In the News
-
February 19, 2026
“An increase in ground-level ozone concentrations has been linked to respiratory health problems,” said Tom Luben, senior research scientist in epidemiology, after the EPA removed the scientific and legal basis that requires federal regulation of greenhouse gases. “Certain parts of the population are especially vulnerable to these effects, including children, older adults, pregnant people, and individuals with pre-existing health conditions.”
The Detroit News -
February 19, 2026
“We are seeing cases where there was a threat, law enforcement removed firearms, and the threat isn’t there anymore,” said April Zeoli, associate professor of public health and policy core director at the Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention, about Michigan’s two-year-old red flag law, which allows judges to issue extreme risk protection orders to temporarily seize guns from people deemed a risk to themselves or others.
WKAR Radio -
February 18, 2026
“I’ve had multiple patients come to me (who) used heroin 10 years ago. They’ll say, ‘Doc, like I started using this, and five days later I felt like I was just right back on heroin,’” said Eliza Hutchinson, clinical assistant professor of family medicine, on the use of kratom and its derivative 7-OH to boost energy, lift mood or relieve pain. Sean Esteban McCabe, professor of nursing and director of the Center for the Study of Drugs, Alcohol, Smoking and Health, worries that kratom products could set Michigan back in its battle against drugs: “A drug like 7-OH — that has the potential to really derail us.”
Bridge Michigan -
February 18, 2026
While AI already plays a crucial role in advancing global health security, it could also potentially be used to enable bioweapons to trigger a new pandemic, said Michael Imperiale, professor emeritus of microbiology and immunology: “AI is progressing so rapidly that it’s really hard to put a number when that’s going to be. But I would say it’s going to be sooner than decades. Much sooner, perhaps.”
The Telegraph (U.K.) -
February 18, 2026
Donald Trump has long used civil litigation to hit back at critics and continues to do so as president, but claims he is too busy to be burdened by responding to such lawsuits brought against him. “It’s like saying, ‘We’re going to play baseball and only I get to bat,'” said Richard Primus, professor of law. “Trump is a vexatious litigant. If he has a legitimate legal claim for something, he could file a suit and ask the court to stay proceedings until he’s out of office.”
Reuters -
February 17, 2026
“Good old-fashioned management, including ensuring employees’ roles and workflows are clearly defined,” remains important in the AI age, said Justin Berg, associate professor of management and organizations. “Clear goals, roles, structure to make sure that everyone’s coordinated: These things are more important when everyone is equipped with AI because they could all be going off in their own directions in a much faster way.”
Reworked -
February 17, 2026
“High glucoses during this time can lead to really large babies, higher risk of injuries for both the mom and the baby,” said endocrinologist Jennifer Wyckoff, professor of internal medicine, whose research found that gestational diabetes affects nearly 15% of pregnant women in the U.S. — but unlike other forms of diabetes, does not often result in traditional diabetes symptoms.
WEMU Radio -
February 17, 2026
“So many of the things we’re facing with biodiversity loss just feel inexorable and massive in scale, but we know how to use different materials and how to put things up in different ways to block sound. We know what to use and how to use it, we just have to get enough awareness and interest in doing it,” said Neal Carter, associate professor of environment and sustainability, whose research shows that human noise impacts bird behavior, body function and breeding success.
Earth.com -
February 16, 2026
A new law banning cell phone use in Michigan’s K-12 classrooms during instructional time “is great, but most schools are already doing that or even have more stringent rules, ” said Margaret Murray, associate professor of communication at UM-Dearborn. “What would really move the needle is a full bell-to-bell ban” in which phones are locked up during the school day, except for emergencies, or are prohibited from schools altogether, a zero-tolerance policy.
WWJ Radio -
February 16, 2026
“It might not seem like much is happening in the environment, but that layer of snow is actually providing some real big benefits to little organisms that live in the soil,” said Olivia Vought, doctoral student in ecology and evolutionary biology, on the benefits of cold and snowy winters. “They’re processing things like nitrogen, that is then really important for plants throughout the growing season. And those little microorganisms really benefit from that insulating snow layer.”
WEMU Radio
