In the News
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January 26, 2026
“To me, it is just stunning the extent to which the victims of brutal shootings, that left one paralyzed for the rest of his life, were not treated as victims at the time, and also that they have been largely erased from this critically important historical event since,” said Heather Ann Thompson, professor of history and Afroamerican and African studies, about the four Black teens shot by Bernhard Goetz on a New York subway in 1984.
The New York Times -
January 23, 2026
Editor’s note: The following item is being re-run from Friday’s Record email due to an incorrect article link:
“Lower incomes aren’t the only thing driving the higher housing cost burden. Detroit seniors pay more for all homeownership costs … not only as a proportion of home values and income, but also in terms of real costs,” wrote Amanda Nothaft, director of data and analysis at Poverty Solutions. “Detroiters face higher rates for auto insurance, and they pay more for utilities, compared to others in the state, adding to a situation where many residents, especially seniors on fixed incomes, struggle to make ends meet.”
Bridge Detroit -
January 23, 2026
“When viewed through a narrow lens, health care is often deemed an unavoidable short-term expense rather than a long-term investment in the health of our communities. Likewise, cutting or undervaluing innovation may save money today, but it raises costs and health risks for patients tomorrow,” said David C. Miller, CEO of Michigan Medicine. “The health care cost conversation needs a reset — one that moves beyond price alone and focuses on access, prioritizing value, equity and innovation.”
The Detroit News -
January 23, 2026
“He is not just latching onto things his base supports, but latching on to things that he knows will anger the other side. Which then, of course, makes these posts gain a lot of attention,” said Audrey Halversen, doctoral student in communication and media, about President Trump’s deliberately transgressive, meme-heavy style of social media communication — copying the forms of internet humor, but turning its knowing and absurd cultural references into ragebait.
CNN -
January 22, 2026
Dementia can cause people to overlook unpaid bills or buy items they already own or don’t need — both common signs of memory impairment in people who are typically careful with their finances. “There’s a lot of reasoning and memory that go into financial tasks, and so (money management errors) can certainly be an early way that people experience changes,” said Judith Heidebrink, clinical professor at neurology.
New York Post -
January 22, 2026
“It’s been fun to watch them have that click that helps take the classroom learning into (an) actual applied setting. Trying to find ways to get them to learn and enjoy the learning process, but learn very deeply, that’s challenging but really fun,” said Kara Palmer, clinical assistant professor of kinesiology, whose class on motor skills and the brain-body connection requires students to ice skate at Yost Ice Arena.
MLive -
January 22, 2026
“When we are older, we tend to have lives that are more structured around routines, and fewer of the big landmark events that we use to demarcate different epochs of the ‘time of our lives,’” said Cindy Lustig, professor of psychology, who believes fewer memorable events can make time feel like it flies by much faster as we age.
Earth.com -
January 21, 2026
“There is no way to sugarcoat what’s happening to clean water protections, funding, staffing and programs at the federal level,” wrote Mike Shriberg, director of the U-M Water Center. “It’s not fair that we have to collectively both fight a rearguard battle against federal backsliding on clean water while also envisioning and beginning to plan for a better future for the Great Lakes. But I have confidence that we can do this because we collectively care so deeply about the Great Lakes and our water, and we have experiences to draw from.”
Planet Detroit -
January 21, 2026
Scientists use lasers, satellites and even sound to determine what is falling from the sky — but the best tool may still be the human eye. Claire Pettersen, assistant professor of climate and space sciences and engineering, used high-speed cameras to capture images of nine different types of precipitation between rain and snow, ranging from drizzle to heavy snowfall. “The best case scenario is you have a bunch of different instruments at your fingertips,” she said.
National Geographic -
January 21, 2026
When looking for activities to boost brain health, “the best strategy is to combine physical exercise, mental challenges and social interactions,” said Eva Feldman, professor of neurology and director of the ALS Center of Excellence. And of course, you also want to make sure it’s something that you genuinely enjoy and not try to take on too much too quickly, she says.
NBC Today
