In the News
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December 15, 2025
U-M is producing more startup companies than ever before, but about half of all of its spinouts are leaving the state. “While it’s still very challenging in Michigan, it was really, really tough a decade ago. Honestly, it’s improved pretty dramatically, but we are still behind,” said Mike Psarouthakis, executive director of impact investments and strategic alliances at Innovation Partnerships, who believes the ecosystem must do better to attract talent to the state.
Crain's Detroit Business -
December 15, 2025
“You don’t have all of the crash bars, or the sturdy metal frame that’s going to protect you. If you get into a collision with a 5,000-pound pickup truck, you’re going to lose,” said Tifani Sadek, director of the Law School’s Law and Mobility Program, about Japan’s inexpensive kei microcars, which President Trump would like to build in the U.S.
The New York Times -
December 15, 2025
“If we can offer them the benefits of nature while they’re at home and see if that’s going to help their mental health, that’s what we’re trying to do,” said Hala Darwish, associate professor of nursing and neurology, who is researching whether virtual reality nature walks can relieve depression and anxiety of patients with multiple sclerosis.
CBS News Detroit -
December 15, 2025
Research shows that kids who have investment accounts, including those in poor families, are more likely to go to college and to take school seriously, and is one reason that parents are “talking to their child about college — ‘What are you going to use this money for? What are you going to do to prepare in high school and middle school?’” said Trina Shanks, professor of social work. Even those with a small amount of money in a long-term savings account are significantly more likely to go to college, says William Elliott, professor of social work.
The New York Times -
December 12, 2025
John Monnier, professor of astronomy, says the recent deaths of two white dwarf stars are challenging our understanding of both novae and the powerful physics underlying star death: “The fact that we can now watch stars explode and immediately see the structure of the material being blasted into space is remarkable. It opens a new window into some of the most dramatic events in the universe.”
Popular Science -
December 12, 2025
“Already we have started to see many regions (across the country) realizing that the huge spike in electricity demand from data centers is straining the grid, and this is only going to get worse as the growth of data centers increases based on the projected and planned investments,” said Ben Green, assistant professor of information and public policy.
MLive -
December 12, 2025
“We have known for years that primary HPV testing is much more efficient; now we are doing self-sampling to allow for better access,” said Diane Harper, professor of family medicine and obstetrics and gynecology, after the American Cancer Society announced that cervical cancer screening can now include “self-swab” HPV tests. “We have data showing now that in a highly vaccinated population, you can screen every 10 years, but we in the U.S. are lagging behind.”
NBC News -
December 12, 2025
Cases of norovirus have been surging ahead of schedule this year, according to the CDC. But Christiane Wobus, associate professor of microbiology and immunology, says there’s no reason to be concerned. “What we are seeing is the typical seasonal pattern,” she said, adding that the total number of outbreaks at the end of November was “within the average over many years of reporting.”
Newsweek -
December 11, 2025
“Improving indoor air quality is one of the most effective and practical steps we can take to protect children from respiratory viruses,” said Aubree Gordon, professor of epidemiology. “The benefits extend beyond infection control: Better-ventilated classrooms support improved learning, better concentration and healthier school environments overall.”
Newsweek -
December 11, 2025
The Supreme Court appears poised to expand the president’s ability to fire leaders of independent agencies created by Congress. “The conservative justices on the court are pretty committed to (that) idea. The thing that has slowed them from putting that into operation has been the Fed,” said Nicholas Bagley, professor of law. Now, “they appear willing to create an exception for the Fed, even while they eliminate the independence of every other agency.”
Christian Science Monitor
