In the News
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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 -
January 20, 2026
“It’s a strategy to produce this addictive behavior, like infinite scrolling, where you just can’t put it down,” said Webb Keane, professor of anthropology, who considers AI sycophancy — when large language models ceaselessly agree with users’ versions of the truth — to be a “dark pattern,” a deceptive design choice that manipulates users for profit by making unsubscribe links hard to find and hiding buy buttons.
TIME -
January 20, 2026
“There’s a lot of kerfuffle about (the new dietary) guidelines this year, (but) by and large, the guidelines haven’t changed. I do think there’s one point of inconsistency that might be confusing to folks,” said Jennifer Garner, assistant professor of nutritional sciences. “When you look at the new triangle, it is prioritizing … sources of red meat, fats, cheeses … that contain higher amounts of saturated fat, which we know, scientifically, contributes to risk of cardiovascular disease.”
WDIV Detroit -
January 20, 2026
“Martin Luther King Jr. understood that the power of education is the ability to teach a person to think critically. … This is why the Trump administration, like other authoritarian administrations across the world, target universities,” wrote Kevin Cokley, professor of psychology. “In the current political climate of authoritarianism, it is more important than ever for faculty to be brave and speak out against injustice and governmental assaults on academic freedom and freedom of speech.”
The EDU Ledger -
January 19, 2026
“Attempting to criminalize the conduct of monetary policy is an outrage. Every American should oppose this. Bad economics. Bad politics. Bad for the rule of law. Bad for markets,” said Justin Wolfers, professor of economics and public policy, about the Department of Justice investigation of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell regarding the renovation of historic office buildings — a move that many believe takes aim at the independence of the Fed.
CNN -
January 19, 2026
“As educators, we have witnessed the extraordinary impact arts education has on student mental health and well-being,” co-wrote M. Candace Christensen, associate professor of social work. “Arts programming provides students with creative outlets for processing trauma, with tools for emotional expression and with affirming communities. Decades of research shows that students involved in arts programs have less anxiety, manage stress better and have stronger social connections.”
The Salt Lake Tribune
