Mythbusting: 5 Common Misperceptions on the Environmental Impacts of Single-Use Plastics
Stand in the soda pop aisle at the supermarket, surrounded by rows of brightly colored plastic bottles and metal cans, and it’s easy to conclude…
University of Michigan
National Poll: 1 in 3 Parents Plan to Skip Flu Shots for Their Kids During COVID-19 Pandemic
COVID-19 may not influence parents’ beliefs about the flu vaccine, with just 1/3 believing it’s more important for children to get vaccinated this year. The…
New National Poll: Loneliness Doubled Among Older Adults in First Months of COVID-19
Lack of social interaction or companionship is more common among those with health issues, but neighbors, healthy habits and technology may help. Staying close to…
Distributed Energy Storage: Biomorphic Batteries Could Provide 72x More Energy for Robots
Like biological fat reserves store energy in animals, a new rechargeable zinc battery integrates into the structure of a robot to provide much more energy,…
Transparent Solar Panels for Windows Hit New Efficiency Record – Could Help Enable Skyscrapers to Serve As Power Sources
In a step closer to skyscrapers that serve as power sources, a team led by University of Michigan researchers has set a new efficiency record…
New Class of Semiconducting Entropy-Stabilized Materials Discovered
Semiconductors are important materials in numerous functional applications such as digital and analog electronics, solar cells, LEDs, and lasers. Semiconducting alloys are particularly useful for…
COVID-19 Has Laid Waste to Many US Recycling Programs
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the U.S. recycling industry. Waste sources, quantities and destinations are all in flux, and shutdowns have devastated an industry that…
Researchers Discover How to Turn On the Heat in Energy-Burning Fat Cells
Researchers have discovered a new set of signals that cells send and receive to prompt one type of fat cell to convert fat into heat….
Unsettled Science: Latest Climate Models Have Unrealistically High Projections of Future Warming
A new study from University of Michigan climate researchers concludes that some of the latest-generation climate models may be overly sensitive to carbon dioxide increases…
World’s Most Complex Microparticle Ever Made – Synthetic That Surpasses Nature’s Intricacy
Synthetic microparticles more intricate than some of the most complicated ones found in nature have been produced by a University of Michigan-led international team. They…
Dark Matter Decay Ruled Out as Source of Mysterious Electromagnetic Signals Detected From Nearby Galaxies
Eighty-five percent of the universe is composed of dark matter, but we don’t know what, exactly, it is. A new study from the University of…
Axiogenesis: New Insight Into Fundamental Physics and the Origin of the Universe
A new study, conducted to better understand the origin of the universe, has provided insight into some of the most enduring questions in fundamental physics:…
Plasma Reactor Zaps Airborne Viruses – Could Slow the Spread of Infectious Diseases Like Coronavirus
The big idea: It’s the enduring media image of infectious disease outbreaks, including the current coronavirus outbreak from Wuhan, China: people in public spaces with…
Artificial Photosynthesis Uses Sunlight to Recycle CO2 Into ‘Green Methane’
A new artificial photosynthesis approach uses sunlight to turn carbon dioxide into methane, which could help make natural-gas-powered devices carbon neutral. Methane is the main…
Hospitalization Risk Cut in Half for Children With Full Flu Vaccination
Fully vaccinating children reduces the risk of hospitalization associated with influenza by 54%, according to a study by researchers at the University of Michigan, the…
86% of Parents Say Teens Spend Too Much Time Gaming – Here’s What They Can Do About It
Many parents mistaken about their child’s video game behavior; families report different gaming patterns for teen boys than girls. Eighty-six percent of parents agree that…
Neuron Discovered That Suppresses Eating May Lead to Effective Diet Drugs
A CALCR cell found in mice may stop feeding without subsequential nauseating effects as well as influence the long term intake of food. Ever eaten…
Benefits of Exercise Without Working Out? A Protein Called Sestrin Might Be the Answer
A protein called Sestrin might be responsible for many of the benefits of a good workout. Whether it be a brisk walk around the park…