In the News
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December 11, 2019
Tuija Pulkkinen, professor of climate and space sciences and engineering, and Anthony Waas, professor of aerospace engineering, co-wrote that to ensure that our species endures, we have a responsibility to develop our society to become a spacefaring one: “That’s why … we’ve recently launched the University of Michigan Space Institute. Its purpose is to bring together a strong multidisciplinary community and facilitate entirely new types of collaborations that might not have emerged organically solely within science and engineering communities.”
Inside Higher Ed -
December 11, 2019
Pregnant women who live in a rural area of the United States are at higher risk of life-threatening complications or death during or after childbirth, according to research by Lindsay Admon, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology, and colleagues: “Policies and programs aiming to improve maternal health and reduce adverse events associated with delivery must address the unique health needs and challenges faced by rural women.”
U.S. News & World Report -
December 10, 2019
“Gun violence, segregation, these things have not traditionally been public health issues. But there’s been a growing call for people to understand that everyday life affects your health,” said Margaret Hicken, research assistant professor at the Institute for Social Research and Michigan Medicine, in a story about how police shootings may be causing black infants long-term harm.
WIRED -
December 10, 2019
“We wanted to create an infrastructure that would allow us not to simply prevent or address problems that have already occurred, but to create space and opportunity to be better in everything we do. DEI is a core strategy to that,” said Robert Sellers, vice provost for equity and inclusion, chief diversity officer, and professor of education and psychology, on U-M’s institutional strategy on diversity, equity and inclusion.
Inside Higher Ed -
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
