ANN ARBOR—A diverse mix of species improves the stability and fuel-oil yield of algal biofuel systems, as well as their resistance to invasion by outsiders, according to the findings of a federally funded outdoor study by University of Michigan researchers. U-M scientists grew various combinations of freshwater algal species in 80 artificial ponds at U-M’s Read more

ANN ARBOR—The Mcity Driverless Shuttle, a research project at the University of Michigan, launched today on U-M’s North Campus. In the project, Mcity is studying how passengers react to the driverless shuttles as a way to gauge consumer acceptance of the technology. The shuttles are equipped with onboard cameras and Wi-Fi communications to capture data Read more

LELAND, Mich.—As an undergraduate student doing research at the University of Michigan Biological Station, Nels Carlson was fascinated by what he learned from the aquatic invertebrates he caught, the water samples he collected and the data he analyzed. The waters and what lives in them were something Carlson studied informally his whole life. It’s a Read more

ANN ARBOR—University of Michigan researchers have developed a new technique of observing and discovering very young, very large planets. Catching young planets in the act of formation is important for understanding how planets form and how they build their atmospheres. U-M astronomer Richard Teague’s new method involves imaging very small changes in the speed of Read more

ANN ARBOR—States that have struggled with opioid abuse might want to take a look at prescription drug monitoring programs in Kentucky, New Mexico, Tennessee and New York—states that have significantly reduced opioid dosages, according to a new University of Michigan study. While most states currently have prescription drug monitoring programs, not all are created equal, Read more

ANN ARBOR—Three students are working with a set of donated DeWalt tools. They are siting and squaring the foundation for a building, and they’re trying to figure out how the devices work. Soon, the young men have a rectangular outline marked off using twine and stakes. They watch their instructor, Joe Trumpey, an associate professor Read more

ANN ARBOR—The Graham Sustainability Institute at the University of Michigan has awarded more than $200,000 to support three sustainability-related research projects in Puerto Rico and Michigan. The projects vary in scale and address a range of sustainability issues, including energy and food system resilience in Puerto Rico, stormwater management on tribal lands in Michigan, and Read more

ANN ARBOR—This week, the University of Michigan’s Nichols Arboretum peony garden begins its annual transformation from green shoots to waves of white, pink and red as it bursts into nearly 10,000 blooms. A favorite nature hideaway for U-M students and staff and for local residents, the arboretum is also home to the largest collection of Read more

ANN ARBOR—Want to boost the consumption rate in the United States? Transfer wealth from the top 20 percent of earners to the bottom 80 percent, according to a University of Michigan study. The study is the first to consider the interplay between consumption, income inequality and wealth inequality, and found that such a transfer could Read more