Innovation

  1. This collage of images from the Flame Nebula shows a visible light view from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope on the left, while the two insets at the right show the near-infrared view taken by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. Much of the dark, dense gas and dust, as well as the surrounding white clouds within the visible light image, have been cleared in the near-infrared images, giving us a view into a more translucent cloud pierced by the infrared-producing objects within that are young stars and brown dwarfs. Astronomers used Webb to take a census of the lowest-mass objects within this star-forming region. In this image, light at wavelengths of 1.15 microns and 1.4 microns (filters F115W and F140M) is represented in blue, 1.82 microns (F182M) as green, 3.6 microns (F360M) as orange, and 4.3 microns (F430M) as red.

    U-M astronomers peer deeper into mysterious Flame Nebula

    Using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, a team of researchers, including astronomers from the University of Michigan, are closing in on the answer to a looming cosmic question. In probing the Flame Nebula, they’re finding out what’s the smallest celestial body that can form on its own from clouds of gas and dust in space.

  2. Scientists observe some kind of machine in a lab. They are wearing blue coats and protective glasses and are surrounded by machinery.

    U-M astronomy will lead its first satellite mission

    The project assembles a team of experts from across the country for a mission called STARI — STarlight Acquisition and Reflection toward Interferometry. The goal is to showcase the viability of a new technique for studying exoplanets, or planets outside of our solar system.

  3. Grid of machinery

    Not so simple machines: Cracking the code for materials that can learn

    It’s easy to think that machine learning is a completely digital phenomenon, made possible by computers and algorithms that can mimic brain-like behaviors. But the first machines were analog and now, a small but growing body of research is showing that mechanical systems are capable of learning, too, say physicists at U-M.

  4. A screenshot of the game display shows the quadcopter following a green path around the rings. The inset shows a hand avatar. The neural implant records from nearby neurons and algorithms determine the intended movements for the hand avatar. The finger positions are then used to control the virtual quadcopter. (Image credit: Nature Medicine.)

    ‘Unprecedented’ level of control allows person without use of limbs to operate virtual quadcopter

    A brain-computer interface, surgically placed in a research participant with paralysis in all four limbs, provided him an unprecedented level of control over a virtual quadcopter — just by thinking about moving his unresponsive fingers. Such groundbreaking technology could impact one’s ability to socialize, work, and enjoy recreational activities.

  5. Extreme closeup of small gadget being held by gloved hands. The U-M discovery is a new water purification technology that helps turn seawater into drinking water without tons of chemicals.

    New water purification technology helps turn seawater into drinking water without tons of chemicals

    Cutting acid and base treatments from conventional desalination plants could save billions of dollars globally, making seawater a more affordable option for drinking water, say experts at U-M. A study describing the new technology has been published in Nature Water by engineers at Michigan and Rice University.

  6. Overhead shot of UMCI construction site in Detroit, with snow, and large orange crane. Land was purchased from MGM Grand Detroit.

    U-M closes on purchase of nearly 2.3 acres in Detroit

    In December 2024, U-M closed on a $9.5 million purchase of land at 2201 W. Grand River Ave. from MGM Grand Detroit that is expected to support the future needs of the U-M Center for Innovation. Part of the nearly 2.3-acre parcel, strategically located across the street from the UMCI, will be used for a parking structure.

  7. Solar panels with clear sky

    University to begin installing solar power sites on campus

    New solar installations distributed across the Ann Arbor, Flint and Dearborn campuses will have a total capacity of 25 megawatts of renewable electricity after a three-year installation process is complete. The electricity generated — enough to power about 3,000 homes — will feed directly into U-M buildings rather than going back into the regional power grid.

  8. Robot hand interacts with digital display meant to represent AI technology, machine learning.

    U-M, Los Alamos National Laboratory to jointly develop Michigan-based AI research center

    The effort builds on a recently established research collaboration between the two institutions. A facility in Washtenaw County will house one computing center to support Los Alamos scientists and engineers focused on national security AI challenges. An adjacent academic computing center will align U-M faculty and students with Los Alamos researchers.

  9. A U-M Health neurosurgical team performing an operation. Credit: Chris Hedly, Michigan Medicine

    In 10 seconds, AI model detects cancerous brain tumor often missed during surgery

    The technology works faster and more accurately than current standard of care methods for tumor detection and could be generalized to other pediatric and adult brain tumor diagnoses. U-M neurosurgeons believe it could serve as a foundational model for guiding brain tumor surgery going forward.

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