Research News

  1. Breakthrough: Scientists harness the power of electricity in the brain

    A paralyzed patient may someday be able to “think” a foot into flexing or a leg into moving, using technology that harnesses the power of electricity in the brain, thanks in part to new breakthroughs by U-M researchers. Includes video.

  2. Dirty hands, dirty mouths: U-M study finds a need to clean the body part that lies

    Apparently your mom had it right when she threatened to wash your mouth out with soap if you talked dirty. Lying really does create a desire to clean the “dirty” body part.

  3. Will your marriage last? Look at how you fight

    The longevity of a marriage can be predicted by how a couple deals with conflict—or fails to. Are women’s fighting behaviors more destructive than men’s?

  4. Sudden death for young athletes often tied to inherited heart condition

    If you or a family member is an athlete, it pays to get your heart checked. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can be silent killer for athletes, but if managed well, patients can live active lives.

  5. U-M creates the state’s first human embryonic stem cell line

    U-M researchers have created the state’s first human embryonic stem cell line, achieving a long-sought goal that provides the foundation for future efforts to develop innovative disease treatments.

  6. Sperm may be harmed by exposure to BPA, study suggests

    BPA is a common chemical (more than 6 billion pounds of it are produced annually) that’s stirred controversy in the media over its safety. Now, in one of the first human studies of its kind, researchers have found that urinary concentrations of BPA may be related to decreased sperm quality and sperm concentration. The findings are preliminary but point to the need for more study.

  7. A karate belt for wasps

    In a remarkable study of animal behavior, U-M researchers have found that a given wasp’s facial markings serve as a sort of karate belt, giving a clue to its fighting ability. Even more interesting, wasps “punish” other wasps that are actually stronger or weaker than their markings suggest. “White belt” wasps who pretend to be black belts are asking to get picked on.

  8. Brain connections break down as we age

    It’s unavoidable: breakdowns in brain connections slow down our physical response times as we age, a new U-M study suggests.

  9. A black hole slingshot

    Hypervelocity stars, discovered about five years ago, are the fastest stars ever observed. They are escaping the galaxy at beyond what was thought to be its stellar speed limit. A U-M study has identified the source of their astounding speed: the black hole at the center of the Milky Way, which acts as a gravitational slingshot, blasting stars right out of the galaxy at 1.8 million miles per hour.