In the News
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February 5, 2026
“UTIs are one of the most common reasons why American patients are prescribed antibiotics, and we’re seeing more resistant bacteria than ever,” said Jennifer Meddings, professor of internal medicine and pediatrics, who helped develop a national guide to help clinicians decide when to test and when to treat suspected urinary tract infections.
U.S. News & World Report -
February 5, 2026
“Career and technical education pathways that have the strongest outcomes are ones where there’s a very clear pathway for students after their time in a high school CTE program,” said Walter Ecton, assistant professor of education. “The strongest CTE programs are also marrying both technical skills together with academic skills. (And) are really engaged in rigorous reading and writing and math, and students are getting robust training in those critical skills.”
EducationWeek -
February 4, 2026
“More people are traveling by plane each year, and there’s more pressure to fly in all weather conditions. Our technology can help airplanes, drones, cars and trucks be as safe and efficient as possible,” said Nilton Renno, professor of climate and space sciences and engineering and of aerospace engineering, who helped develop sensors that could give pilots and drivers early warnings about dangerous ice.
Interesting Engineering -
February 4, 2026
President Trump has promised to contribute $1,000 into new investment accounts for babies born during his current term, regardless of family income. “The advantage is that it does allow for multiple streams of assets to flow into it,” said William Elliott, professor of social work, which means it allows the potential for additional contributions from philanthropy, employers, state governments and even families themselves.
Marketplace -
February 4, 2026
“The relaxation of the one-child policy did not create a fertility recovery. What it did create was intensified labor market discrimination for women,” said Yun Zhou, assistant professor of sociology, who believes that instead of encouraging women to give birth, China’s generous maternity leave— which can last up to a year — is making it much more difficult for women to get and maintain jobs because of fears that they might leave their jobs to start a family.
The Washington Post -
February 3, 2026
“Metabolism is often changed in brain injury and diseases like Alzheimer’s, but we do not know whether this is a cause or consequence of the disease,” said Monica Dus, associate professor of molecular, cellular, and developmental biology, who found that the metabolic slowdown seen after brain injury or during neurodegenerative disease can stabilize fragile neural connections and delay their collapse, at least in the short term.
Earth.com -
February 3, 2026
“There is no serious case that this is about the number of immigrants or some level of violent crime not seen elsewhere. It is about the Department of Homeland Security, in the form of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Patrol, developing their skills as the president’s stormtroopers. It is about making an example of a community,” said Don Moynihan, professor of public policy, about President Trump’s immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota.
MS NOW -
February 3, 2026
“We often hear the term nursing shortage. It’s really not a shortage of nurses. It’s really a vacancy problem, which speaks to the need to make sure that our workplaces are strong and healthy, that nurses have the support they need,” said Christopher Friese, professor of nursing and of health management and policy, who found that high nursing school debt, coupled with proposed caps on student loans, may force nurses out of the profession.
Michigan Public -
February 2, 2026
Research by Papa Owusu-Obeng, Ph.D. graduate in environment and sustainability, and Sarah Mills, director of the Center for EmPowering Communities, suggests that clearer local policies can help communities better understand the tradeoffs involved in hosting solar projects. “Solar can bring a lot of benefits to local communities, and there are ways that it can also hurt,” Owusu-Obeng said. “We can plan utility-scale solar systems more equitably in a way that benefits communities and meets decarbonization goals.”
Great Lakes Echo -
February 2, 2026
Efforts by Congress to ban students from using social media at school comes as the White House presses for more artificial intelligence in the classroom. “There is a bit of an odd nature of these things happening at the same time. I think you could want students to be off devices more, but when they’re on them, (to be) utilizing AI or having AI be part of intelligent tutoring systems that would better assist students,” said Brian Jacob, professor of public policy and co-director of the Youth Policy Lab.
EdSurge
