In the News
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February 11, 2022
“The things that drive inflation are supply and demand … and it’s utterly clear what the main supply constraints are right now, and they’re all about the pandemic,” said Justin Wolfers, professor of economics and public policy. “So if you wanted to blame government for that, it would be that we’re not doing enough to vaccinate the rest of the world.”
WDET Radio -
February 10, 2022
The pandemic has reinforced the crucial role of ema, prayer plaques hanging in temples and shrines across Japan that have become symbols of hope, says Jennifer Robertson, professor emerita of anthropology and the history of art: “Many who read others’ ema realize their problems are not unique to them; we are all in the same boat.”
National Geographic -
February 10, 2022
“They can’t blow off the artists. The artists make Spotify. They need to settle up with Rogan, let him go to a home that will be consistent with who he is. And everybody will be better off,” said Erik Gordon, clinical professor of business, on the controversy surrounding anti-coronavirus vaccine comments and racial slurs on some episodes of Joe Rogan’s popular podcast.
The Associated Press -
February 10, 2022
Yiddish novels written by women were long dismissed by publishers as insignificant or unmarketable to a wider audience, but a recent surge of translations is keeping the literature alive. “This literature has been hiding in plain sight, but we all assumed it wasn’t there,” said Anita Norich, professor emerita of English and Judaic studies. “If you’ve always heard that women didn’t write novels in Yiddish, why go looking for it?”
The New York Times -
February 9, 2022
Research by Geoffrey Hoffman, assistant professor of nursing, shows nearly 40 percent of those older than 65 have reduced physical activity since the start of the pandemic. “It’s a cascade of effects. You start with changes in activity levels. That results in worsened function. That in turn is associated with both falls and fear of falling,” he said. Neil Alexander, professor of geriatric medicine, said “support services to keep people mobile and functioning were disrupted” during the pandemic.
The New York Times -
February 9, 2022
Nearly one out of every four parents in Detroit not in the labor force — meaning they’re not working or actively looking for a job — left the workforce within the past year, says Lydia Wileden, doctoral student in public policy and social science and at the Population Studies Center. “You can definitely point to problems with child care, general uncertainty about how to keep their family safe and uncertainty around schooling,” she said.
Detroit Free Press -
February 9, 2022
The recent snowstorm that swept through the Midwest wasn’t strong enough to fuel an increase in Great Lakes water levels, says Andrew Gronewold, associate professor of environment and sustainability, who expects levels to fluctuate more between extreme highs and lows as the climate warms. “It’s really hard to look at any one event, like the one we just had, and map it onto a noticeable long-term change in water levels.”
The Detroit News -
February 8, 2022
“You carry the same set of teeth for 60 years, or maybe even more, so it’s an enormous chemical and mechanical stress,” said Nicholas Kotov, professor of chemical and biomedical engineering, and materials science and engineering. Kotov and colleagues invented a new material that mimics enamel’s strength and elasticity and could potentially be used as a replacement for dental enamel.
Scientific American -
February 8, 2022
“The pandemic has caused large shifts in Detroit’s labor market, from the types of jobs people are pursuing to who is willing and able to work right now,” said Elisabeth Gerber, professor of public policy. “Detroiters’ experiences suggest there is a need for both job training programs that prepare Detroiters for high-demand employment sectors as well as significant investment into the safety and quality of all employment opportunities.”
Michigan Radio -
February 8, 2022
Crews from several U.S. and Canadian institutions will make their way onto frozen sections of the Great Lakes this month to gather winter data on climate warming. “I’m especially interested in what forms of phosphorus are present in the water during wintertime. We have ways of characterizing whether it’s the type that can support the food web or contribute to harmful blooms,” said Casey Godwin, assistant research scientist at the Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research.
The Associated Press
