In the News
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December 16, 2019
“This is a really dangerous problem. People become obsessed with it, and it really is impossible,” said Jeffrey Lagarias, professor of mathematics, on the Collatz conjecture — quite possibly the simplest unsolved problem in mathematics, and one he has studied for decades. “Now I know lots more about the problem, and I’d say it’s still impossible.”
Quanta Magazine -
December 16, 2019
The expansion of Medicaid in Michigan in 2013 has resulted in a doubling of doctors’ visits, more preventive care and an increase in long-term health talks, according to research by Susan Dorr Goold, professor of internal medicine, and health management and policy, and Renuka Tipirneni, assistant professor of internal medicine, and colleagues. “The role of primary care providers, and their teams, in helping low-income and working-poor people understand what health risks they face, and encouraging them to modify the risk factors they can change, is crucial,” Tipirneni said.
U.S. News & World Report -
December 16, 2019
A newly discovered whale species represents an important step in the evolution of whale locomotion, says Philip Gingerich, professor emeritus of earth and environmental sciences, and ecology and evolutionary biology: “How do you go from a foot-powered swimmer to a tail-powered swimmer? That is the kind of intermediacy we have been looking for.”
The Guardian (U.K.) -
December 13, 2019
Although most summer camps welcome kids with food allergies, less than half require campers with allergies to have individualized emergency action plans developed by a clinician as a condition of attendance, according to research by Natalie Schellpfeffer, assistant professor of emergency medicine and pediatrics: “Preparedness is key — every child with a history of food allergy should have an emergency action plan.”
Reuters -
December 13, 2019
“There has been a lot of skepticism, especially in economics, that health insurance has a mortality impact. It’s really important that this is a randomized controlled trial. It’s a really high standard of evidence that you can’t just dismiss,” said Sarah Miller, assistant professor of business economics and public policy, commenting on research that shows letters sent by the IRS suggesting ways to enroll in health coverage through the Affordable Care Act may have saved 700 lives among those who were fined for not previously carrying insurance.
The New York Times -
December 13, 2019
Research by Joanne Motiño Bailey, director of the U-M Nurse-Midwifery Service, shows that both hospital births on land and in the water are safe for mom and baby: “Basically there was no difference between waterbirth and land birth, with the exception of a slight decrease in postpartum hemorrhage rates for births that occurred in the water and also fewer lacerations or tears that would require a repair.”
WWJ Radio -
December 12, 2019
Jamie Mitchell, assistant professor of social work, and Jill Becker, professor of psychology, discussed the lack of diversity in the subjects of medical research studies and how diseases and treatment differ based on race and gender. “We don’t have a lot of confidence to be able to tell patients, yes we’ve actually tested this Alzheimer’s intervention, this depression intervention, with people who look like you, who may have a similar background and upbringing as you, who may have faced some of the same stressors — such as discrimination — as you,” Mitchell said.
Michigan Radio -
December 12, 2019
“People will sometimes use the judgment of punctuation as a way to judge other people or win an argument,” said Anne Curzan, professor of education, linguistics, and English language and literature, and dean of LSA. The suggestion is that “somehow you’re not smart because you misplaced an apostrophe according to standard usage. It’s a total power move. If we’re all honest about it — every single one of us have messed up our ‘its’ and our ‘it’s.’ It’s confusing.”
BBC News -
December 12, 2019
“Currently, there is nothing else like iGYM, as most other accessible gaming technologies either limit it to small screens or are developed for people with cognitive disabilities. Our vision with the system is to make it as simple and affordable as possible,” said Roland Graf, associate professor of art and design, on the game system his research team developed to create a truly inclusive play environment for children — both disabled and able-bodied.
The Associated Press -
December 11, 2019
Trish Koman, research investigator in environmental health sciences, discussed the Michigan Environmental Project, an online mapping tool designed to track the impact of climate change — both the environment and public health — on Michigan cities and residents.
WEMU Radio
