Science and Technology

  1. U-M team recycles previously unrecyclable plastic

    PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, is one of the most-produced plastics in the U.S. and the third-highest by volume worldwide. Until recently, it had a zero percent recycling rate in the U.S. But scientists at U-M recently discovered how to chemically recycle PVC into usable material.

  2. New hospital to be named for D. Dan and Betty Kahn

    The D. Dan and Betty Kahn Health Care Pavilion is scheduled to open in fall 2025. The $920-million facility will include 264 private inpatient rooms, a neurosciences center, specialty cardiovascular and thoracic care services, and much more.

  3. Community-builder Leon Pryor takes Detroit’s FIRST Robotics program to new heights

    Having excelled in careers at Microsoft, Amazon, and now Meta, this 1997 electrical engineering alum and renowned video game engineer co-founded The Motor City Alliance to make Detroit a powerhouse for FIRST Robotics teams.

  4. Social media: Top setting tips to promote positive boundaries, mental health for young people

    Experts share tech savvy ways to better manage and control social media use on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube for youth, teens and kids.

  5. Should you get an over-the-counter hearing aid or see a hearing specialist?

    Last month, the FDA announced hearing aids will soon be available for purchase over the counter for adults with “mild to moderate hearing loss.” U-M audiology expert weighs in.

  6. First light at the most powerful laser in the U.S.

    Michigan Engineering recently fired up the Zetawatt-Equivalent Ultrashort pulse laser System, promising new developments in medicine, electronics, and national security. Funded by the National Science Foundation, ZEUS will explore the physics of the quantum universe.

  7. Engineering tough: Taking the F-150 electric

    As chief nameplate engineer for the F-150 Lightning, Linda Zhang, BSE EE ’96/MSE CE ’98/MBA ’11, has impacted the design, development, and delivery of the electric vehicle, as well as the creation of its new manufacturing plant and Ford’s marketing campaign.

  8. Durable coating kills COVID virus, other germs in minutes

    The coating, which is clear and can be brushed or sprayed on, could be a game changer in traditionally germ-laden public spaces like airports and hospitals. It gets its durability and germ-killing power by combining tried-and-true ingredients in a new way.

  9. A boost just in time for Fall: Updated COVID shots are now available

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have approved a new and improved booster shot for COVID-19. The shot protects against the original variant of SARS-CoV-2 and the Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5.