In the News
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September 2, 2020
“They are going to be more energy efficient than helicopters that use a lot of fuel but they will be less energy efficient than cars because they have to lift themselves. From a cost perspective, they won’t be practical to go to the grocery store,” said Ella Atkins, professor of aerospace engineering, and electrical engineering and computer science, on the feasibility of flying cars being developed by a Japanese company.
The New York Times -
September 2, 2020
More than half of Michiganders hospitalized for coronavirus during the first several months of the pandemic were unnecessarily given antibiotics, according to research by Valerie Vaughn, assistant professor of internal medicine: “People with COVID are … getting devices placed that increase the risk of infection, or being exposed to those superbugs in the hospital. So suddenly now it’s three, four weeks down the line. They’re still in the hospital, and now they actually do have an infection. Well, the fact that they got those antibiotics in the beginning makes it harder to treat that infection down the line.”
Michigan Radio -
September 1, 2020
“The fact is Michigan has lost a lot of jobs. Although the unemployment rate has improved more quickly than expected, it’s still at 9 percent and that’s really high. People who lost their jobs need all the help they can get,” said economist Mike McWilliams of the Research Seminar in Quantitative Economics, who added that unemployed workers in Michigan spent 73 cents per dollar they received in benefits this year. “That spending has kept Michigan’s economy going.”
Detroit Free Press -
September 1, 2020
A new report by Paul Mohai, professor of natural resources and environment, shows that a majority of schools in Michigan are located in the most polluted areas of their districts: “Michigan does not have a statewide approach to school siting that takes into account environmental quality. Our recommendation is that schools be tested on a regular basis at least once every three years to look at the air quality, water quality and soil quality.”
WEMU Radio -
September 1, 2020
“We have a very restrictive statute … and we have a very overzealous computer program that likes to deny people benefits. Those two things combined have made it very, very difficult for the people of this state to get access to benefits. That was true before the pandemic and it’s very evident now,” said Rachael Kohl, director of the Law School’s Workers’ Rights Clinic.
MLive -
August 31, 2020
“It is shameful that some of the regulatory changes that the agencies have made under the Trump administration have made it easier for lenders to take advantage of people in difficult and really unprecedented circumstances. When people are desperate, some lenders will take advantage of that desperation,” said Jeremy Kress, assistant professor of business law, on the loosening of restrictions around small-dollar, high-interest loans.
Vox -
August 31, 2020
As many as a third of doctors may be sending patients for thyroid ultrasounds for reasons not supported by guidelines — leading to a large increase in thyroid cancer cases, although many are low risk and won’t cause serious harm, says Megan Haymart, professor of endocrinology and internal medicine.
U.S. News & World Report -
August 31, 2020
“My polling place is not typically very crowded, so I have voted in person recently. However, for others (particularly those with pre-existing conditions) it may make sense to vote by mail,” said Vincent Hutchings, professor of political science and research professor at the Center for Political Studies. “If there’s one big misconception this election cycle, it’s that mail-in voting is somehow fraudulent or unreliable.”
Marketplace -
August 26, 2020
“A brain that has dementia is doing its best to function as well as it can. If we add a psychotropic medication into the mix it may not be a helpful thing — and it comes with risks,” said Donovan Maust, associate professor of psychiatry, whose research shows that nearly three-quarters of older Americans with dementia are prescribed drugs that aren’t designed for the brain disease, such as antidepressants, opioids, anxiety medications and antipsychotics.
The Daily Mail (U.K.) -
August 26, 2020
While there have been “symbolic gestures” made to reach out to the Latino community by the Republican Party, “everything in many ways becomes undermined by the actions of the president and his continued vitriolic rhetoric against the Latino community,” said Angela Ocampo, assistant professor of political science, who believes concerns about health care costs and economic well-being are going to play a big role in the 2020 election.
ABC News
