science wire

Gains in consumer confidence continue, depend on job growth
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Consumer confidence improved in each of the past nine monthly surveys, rising to its highest level this month since October 2007, according to University of Michigan economist Richard Curtin, director of the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers.

Taiwanese president praises new fellowship fund at University of Michigan

Lighting control system at U-M saves energy and costs
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Installation of energy-saving lighting technology has helped the University of Michigan reduce electrical costs in the Hill Street parking structure by 68 percent in its first year of operation.

Stem-cell-growing surface enables bone repair
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - University of Michigan researchers have proven that a special surface, free of biological contaminants, allows adult-derived stem cells to thrive and transform into multiple cell types. Their success brings stem cell therapies another step closer. To prove the cells' regenerative powers, bone cells grown on this surface were then transplanted into holes in the skulls of mice, producing four times as much new bone growth as in the mice without the extra bone cells.

A wake-up call for manufacturing
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - U.S. factories produce about 75 percent of what the country consumes, but the right decisions by both business and political leaders could push that to 95 percent, say University of Michigan researchers.

Food fight or romantic dinner? Communication between couples is key to improving men’s diets
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Married men will eat their peas to keep the peace, but many aren't happy about it, and may even binge on unhealthy foods away from home.

U-M biologist plays key role in effort to create first comprehensive tree of life
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Since Darwin, assembling an evolutionary tree that shows the relationships between all known species of life has been one of the grandest and most daunting challenges facing biologists.

Interactive website helps parents keep teen drivers safe
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Nearly 30,000 parents around the state are using a free, interactive web resource that provides information and tools to help parents protect their teens while they gain experience driving without adult supervision.

Calling all cars: U-M takes center stage in safe transportation
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute will begin equipping safety technology on vehicles that will allow them to send and receive messages - messages that someday will prevent crashes.

New twist on ancient math problem could improve medicine, microelectronics
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - A hidden facet of a math problem that goes back to Sanskrit scrolls has just been exposed by nanotechnology researchers at the University of Michigan and the University of Connecticut.

Stockholders vote GOP regardless of market performance
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Americans who own stock tend to vote Republican even if they're losing money in the stock market under a GOP president, say University of Michigan researchers.

U-Michigan names Knight-Wallace Journalism Fellows
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The Knight-Wallace Fellows program at the University of Michigan has named 12 American and seven international journalists for the academic year 2012-2013.

U-M’s Center for Geospatial Medicine receives federal innovation award to study diabetes
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The Center for Geospatial Medicine at the University of Michigan is working to reduce death and disability from Type 2 diabetes under a grant announced today as part the nation's 2010 health care law.

U-M Men’s Glee Club on two-week China tour
MEDIA ADVISORY ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The University of Michigan website Montage features the latest news and features about the arts, creative endeavors, collaborative projects and upcoming events.

Many U.S. families are underwater with debts
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - As the country emerges from the Great Recession, a substantial number of U.S. families are underwater - and not just with their mortgages.

U-M names Knight-Wallace Journalism Fellows
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The Knight-Wallace Fellows program at the University of Michigan has named 12 American and seven international journalists for the academic year 2012-2013.

Benchmark study: Michigan research universities rank among nation’s best for developing 21st century talent
LANSING, Mich. - Michigan's University Research Corridor (URC) institutions continue to competitively rank among the top research innovation clusters in the nation in producing the high-tech, high-demand talent required for the 21st century, according to a recent benchmarking report.

Fuel economy slipped as gas prices dipped throughout April
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - After recently topping 24 miles per gallon for the first time ever, fuel economy of all new vehicles sold in the United States slipped back below that mark last month, say researchers at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute.

Majority of college-age kids get money from parents to pay bills
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - More than 60 percent of young adults between the ages of 19 and 22 receive financial help from mom and dad, according to a new University of Michigan study. The average amount they receive - including help with college tuition, rent and transportation - is roughly $7,500 a year. The study is the first to use nationally representative data to calculate parental assistance to young adults and to analyze how help varies by family and individual characteristics.

New mentors-in-residence give U-M startups a critical edge
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Two serial health care and software entrepreneurs are lending their expertise to University of Michigan inventors and startups as the newest mentors-in-residence at U-M Tech Transfer.

Retirement plans after the Great Recession: U-M study tracks the changes
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - New research shows that 40 percent of older Americans postponed retirement in the wake of the Great Recession. The research, presented at the annual meeting of the Population Association of America, is the first to link actual data on household wealth just before and after the downturn to the retirement plans of a nationally representative sample of Americans age 50 and older.

Psychology researcher Susan Gelman receives top scientific honor
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - University of Michigan professor of psychology Susan Gelman has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences for her excellence in original scientific research.

Global warming: New research emphasizes the role of global economic growth
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - It's a message no one wants to hear: To slow down global warming, we'll either have to put the brakes on economic growth or transform the way the world's economies work. That's the implication of an innovative University of Michigan study examining the evolution of atmospheric CO', the most likely cause of global warming.

Smart gas sensors for better chemical detection
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Portable gas sensors can allow you to search for explosives, diagnose medical conditions through a patient's breath, and decide whether it's safe to stay in a mine. These devices do all this by identifying and measuring airborne chemicals, and a new, more sensitive, smart model is under development at the University of Michigan.

Global warming: New research blames economic growth
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - It's a message no one wants to hear: To slow down global warming, we'll either have to put the brakes on economic growth or transform the way the world's economies work. That's the implication of an innovative University of Michigan study examining the most likely causes of global warming.

U-M experts available to discuss dissident controversy, US-China talks
MEDIA ADVISORY ANN ARBOR, Mich. - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is traveling to China amid reported negotiations about securing American asylum for a blind Chinese legal activist who escaped house arrest and is in the protection of U.S. diplomats.

Job slowdown in April halts growth in overall confidence
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Consumer confidence remained largely unchanged at improved levels in April as consumers were still hopeful about future job gains despite disappointing recent developments, according

After a big 2011, Oakland economy will keep adding jobs
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Oakland County's economy will continue to build on the red-hot job growth of last year - its second-best performance overall since 1994 and the second-best year for its private sector since 1989, say University of Michigan economists.

The Generation X Report: Food in the lives of GenXers
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Generation X adults prepare an average of 10 meals a week, and eat out or buy fast food an average of three times a week, according to a University of Michigan report that details the role food plays in the lives of Americans born between 1961 and 1981. GenX men are surprisingly involved in shopping for food and cooking, the report shows.

U-M Road Scholars launch 13th annual traveling seminar on the state of Michigan
EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT DATE: April 30-May 4, 2012 EVENT: Michigan Road Scholars Tour 2012 Nearly three dozen University of Michigan faculty experts and senior staff will take to the road for the 13th annual traveling seminar known as the Michigan Road Scholars.

World Health Organization anti-smoking program could save millions of lives
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Millions of smoking-related deaths could still be prevented by 2030 if the World Health Organization smoking reduction policy is applied immediately worldwide, say University of Michigan researchers.

My fair physicist? Feminine math, science role models do not motivate girls
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Women who excel in male-dominated science, technology, engineering and mathematic fields are often unjustly stereotyped as unfeminine. However, if women are perceived as having feminine qualities, their success may actually decrease interest in these fields (usually referred to as "STEM"), particularly among young girls, according to a new University of Michigan study.

How the brain’s daily clock controls mood: A new project
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - A math professor at the University of Michigan will lead an international, $1 million project examining the links between bipolar disorder and abnormalities in the circadian, or daily, rhythms of a mammal's internal clock.

Weinert named new U-M associate vice president for research - sponsored programs
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Daryl Weinert, who has served as executive director of the University of Michigan Business Engagement Center since it was launched in 2007, has been named to the newly created position of associate vice president for research - sponsored programs.

U-M plans to add 500 parking spaces for medical campus
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The University of Michigan will move ahead with plans to accommodate its employment growth and build a new parking structure on Wall Street that will provide an additional 500 permit parking spaces near the U-M medical campus.

U-M funds sustainability projects at Detroit’s Focus: HOPE
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The University of Michigan's Graham Sustainability Institute has selected six faculty-led research projects to join with Focus: HOPE, a nationally recognized civil and human rights organization, on a Detroit community development initiative.

AAAS selects five faculty members as fellows
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Five U-M faculty members have been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a prestigious society that recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions in scholarly and professional fields.

Looking through the glass transition on an ultrafast timescale
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - When chemists look at a drinking glass filled with water and a few ice cubes, it's not clear to them whether the glass is more like the water or the ice.

Economist Robert Shiller will speak at U-M April 18
EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT DATE: 7 p.m. April 18, 2012 EVENT: Noted economist and University of Michigan alumnus Robert Shiller will present a public lecture, "Finance and the Good Society.

U-M experts available to discuss presidential race after Santorum’s exit
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The University of Michigan has experts to discuss what former Sen. Rick Santorum's departure from the presidential race means for the remaining Republican candidates.

Gas mileage, CAFE performance up 20 percent since late 2007
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Fuel economy of all new vehicles sold in the United States has topped 24 miles per gallon for the first time ever, say researchers at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute.

What my startup did last semester: TechArb spring showcase
MEDIA ADVISORY DATE: 5:30 - 7 p.m., April 13, 2012. EVENT: The TechArb spring showcase, one of the largest entrepreneurial events of the year on the University of Michigan's campus.

Physicians less likely to prescribe antidepressants to minorities, Medicaid patients
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - African-Americans and Hispanics with major depressive disorder are less likely to get antidepressants than caucasian patients, and Medicare and Medicaid patients are less likely to get the newest generation of antidepressants. Researchers from the University of Michigan School of Public Health examined data from 1993 to 2007 to try to understand the antidepressant prescribing patterns of physicians.

Robotics Day: Sen. Levin, demos, and a talk on self-driving cars
MEDIA ADVISORY DATE: 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., April 9, 2012. EVENT: Self-driving cars, smart wheelchairs and a remote-controlled Segway that's mapping campus in four dimensions are a few of the latest robotic systems that will be discussed or demonstrated at Robotics Day 2012.

Nadarajan named dean of U-M School of Art & Design
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Gunalan Nadarajan, who works at the intersection of the arts, science and technology, has been selected as dean of the University of Michigan School of Art & Design.

U-M researcher involved in $10 million project to advance computer programming
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Making computer programming faster, easier and more intuitive is the goal of a new $10 million National Science Foundation project that involves a University of Michigan researcher and is based at the University of Pennsylvania.

HaithiTrust announces board of governors
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - A new 12-member board of governors will lead HathiTrust, a partnership of major research institutions and libraries working to ensure cultural records are preserved and widely accessible in the digital age.

HathiTrust announces board of governors
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - A new 12-member board of governors will lead HathiTrust, a partnership of major research institutions and libraries working to ensure cultural records are preserved and widely accessible in the digital age.

An idea comes to life in the Beet Box food cart
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Less than a year ago in Africa, two new friends studying abroad wondered if they could fuse their passions in a way that would impact society.

New federal rankings: U-M again tops in research spending at public universities
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - For the second straight year, the University of Michigan ranks first in research and development spending among the nation's public universities and colleges, according to the latest numbers from the U.S. National Science Foundation.

U-M Museum of Zoology receives shipment of rare seabirds for study
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The University of Michigan Museum of Zoology recently received the carcasses of 15 rare Hawaiian birds called Newell's shearwaters.

Consumer confidence edges upward in March
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Consumer confidence edged upward as more favorable income and job trends offset rising gas prices, according to University of Michigan economist Richard Curtin, director of the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers.

Slow snails, fast genes: Predatory snails refine venoms through continuous gene duplication
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - When tropical marine cone snails sink their harpoon-like teeth into their prey, they inject paralyzing venoms made from a potent mix of more than 100 different neurotoxins.

U-M named bike-friendly university by national organization

Many young people would rather surf the web than drive a car
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - More young adults today would rather hit the information highway than the open highway, say University of Michigan researchers.

U-M Health and Retirement Study adds genetic data to NIH database
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The University of Michigan Health and Retirement Study, a 20-year nationwide survey of the health, economic and social status of older Americans conducted by the U-M Institute for S

U-M’s first startup investment goes to next-generation semiconductor memory firm
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - A University of Michigan startup marketing next-generation computer memory that could write 1,000 times faster than Flash is the recipient of U-M's first investment in one of its own startup companies.

U-M study: Parsing the pill’s impact on women’s wages
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Although women continue to lag behind men in pay, the gender wage gap has narrowed considerably since the 1960s. Now a new University of Michigan study is the first to quantify the impact of the pill on women's labor market advances. The study shows that roughly one-third of women's wage gains through the 1990s are due to the availability of oral contraceptives.

YouTube campaign videos more positive than television ads
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - YouTube campaign videos are more positive than ads aired on television, a new University of Michigan study shows.

U-M funds sustainable water-quality projects in Ghana, Peru
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The University of Michigan's Graham Sustainability Institute and the Center for Global Health are co-sponsoring two research projects addressing water-quality impacts on public health, one in Ghana and the other in Peru. Each of the projects, which are called integrated assessments, will receive $350,000 over the next three years.

Smart building exteriors for reduced energy costs and a cleaner environment
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Within the "envelopes" of commercial and residential buildings rests the promise of major, new energy efficiencies in the built-environment, according to University of Michigan researchers.

Research universities build argument for greater role for arts, creative thinking
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Confronting the challenge of how to encourage and cultivate innovative thinking in higher education, administrators from some of the most prestigious U.S. research universities

NPR speaker, sessions on environmental health, obesity, causes of cancer
MEDIA ADVISORY DATE: 9:30 a.m- 5 p.m. Friday, March 23, 2012. EVENT: Richard Harris, science reporter for National Public Radio, delivers keynote for Environmental Health Science's 125th anniversary celebration.

Recovery continues for U.S. economy, adding 5 million jobs
" Part of the strong showing early this year is related to abnormal weather this winter, with the rest coming from make-up purchases deferred due to Japan-related supply shortages and genuine pent

Teachers, parents trump peers in keeping teens engaged in school
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Teachers and parents matter more than peers in keeping adolescents engaged in school, according to a new study that counters the widespread belief that peers matter most in the lives of adolescents.

Mortgage defaults at lowest level since 2005
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Default risk on home loans is now at its lowest level in seven years, says a professor at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business.

Six to receive honorary degrees at U-M spring commencement ceremonies
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - CNN chief medical correspondent and University of Michigan alumnus Sanjay Gupta will deliver the spring commencement address at U-M in Ann Arbor.

Consumers mistake fair-trade foods for lower-calorie
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Claims on food labels that a product is organic, locally produced or made by workers subject to fair labor practices may mislead consumers into thinking that such foods are low in calories, says a University of Michigan researcher. "Social ethics claims on food packaging can promote the misperception that foods are lower-calorie and therefore appropriate for greater consumption," said Norbert Schwarz, professor of marketing at the Michigan Ross School of Business and U-M professor of psychology and social research.

SNRE Dean Miranda to deliver 11th annual Wege Lecture on Sustainability
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Marie Lynn Miranda, the new dean of the School of Natural Resources and Environment, will deliver the 11th annual Peter M. Wege Lecture on Sustainability Monday, March 26.

Decline in smoking saves nearly 800,000 lives over 25 years
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Rafael Meza, assistant professor at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, is a co-author on a collaborative study released today that found that tobacco control policies in the United States prevented 795,000 lung cancer deaths from 1975 to 2000.

U-M Professor Andrei Markovits is awarded the Officer’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany

U-M project seeks to relieve hunger in West Africa
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Last fall's harvest in the Sahel region of West Africa was the worst in nearly 30 years, and now a University of Michigan anthropologist who has studied the region for decades is working to save the people from starvation.

Potential drug that speeds cellular recycling
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - A University of Michigan cell biologist and his colleagues have identified a potential drug that speeds up trash removal from the cell's recycling center, the lysosome. The finding suggests a new way to treat rare inherited metabolic disorders such as Niemann-Pick disease and mucolipidosis Type IV, as well as more common neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, said Haoxing Xu, who led a U-M team that reported its findings March 13 in the online, multidisciplinary journal Nature.

U-M report: Violent crime escalates in Haiti as confidence in police erodes
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Haiti exhibited a dramatic increase in violent crime in the last six months, as residents reported declining confidence in the police, a new University of Michigan report indicates. No single factor can explain the rise in violence - especially murder and armed robberies - in Haiti's urban areas, but the country's stability has eroded after a five-year period in which crime steadily declined to record lows, the researchers say.

Fukushima lesson: Prepare for unanticipated nuclear accidents
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - A year after the crisis at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, scientists and engineers remain largely in the dark when it comes to fundamental knowledge about how nuclear

Faced with job loss? Perception is everything
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - When faced with job loss, people who consider themselves poor may limit employment prospects by believing they have a smaller social network than they actually do, says a University of Michigan business professor. "Social networks help explain people's outcomes in the labor market by determining how people seek help," said Ned Smith, assistant professor of strategy at the Michigan Ross School of Business.

U-M historian will receive National Jewish Book Award

Nuclear experts available to discuss Fukushima one year later
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - As the one-year anniversary of the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan approaches, nuclear experts from the nation's No.

Gas mileage of new vehicles sets record high again
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - For the second straight month, fuel economy of all new vehicles sold in the United States is at its highest level, say researchers at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute.

Heart-powered pacemaker could one day eliminate battery-replacement surgery
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - A new power scheme for cardiac pacemakers turns to an unlikely source: vibrations from heartbeats themselves.

U-M leaders visit White House to discuss Great Lakes restoration
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - More than 80 environmental, sustainability and academic Great Lakes leaders - including two from the University of Michigan-gathered this week at the White House Great Lakes Summit to participate in a dialogue regarding the future plans for these massive bodies of freshwater.

It takes two to tango: Pairs of entwined proteins handle the stress
EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE AT NOON ET THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012 ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Imagine two tango dancers sweeping across the dance floor and suddenly encountering a slick spot. To avoid a slip or even a nasty tumble, the pair must work together to support one another and glide safely through the stressful moment.

Egyptians want democracy, but not U.S. efforts to promote it
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The Egyptian trial of employees of four American groups that were promoting democracy was abruptly postponed earlier this week.

U-M urban planning program and USGBC provide findings on anticipated climate change, recommendations
WASHINGTON, D.C. - University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning faculty and students, along with the U.S. Green Building Council reviewed areas of climate change unc

When continents collide: A new twist to a 50 million-year-old tale
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Fifty million years ago, India slammed into Eurasia, a collision that gave rise to the tallest landforms on the planet, the Himalaya Mountains and the Tibetan Plateau. India and Eurasia continue to converge today, though at an ever-slowing pace. University of Michigan geomorphologist and geophysicist Marin Clark wanted to know when this motion will end and why.

Computational sprinting pushes smartphones till they’re tired
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Computational sprinting is a groundbreaking new approach to smartphone power and cooling that could give users dramatic, brief bursts of computing capability to improve current applications and make new ones possible.

Poll: Belief in global warming rebounds after period of decline
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The percentage of Americans who believe in global warming has reached the highest level since the fall of 2009, rebounding from a period of significant decline, a new survey reports. A key factor influencing Americans' views about global warming is their personal observations about the weather and temperature changes, according to the latest National Survey of American Public Opinion on Climate Change.

Extreme poverty: 2.8 million children in the U.S. live on $2 per day
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - One in five households with children in poverty are surviving on the cash equivalent of a half gallon of milk per person per day in a given month.

Job growth maintains consumer confidence in February
ANN ARBOR, Mich - Confidence remained strong in February due to a record number of consumers who were aware of ongoing increases in jobs, according to University of Michigan economist Richard Curtin, director of the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers.

Fastest wind from stellar mass black hole discovered
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The fastest wind ever discovered blowing off a disk around a stellar-mass black hole has been observed by a team of astronomers that includes a University of Michigan doctoral student. Using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, an orbiting telescope, they clocked the record-breaking super wind at about 20 million mph, or about 3 percent of the speed of light.

Protecting people from deadly floods, quakes in the Philippines
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Typhoons thrash the Philippines every year, causing flash flooding and mudslides that often kill hundreds of people in the Southeast Asian nation.

Pregnant primates miscarry when new male enters group
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Pregnant female geladas show an unusually high rate of miscarriage the day after the dominant male in their group is replaced by a new male, a new University of Michigan study indicates.

U-M to lead statewide Tech Transfer Talent Network to bring more inventions to market
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - To turn an invention into a marketable product that can benefit society, you need, above all else, the right people involved.

U-M experts available to comment on Michigan primary
Media Advisory ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Michigan voters return to the polls Feb. 28 for the Republican primary, and University of Michigan experts can provide their analysis.

Energy-recycling computer technology from University of Michigan goes global through semiconductor firm AMD
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - An energy-recycling computer circuit born at the University of Michigan will enable a new generation of power efficient laptop PCs and servers.

U-M Life Sciences Institute lab identifies potential antibiotic alternative to treat infection without resistance
U-M Life Sciences Institute lab identifies potential antibiotic alternative to treat infection without resistance ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Researchers at the University of Michigan have found a potential alternative to conventional antibiotics that could fight infection with a reduced risk of antibiotic resistance.

U-M honors six faculty Thurnau professors

Public interest in pandemic flu vaccine faded over time
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - When a new strain of influenza began to sicken even healthy younger adults three years ago, public interest in getting the newly developed H1N1 vaccine started strong but declined over time even as more people were getting sick, a new study shows. Researchers at RAND Corp. and the University of Michigan found that the more the public learned about this new type of influenza and the longer they had to wait for the vaccine, the less interested they were in getting it.

$15 million gift gives major boost to fellowships at Michigan Engineering
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - In recognition of a $15 million gift to the University of Michigan College of Engineering that includes the largest sum dedicated to fellowships in the college's history, the Computer Science and Engineering Building will be named the Bob and Betty Beyster Building.

Two U-M early-career scientists win 2012 Sloan research fellowships
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Two University of Michigan professors are among 126 researchers from across the United States and Canada selected as 2012 Alfred P. Sloan research fellows.

Psychiatric diagnoses: Why no one is satisfied
ANN ARBOR, Mich.—As the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is revised for the first time since 1994, controversy about psychiatric diagnosis is reaching a fever pitch.

U-M experts available to discuss Chinese vice president’s visit to U.S
ANN ARBOR, Mich.—Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping, widely expected to be his country's next leader, on Tuesday meets with President Obama.

Warped space lens provides zoomed-in image of faraway galaxy
ANN ARBOR, Mich.—A natural zoom lens in space has enabled astronomers to build new high-resolution images of one of the brightest distant galaxies magnified through a phenomenon called “gravitational lensing.” “I was always fascinated by beautiful images of space, but what makes an image like this so much more exciting is that you can actually see physics in action,” said Keren Sharon, a visiting scholar at the University of Michigan.

Low hormone response may contribute to women avoiding intimacy
“ Our findings demonstrate that, for some people, viewing emotionally intimate stimuli can increase estradiol levels, but this was not the case for women who are more detached from close relationships. ” ANN ARBOR, Mich.—University of Michigan researchers have found that women who avoid close relationships and intimacy have smaller hormone responses to emotionally intimate stimuli.

Gas mileage of new vehicles at all-time high
ANN ARBOR, Mich.— Fuel economy of all new vehicles sold in the United States last month was at its highest mark ever, say researchers at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute.

U-M laser innovator elected to NAE

Many companies fall short of social responsibility promises
Whether eliminating child labor, creating environmentally friendly technology or working against all forms of corruption, many corporations fail to become socially responsible despite promises to change, a new University of Michigan study found. In an article recently published in the American Sociological Review, U-M sociologists Alwyn Lim and Kiyoteru Tsutsui say that corporations in developed countries "are more likely to make shallow commitments without substance" in response to external pressures from government and citizens to take socially responsible actions.

Fuel economy of new vehicles continues to rise
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The average fuel economy of current model year vehicles is 14 percent higher than just four years ago, say researchers at the University of Michigan.

Exhibit documents Washtenaw County’s history of substance abuse
DATE: Opening reception noon-4 p.m. Feb. 4; exhibit on display Feb. 4 to April 29. Hours are noon-4 p.m. Saturdays/Sundays; 11 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays.

Firms’ own social networks better for business than Facebook
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Using Facebook and Twitter may be good for a company's bottom line, but firms can rake in even bigger profits if they have their own virtual brand community, says a University of Michigan marketing professor.

Expanding entrepreneurship at Michigan Engineering and beyond

U-M experts can discuss Super Bowl ads, football-related topics
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - University of Michigan experts are available to discuss Super Bowl commercials and other football topics, such as concussions and economic issues.

Got creative block? Get out of your office and go for a walk
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The next time you're in need of creative inspiration, try thinking outside the box - or cubicle. New research by Jeffrey Sanchez-Burks and Suntae Kim of the University of Michigan Ross School of Business shows that engaging in physical acts and experiences enhances creative problem-solving.

Consumer confidence improves in January due to job gains
ANN ARBOR, Mich - Consumer confidence continued to improve in January due to positive news about potential job gains, according to University of Michigan economist Richard Curtin, director of the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers.

U-M, Sierra Club to study links between outdoor experience, veterans’ mental health
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - For six years, the Sierra Club has organized outdoor trips for U.S. military service members, veterans and their families. Now, the national environmental group is working with the University of Michigan on a research project to measure how those trips affect veterans' mental health.

Poll: Incentives working, but local officials in Michigan lukewarm about state funding reforms
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Only a small minority of local officials in Michigan believe that major reforms in the way they receive state funding that require adoption of "dashboard" reports will be very effective in improving the overall performance of their governments.

U-M experts available to comment on the State of the Union address
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - University of Michigan faculty are available to discuss tonight's State of the Union address, in which President Barack Obama will talk about the economy, taxes and other issues.

Experiences are better when we know they’re about to end
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - People often view the "last" moments of an event positively simply because they signal the end of an experience, say University of Michigan researchers.

U-M’s Energy Institute to change name while embracing the unique Michigan Memorial Phoenix Project legacy
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The Michigan Memorial Phoenix Energy Institute (MMPEI) will change its name to the University of Michigan Energy Institute, effective Feb.

Expert on the Arab Spring on the 1st anniversary of the Egyptian revolution
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - As the first anniversary of the Egyptian revolution approaches on Jan. 25, sociologist Mansoor Moaddel is available to discuss trends in religious, political and cultural values in Egypt and other Arab countries.

Fred Conrad to direct U-M Program in Survey Methodology
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Cognitive psychologist Frederick Conrad has been appointed director of the University of Michigan Program in Survey Methodology, based at the Institute for Social Research.

Being happy at work is nice, but thriving is better--and more productive
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - While it may come as little surprise that happy employees are more productive, a high-performing workforce needs more than just a feeling of contentment - workers need to thrive, says a researcher at the University of Michigan.

U-M experts available to discuss developments in U.S.-Myanmar relations
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - A senior U.S. senator and France's foreign minister are visiting Myanmar as Washington moves toward restoring full diplomatic ties after scores of high-profile political prisoners are freed in the Southeast Asian nation.

Jan. 20 U-M town hall: Cures for climate confusion
DATE: 6:30-8:00 p.m., Friday, Jan. 20, 2012. EVENT: When the scientific experts have concluded that we are changing our climate, why do many U.S. citizens remain confused or skeptical?

U-M annual sustainability report shows success in key areas
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The University of Michigan continues to make progress in key areas of energy reduction, alternative transportation and waste reduction, according to its newly released 2011 annual sustainability report.

U-M comment on announcement of a patent office in Detroit
University of Michigan statement: "This is great news for the Great Lakes region, the state of Michigan and the University of Michigan," said Stephen Forrest, U-M vice president for research.

U-M emerges as international incubator for arts
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The University of Michigan's website, Montage, highlights the latest news and features about the arts, creative endeavors, collaborative projects and upcoming events.

LectureTools: U-M tech startup featured at Las Vegas show
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - A University of Michigan educational technology that aims to make large lecture classes feel smaller and more interactive is on display this week at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Fuel economy of new vehicles slipped in December
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - After two months of increases, the average fuel economy of all new vehicles sold in the United States fell by a half mile per gallon last month, say researchers at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute.

U-M experts available to discuss Taiwanese presidential election
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - University of Michigan experts are available to discuss the presidential election in Taiwan.

Playwright David Henry Hwang to discuss his new Broadway hit ’Chinglish’

Flipping an egg carton of light traps giant atoms
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - In an egg carton of laser light, University of Michigan physicists can trap giant Rydberg atoms with up to 90 percent efficiency, an achievement that could advance quantum computing and terahertz imaging, among other applications.

Do you hear what I hear? Noise exposure surrounds us
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Nine out of 10 city dwellers may have enough harmful noise exposure to risk hearing loss, and most of that exposure comes from leisure activities.

U-Michigan offers experts on mercury emissions, regulations
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The following University of Michigan researchers are available to discuss mercury emissions and new regulations, expected to be announced today by the U.S. Environmental Prote

Japanese quake survivors tell their story with photos
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The overripe cucumber dangles from a vine in a photo snapped by a woman who survived the earthquake and tsunami that ravaged northeastern Japan.

Michigan Ross researchers conduct largest HR study ever
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - In the largest global study ever of human resource professionals, researchers at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business and the RBL Group found that HR managers play an integral role in the overall effectiveness of a company's performance.

Acid rain poses a previously unrecognized threat to Great Lakes sugar maples
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The number of sugar maples in Upper Great Lakes forests is likely to decline in coming decades, according to University of Michigan ecologists and their colleagues, due to a previously unrecognized threat from a familiar enemy: acid rain. Over the past four decades, sugar maple abundance has declined in some regions of the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada, due largely to acidification of calcium-poor granitic soils in response to acid rain.

’Fingerprinting’ method tracks mercury emissions from coal-fired power plant
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - For the first time, the chemical "fingerprints" of the element mercury have been used by University of Michigan researchers to directly link environmental pollution to a specific coal-burning power plant. The primary source of mercury pollution in the atmosphere is coal combustion.

U-M experts available to discuss nationwide protests in Russia
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - University of Michigan experts are available to discuss the nationwide protests in Russia following the fraud-tainted elections for Parliament.

Design your life: Business and social entrepreneurship must coexist
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - A new book written by a University of Michigan business professor for individuals and companies looking to make the world a better place is available at no cost.

Bold ideas win 1,000 Pitches entrepreneurship contest
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - What if your car radio could let you know an ambulance or fire engine was approaching?