited effect on reducing livestock losses, with an average reduction of 2% in predation rates. However, the impact of hunting on lethal removals, which are expensive operations targeting specific wolves, is negligible.
A study by the University of Michigan found that counties with animal feeding operations have higher levels of air pollution, particularly PM2.5, linked to heart and respiratory issues. These operations also tend to be located near vulnerable communities with lower health insurance coverage and education.
Researchers used two ecological theories to describe the tangle of interactions between three ant species and a recently introduced fly that preys on one of the ant species. The interaction creates chaotic patterns, meaning any one of the four insect species could be dominant at any point in time.
Researchers used powerful X-rays to capture the first 3D views of deformation twinning in magnesium alloys, which can help absorb stress without breaking. The study's findings improve understanding of the alloy's complex reaction to mechanical stress, paving the way for wider adoption in car manufacturing.
A recent University of Michigan study found that nonmedical use of prescription ADHD drugs among adolescents has dropped from 10% in 2005 to 6% in 2023. Lifetime medical use also increased slightly during the same period, but overall trends suggest a decrease in misusing these prescriptions.
Researchers have discovered that dialing down sugar metabolism can break down neural integrity, but manipulating this process can also activate protective programs in neurons. Two proteins, DLK and SARM1, are involved in extending axon health, with their activity influenced by the cell's internal conditions.
Research by the University of Michigan reveals that biodiversity is crucial in forests, particularly in wet climates, where it promotes tree growth. In contrast, its impact is negligible in wet years within those same wet climates.
Researchers developed microrobots that can navigate complex biological environments, such as intestines, to deliver drugs with high accuracy. The devices use magnetic fields to steer and release medication, offering a promising solution for treating inflammatory bowel disease and other conditions.
Women who attend prenatal care visits in groups have better health outcomes, are more satisfied with their care, and report less wait time. Group care promotes meaningful connections among peers and midwives, empowering women to take action towards healthier pregnancies.
A new UK-based study has found that e-cigarette use is strongly linked to an increased risk of adolescent cigarette smoking. Researchers tracked three birth cohorts in the UK and discovered that teenagers who vaped were nearly three times more likely to smoke cigarettes than those who never used e-cigarettes.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have identified a complete sensory pathway for sensing cool temperatures, which is separate from the pathway for hot temperatures. This discovery provides insight into how the skin detects its surroundings and responds to environmental changes.
A new silicone patch with star-shaped microneedles, called the ExoPatch, distinguishes melanoma from healthy skin in mice, capturing cancer biomarkers from exosomes. The test shows promise for early detection of the most aggressive form of skin cancer without a biopsy or blood draw.
A 150-year-old fossil specimen has been reidentified as a type of invertebrate called a lobopod, marking the first time this line of sea creatures is known to have left the ocean. The study suggests that the lobopod likely lived in a freshwater environment and had chemical defenses that indicate it may have spent part of its time on land.
A University of Michigan study found that goldenrod plants growing in nutrient-rich soil are more likely to defend themselves against insects. The study showed that goldenrod that grew in fields fed annually with agricultural levels of nitrogen were more likely to 'nod' as a defense mechanism.
The Michigan Air Mobility Research Corridor will test advanced air mobility technologies, including battery-powered aircraft and autonomous systems. The corridor, spanning 40 miles from Ann Arbor to Detroit, aims to enable safe and efficient flight testing.
Researchers are creating generalized digital twins for machines, aiming to improve coordination up and down the production line. The center also plans to develop digital twins for human-robot collaboration and use software for simulation and analysis.
A new blue fluorescent molecule, TGlu, has been discovered that reaches record-breaking brightness and efficiency in both solid and liquid states. The molecule's design could cut down development time and cost for future applications.
Research led by the University of Michigan finds fungal spore seasons advancing three weeks earlier in the US over two decades due to climate change. The study reveals significant implications for both ecosystem processes and human health.
Researchers at the University of Michigan discovered a class of materials with exciting properties for transporting photonic information, including unidirectional transport and defect-free light. The topological insulators' band gap size can be up to 100 times larger than current records, enabling new applications in optical devices.
Researchers at the University of Michigan propose a new theory that non-REM sleep strengthens memories, while REM prunes overlapping ones. This sequence helps reinforce relevant memories and keeps unrelated ones distinct.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have discovered that HIV can attach directly to dynein motor proteins without relying on a specific cargo adaptor protein. This flexibility allows the virus to hijack different microtubule transport mechanisms, expanding its options for entering host cells.
Researchers developed a method to capture carbon dioxide and convert it into metal oxalates, which can be used as precursors for cement production. The process uses trace amounts of lead catalysts, significantly reducing their environmental impact.
A new study from the University of Michigan reveals that heat waves and cold spells on the Great Lakes have increased by more than 100% since 1998, coinciding with the strongest El Niño event. This trend has significant implications for the region's weather, economy, and ecosystems.
A new study from the University of Michigan reveals that humans' circadian rhythms are still wild at heart, tracking seasonal changes in daylight. The research shows a genetic component to this seasonality, which could help explain individual differences in how strongly people are affected by changes in day length.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have demonstrated an efficient blue phosphorescent OLED that can last as long as green OLEDs. The device uses a tandem OLED structure and surface plasmon resonance to improve efficiency.
Researchers at University of Michigan have discovered a rule-breaking silicone that can conduct electricity, upending assumptions about the material class. The semiconducting properties of the silicone copolymer enable its spectrum of colors, with longer chain lengths producing red tones and shorter chains emitting blue light.
A University of Michigan study finds that the world may not have enough copper to sustain economic growth and population increases, requiring a significant increase in copper prices to motivate new mine development. The researchers estimate that copper needs will exceed current mining capacity by 2050, with some scenarios requiring as ...
A University of Michigan study reveals that songbirds making arduous winter migrations to warmer climates exhibit higher genetic diversity than those staying closer to their breeding locations. This finding highlights the interplay between genetic diversity and climate change/human impact on bird habitats.
The US National Science Foundation-funded ZEUS facility at the University of Michigan has roughly doubled the peak power of any other laser in the country with its first official experiment reaching 2 petawatts. Research at ZEUS will have applications in medicine, national security, materials science and astrophysics.