News this week: Floods and fragile dams, methane is rising and fake flavors create real addictions
It's been a busy week at Michigan News! Here's a sampling of this week's coverage this week: Floods and fragile dams, methane is rising and fake flavors create real addictions.
Check them out at https://myumi.ch/A1ANG
What to viruses have to do with cancer? Microbiologist @drsprggs.bsky.social explains why her lab is probing the pathways that viruses use to get into a host cell's nucleus, and how this research can shed light on the ways viruses either induce or combat cancer:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7f_Q...
An international research team, including contributors from #UMich, have published 3 new studies that reveal clues about how galaxies are built & torn apart. The world’s most powerful space telescope reveals ‘overmassive’ black holes & a smoking gun for a black hole merger: https://myumi.ch/MkN1A
After a student died by suicide, a Michigan Tech police chief looked for ways to prevent another tragedy. He found Michigan’s Red Flag law—but needed help using it. A #UMich program now trains officials statewide to use it effectively. 🔗 myumi.ch/VVApb
When people binge eat, it’s rarely broccoli or apples on the menu. Instead, foods like cake, cookies, ice cream and chocolate consistently show up—and a new #UMich study suggests that’s no coincidence. 🔗: https://myumi.ch/W67Mw
The Institute for Policy Integrity, at NYU Law, has selected David Weaver, a third-year student at Michigan Law, for a two-year fellowship. The institute is a nonpartisan think tank focused on US energy and environmental policy.
Read more: michigan.law.umich.edu/news/3l-davi...
“You have to stand there and watch these numbers inflate and magnify in front of you and really feel it, you know, the money flying out of your possession,” said Scott Rick, professor of marketing.
Oil prices are most greatly affected by OPEC, inventory & geopolitics, but most consumers say gas prices affect their view of the economy. One reason is likely the way gas prices are displayed, on huge, neon signs. #UMich prof @scottianrick.bsky.social via @marketplace.org 🔗: https://myumi.ch/3RAgV
“Even if someone thinks their current substance use may not be problematic because they don’t see it as affecting their health right now, there are still potential longer-term consequences to consider. In this case, we are finding some evidence of potential negative impacts of heavy young adult substance use on their cognitive functioning more than 20 years later.”
Young adults who heavily use substances may report significantly poorer memory decades later, a new @umisr.bsky.social study suggests.
“Substance use has both acute and long-term effects on health and well-being,” said research professor Megan Patrick. 🔗: https://myumi.ch/79W2Q
“Despite a bipartisan post-Watergate consensus that the agencies should be insulated from political interference, Trump has made it very clear that he views antitrust decisions as his to make.”
Donald Trump has bucked a half-century of precedent by involving himself in Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission antitrust reviews of mergers. Daniel Crane, professor of law @umichlaw.bsky.social, discusses with @washingtonpost.com.
🔗 https://myumi.ch/w9z7z
There are new things to treat people with, which is good, but the kidneys are sometimes an innocent bystander with all of these therapies that are being developed.”
“It’s an underrecognized problem, and it’s also something that we can (change) in our clinical management very quickly,” said nephrologist Jennifer Schaub, at #UMich Medicine, on drug-induced acute kidney injury in hospital patients.
🔗 Read more: https://myumi.ch/y1w9e
"Even though the U.S. is not directly impacted, in the sense that we are not getting oil and gas from the Strait of Hormuz, oil and gas are globally traded commodities. Prices rise. ... The costs and the risks are distributed throughout, including here for the U.S. consumer," said Jatin Dua, associate professor of anthropology and director of the Oceans Lab
The shipping disruptions at the Strait of Hormuz since the outbreak of the Iran war have led Trump to offer risk insurance to oil tankers near Iran. Jatin Dua, associate professor of anthropology at #UMich and director of the Oceans Lab, discusses on @cbsnews.com.
🔗: https://myumi.ch/9px3J
"This is definitely a highly prevalent problem. It's an epidemic in our country," said Anita Shelgikar, clinical professor of neurology
New research shows that teens are getting less sleep than ever before, & screen time isn't necessarily to blame—it could be earlier school start times, too many extracurricular demands, & less parental monitoring. #UMich prof Anita Shelgikar discussed with @npr.org. 🔗 https://myumi.ch/5kgn9
Gnaw-y by nature: #UMich researchers discovered a neural circuit that rewards gnawing behavior in rodents. The finding reveals a previously hidden motivation for gnawing in mammals, which could help lead to more effective treatments for oral health issues in humans.
🔗 https://myumi.ch/9pxmn
News this week: Gnaw-y natures, running rings around infections and a successful end to a great debate
News this week: Gnaw-y natures, running rings around infections and a successful end to a great debate
Check out a roundup of some of this week's top stories from around #UMich on Substack 🔗 myumi.ch/JP7X7
@realshri.bsky.social has a brand new article for @theconversation.com with some super helpful insights and context for today's oral arguments in front of the U.S. Supreme Court for Enbridge Energy, LP v. Nessel. theconversation.com/supreme-cour...
"(They) should remember that they're not alone — there are many people out there who are feeling this. Finding a group of people who they can talk to, bounce ideas back and forth from, learn from each other is a good idea." Michelle Riba, clinical professor of psychiatry
Michelle Riba, clinical professor of psychiatry at #UMich Medicine, says there are ways to combat the exhaustion that could be of use to creators on TikTok who are feeling overwhelmed and fatigued as a result of the tumultuous political and media landscape. via @npr.org: 🔗 myumi.ch/Z2Vzp
Bureaucratic hurdles and racial disparities limit victim compensation for adult sexual assault survivors, compounding trauma.
A new @um-src.bsky.social study finds the top reason for denial is lack of police verification (34.4% of rejected claims).
Study & story: https://myumi.ch/9pzp7
With wildfires growing in size, frequency and intensity, more and more people are being exposed to their smoke, sometimes thousands of miles from the flames. Smoke is known to be harmful to health, but less is known about how humans behave in response to smoke.
Read the full Q&A: myumi.ch/XymmW
“The law would be crucial in figuring out the aftermath. But it doesn’t mean the law would stop the disaster.” Julian Arato, professor of law
In 1917, the US agreed to respect Denmark’s control of Greenland in exchange for a deal to buy the Danish West Indies in the Caribbean. “We recognized it, so we kind of can’t take that back,” said Julian Arato, prof @umichlaw.bsky.social, discussing President Trump's remarks 🔗 https://myumi.ch/Nrg9P
The health system for medicine and dentistry is complicated, but it’s worth the effort to overcome those challenges. Romesh Nalliah
Lack of dental insurance and an overall affordability may be reasons Gen Z'ers are skipping dental appointments - a concerning trend that can affect overall health and cost more in the long run. Romesh Nalliah, Assoc Dean f/Patient Services at #UMich Dentistry via @washingtonpost.com: myumi.ch/D8Me4
Graphic on a dark blue background with the ISR logo at top left, a yellow silhouette map of Denmark on the left with a dark blue silhouette of an adult lifting a child, and large yellow text on the right that reads Denmark policies offset about 80% of the motherhood earnings penalty with the 80% circled in red; along the bottom are three labeled icons reading Child Allowances (stacked coins with a person symbol), Paid Leave (calendar with a check mark), and Subsidized Child Care (house with a baby stroller).
Denmark shows how policy can reduce the motherhood earnings penalty.
ISR researcher @sashakillewald.bsky.social finds paid leave, child allowances, and subsidized child care offset about 80% of mothers’ earnings losses.
Photo of Meha Jain
🎉 Congratulations to Meha Jain, winner of the inaugural ASU–Science Prize for Transformational Impact, for pioneering work that uses satellite data and artificial intelligence to help smallholder farmers adapt to climate change while protecting the environment.
Learn more: https://scim.ag/3McGb9K
News this week: Predicting personality, keeping a fowl pest in check and netting a win with a zero
News this week from around #UMich: Predicting personality, keeping a fowl pest in check and netting a win with a zero
Check out the weekly round-up on Substack: myumi.ch/kPm3r
A new #UMich-led study published in the journal Communications Sustainability found that out of nearly 25,000 comments posted to more than 1,750 wildlife YouTube videos, just 2% featured a call to action that would help conservation efforts. 🔗 myumi.ch/z98d9
"Our machine learning model used data from wearable sensors to predict how physical therapists would rate patients' performance on balance exercises, providing a basis to make recommendations about the most appropriate set of exercises to perform next," said Kathleen Sienko, professor of mechanical engineering.
AI might be able to help people undergoing balance training as part of their physical rehabilitation, new research shows. #UMich engineering profs Kathleen Sienko and Xun Huan discuss with @usnews.com.
🔗 Read more: https://myumi.ch/e3Wkw
#UMich researchers in pharmacy, chemistry and medicine will test 40 of the most promising drugs in search of prevention strategies for highly contagious #AvianInfluenza, specifically the subtype H5Nx. The virus’s prevalence and spread has increased annually since 2021. 🔗 myumi.ch/g3d2Q
#UMich News this week: Seeing slippery ice, driving a bargain and Wolverines making waves
Check out some of this week's top stories from around the university on Substack: myumi.ch/z98yy
Between 2019 and 2023, Detroiters were hospitalized for asthma more often than residents elsewhere in the state. Black residents, women and people with lower incomes bear the greatest burden, facing higher rates of disease and worse outcomes, such as hospitalization.
Detroit is ranked as the most difficult place to live with asthma in the United States.
Arjun Mohan, professor #UMich Medicine, discusses innovations researchers are bringing to asthma care that could modernize treatment. Mohan writes for the @ConversationUS.
🔗 Read more: https://myumi.ch/rAeAJ
"The price of vehicles has gone up in part because of fuel-efficient standards, but that's only a small part of it. It's gone up because cars are much more luxurious than they used to be. They're bigger, they're heavier and there's other inflation," said Erik Gordon, clinical assistant professor of entrepreneurial studies.
"I think the real key to cheaper cars is to have ... cars that are smaller, cars that are less expensive to build, cars that have less fancy stuff."
Erik Gordon, #UMich entrepreneurial studies prof, discusses car affordability after new policy rollbacks with @cbsdetroit.bsky.social 🔗 myumi.ch/D8D1R
Nearly 1/3 of registered nurses and advanced practice nurses in Michigan carry sizable student loan debt that is influencing their decision to leave the profession, according to a new study from #UMich.
Study and full story: myumi.ch/Qw4xZ
