How Michigan planted its flag on Greenland — or tried to

Explorers, circa 1920s, aboard a ship en route to Greenland.

When U-M researcher William Herbert Hobbs traveled to Greenland in the 1920s, he set off on a spree with a map and a pencil, planting Michigan-connected names on practically any feature of the landscape that caught his eye.

  1. Musician plays harp in a hospital room while patient in mask with IVs listens.

    How bedside musicians helped one family cope with tragedy

    The Gifts of Art Bedside Music and Art Program at Michigan Medicine is staffed by musicians specially trained in providing acoustic music for patients at the bedside. Artists will go “where patients, families, and staff members need us,” says coordinator Sam Vandiver.

  2. Female wears medal of honor next to U.S. president in front of a gold curtain with flag.

    Neuroscientist Huda Akil wins National Medal of Science

    The U-M neuroscientist is the eighth faculty member to receive the nation’s highest scientific honor. Her work contributes to the understanding of depression, anxiety, and addiction by delving into the genes, proteins, and cells that help govern human emotions and moods, and responses to pleasure and pain.

  3. Seated African American man wearing ballcap addresses an unseen audience with hand gesture.

    Panel explores hip-hop, CRT connections at DEI Summit assembly

    The power of the narrative can be harnessed to “change perspectives, promote social progress, and particularly amplify the voices of marginalized individuals and communities,” SMTD professor Antonio Cuyler told attendees of the October ’23 DEI summit. Narrative storytelling is where CRT converges with hip-hop, he said.

  4. Detroit skyline as seen from Canada shows river, bridge, Ren Cen and other iconic structures.

    U-M will break ground on Detroit-based Center for Innovation by year’s end

    In October 2023, the University’s Board of Regents approved agreements related to land donation and purchases, and a $100M gift from top donor Stephen M. Ross to build the U-M Center for Innovation at Grand River Ave and West Columbia Street in Detroit.

  5. A row of jars filled with liquids and snakes.

    Hiss-toric first: U-M museum’s 70,000 snake specimens form world’s largest research collection

    The U-M Museum of Zoology recently acquired tens of thousands of scientifically priceless reptile and amphibian specimens, including roughly 30,000 snakes preserved in alcohol-filled glass jars.

  6. Black bird with golden or red breast flies with wings spread amid a bright blue sky.

    Space weather disrupts nocturnal bird migration, study finds

    Birds and other animals rely on Earth’s magnetic field for long-distance navigation during seasonal migrations. U-M researchers are now learning how periodic disruptions of the planet’s magnetic field, caused by solar flares and other energetic outbursts, affect the reliability of those biological navigation systems.

A march toward madness — the NCAA kind

The Dusty May era of the University of Michigan men’s basketball team opened the regular season with a victory at home on Nov. 4, defeating Cleveland State 101-53. It was a great beginning to what is shaping up to be a thrilling season. Enjoy these highlights so far — and let’s forget that loss to MSU for a moment — as the team forges a hopeful path toward the annual March Madness tournament. (Captions were sourced from mgoblue.com.)

  • Close call

    In his return to Columbus Feb. 16, Roddy Gayle Jr. scored nine points and pulled down eight rebounds to beat Ohio State 86-83. With the game tied at 80 with less than two minutes to go, Gayle gave Michigan an 82-80 lead. The Wolverines’ win over the Buckeyes marked its 20th victory of the season, the 32nd time in program history the Wolverines have reached 20-plus wins and the first time since the 2020-21 season. (Image credit: Rick Osentoski, Michigan Photography.)

    Michigan basketball player Roddy Gayle Jr. outperforms an OSU opponent for victory against the Buckeyes in Feb. 2025

  • Take that, Purdue

    Leading by four points with under a minute to play on Feb. 11, Rubin Jones slammed home a missed layup, giving Michigan a 73-67 lead with 39 seconds to go. Despite two three-point baskets from Purdue, Danny Wolf made two free throws to close out the game, securing the win. (Image credit: Andrew Mascharka, Michigan Photography.)

    Michigan basketball player No. 15 Rubin Jones celebrates slamming home a missed layup against Purdue.

  • A point per minute

    The Wolverines defeated Oregon behind five double-figure scorers and 25 points off turnovers in the annual Breast Cancer Awareness game on Feb. 5. Will Tschetter led the way with 17 points in only 17 minutes. (Image credit: Andrew Mascharka, Michigan Photography.)

    Michigan basketball player No. 42 Will Tschetter scores against Oregon.

  • And they called it the streak

    Tre Donaldson led U-M to victory against Penn State on Jan. 27 with 21 points, seven assists, and four steals. Meanwhile, the Wolverines showcased a deep bench, with nine players contributing to the scoring effort. With this victory, Michigan hit 10-0 at home, the program’s longest home winning streak since the 2020-21 season. (Image credit: Daryl Marshke, Michigan Photography.)

    Michigan basketball player No. 3, Tre Donaldson, reacts to No. 42, Will Tschetter, in a game agains Penn State.

  • Team highs

    Vladislav Goldin’s 31 points led U-M to an 80-76 win in overtime against Northwestern on Jan. 19. It was his second game with 30 or more points. Goldin led all scorers in the matchup, including a career-high 10 free throw makes on 10-for-12 shooting from the line. (Image credit: Christina Merrill,  Michigan Photography.)

    Vladislav Goldin and Roddy Gayle Jr. celebrate a sweet score against Northwestern.

  • Welcome to the Big Ten, Cali

    Career highs took Michigan to a 94-75 victory against UCLA on Jan. 8. Vladislav Goldin led all scorers for a career-high of 36 points. Tre Donaldson scored 20 points, six three-pointers, and seven assists (a tie for his career best). Donaldson came through in the clutch, hitting two crucial three-pointers while Goldin and Danny Wolf were on the bench with four fouls each. (Image credit: Katelyn Mulcahy, Michigan Photography.)

    Michigan basketball player No. 50 Vladislav Goldin in a victory over UCLA.

  • California, here we come

    On Jan. 4, the Wolverines used a pair of 10-0 runs late in the second half to defeat USC 85-74 at the Galen Center. Danny Wolf led all players with a 21-point, 13-rebound double-double along with seven assists and six blocks. The game marked the start of Michigan’s first trip to the West Coast to battle USC and UCLA as conference opponents. (Image credit: Katelyn Mulcahy, Michigan Photography.)

     

    Michigan basketball player No. 1 Danny Wolf drops a ball in the basket in a victory against USC.

  • Dusting Western Kentucky

    Dec. 29 was a bad day for Western Kentucky, who lost to the Wolverines 112-64. U-M outscored the Hilltoppers 13-6 in the first four minutes and had 72 points by the first media timeout. At the 6:05 mark, Danny Wolf’s three-pointer gave Michigan 19 for the game, tying a program record. (Image credit Andrew Mascharka, Michigan Photography.)

    Michigan basketball team gathers around Coach Dusty May on the sidelines at Crisler Arena.

  • Oh, you’re a holiday

    At the annual Holiday Game at Crisler Dec. 7, the Wolverines defeated Iowa 85-83. The nailbiter was tied 83-83 with 16 seconds to go when Roddy Gayle Jr. drove to the right side of the hoop for an attempted layup. Goaltending was called on a shot block to give Michigan the lead with 4.6 seconds to go. Iowa’s three-point attempt at the buzzer was no good, giving Michigan the win. (Image credit: Jaime Crawford, Michigan Photography.)

    Michigan basketball player Roddy Gayle is surrounded by Iowa basketball players as he seeks to make a basket.