In the News
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December 10, 2019
“Most of the requirements for an airline seat, in terms of its strength and crash response, are less stringent than for vehicle seats. A lot of the characteristics you’d need to have a wheelchair serve as a successful airplane seat are already happening in what we’re doing making them suitable for motor vehicle seats,” said Miriam Manary, lead engineer in biosciences at the U-M Transportation Research Institute.
Quartz -
December 9, 2019
Research by Brian Weeks, assistant professor of environment and sustainability, and colleagues, suggests a warming climate is reducing the average body mass and leg bone length of songbirds in North America while increasing their wingspan to enable them to continue to make long migrations even with smaller bodies: “In other words, climate change seems to be changing both the size and shape of these species. As humans change the world at an unprecedented rate and scale, there are likely widespread and consistent biotic responses to environmental change.”
Reuters -
December 9, 2019
“These are very large and energetic events. We’re really excited about this, because we think it tells us a possible path to understanding how energy is getting from the sun into the atmosphere and heating it,” said Justin Kasper, professor of climate and space sciences and engineering, and principal investigator for one of the four Parker Solar Probe’s instruments that picked up powerful waves in the solar wind caused by the vibrations of the sun’s magnetic fields.
The New York Times -
December 9, 2019
“If you think of sort of the warm, happy, relaxing holiday weekend, that could probably lower testosterone. But to the extent that there is competition and conflict, it might increase it,” said Robin Edelstein, associate professor of psychology and faculty associate at the Institute for Social Research, commenting on the possible shift in sex hormone levels in both men and women caused by holiday stress.
Business Insider -
December 6, 2019
“No one has ever seen a 70-solar-mass stellar black hole anywhere. This is the first,” said Joel Bregman, professor of astronomy, who along with a group of Chinese-led international scientists, discovered a “monster” black hole inside our own galaxy. Before now, scientists did not think it was possible for a stellar black hole to have a mass larger than 20 times that of the sun.
The Washington Post -
December 6, 2019
Households that eat family-style meals together at the table with the TV off may have healthier diets than families who don’t, according to research by Karen Peterson, professor of nutritional sciences and global public health, and colleagues: “What is it about a family meal that works or doesn’t work? These are messages that can be incorporated into nutrition education and parent education.”
Great Lakes Echo -
December 6, 2019
“We’re encouraging our colleagues — the important individuals at the front of the classroom — to join existing efforts and help us create new ones. And we’re encouraging fellow deans of all disciplines to step up: make student mental health a priority for your faculty and implement programs and tactics that engage them in the essential work of helping our students succeed, despite their struggles,” co-wrote Alec D. Gallimore, dean of the College of Engineering.
Inside Higher Ed -
December 5, 2019
Research by Don Scavia, professor emeritus of environment and sustainability, shows how, in addition to farmland runoff in Ohio and southeastern Michigan, another source of nutrients — Lake Huron — is also contributing to Lake Erie’s persistent toxic cyanobacteria blooms.
Michigan Radio -
December 5, 2019
The U.S.-China trade war has caused all sorts of problems, not just because of the higher tariffs themselves, but also because of adjustments the markets have to make in response to the tariffs, said Alan Deardorff, professor of economics and public policy: “The sooner we can take off those tariffs, the better, (because) some of those adjustments won’t have to be undertaken, and we’ll be able to get back to where we were before.”
Xinhua (China) -
December 5, 2019
“The risks of triggering tipping points go up fast if we warm the planet more, meaning it might not be possible to limit warming to just 3 or 4 degrees Celsius if tipping point thresholds are crossed,” said Jonathan Overpeck, dean of the School for Environment and Sustainability, commenting on research that indicates a higher risk that “abrupt and irreversible changes” to the climate system could be triggered at smaller global temperature increases than thought just a few years ago.
Inside Climate News
