New U-M research shows that predatory sea urchins have been forcing evolutionary adaptations upon marine animals called crinoids, which include the sea lily. Hungry sea urchins even drove the formerly stationary sea lilies to develop the ability to escape by creeping along the ocean floor. Above, a sea urchin (the whitish globular object on the right, covered with purple-tipped spines) feeds on a comatulid crinoid known as a feather star (red-and-black arms with white bands) in an aquarium. The urchin uses its spines and the teeth of its jaw to manipulate and ingest the feather star. Results of the research were published online April 16 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Photo courtesy of F.J. Gahn and M.A. Strong.
To meet a surging demand for its high-quality advanced care, the U-M Health System will expand its hospital capacity for adults and create Michigan’s first hospital for diseases of the nervous system including the brain and spine.
Appalachian environmental activist Maria Gunnoe will be awarded the 22nd U-M Wallenberg Medal at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 23 in Rackham Auditorium. After the medal presentation, Gunnoe will give the Wallenberg Lecture.
Daryl Weinert, who has served as executive director of the Business Engagement Center since it was launched in 2007, has been named to the newly created position of associate vice president for research — sponsored programs.
In the coming months at least seven U-M professors will offer free online courses on such diverse topics as finance, electronic voting, computer vision, and fantasy and science fiction, using a new Web-based platform called Coursera.
Five U-M faculty members have been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a prestigious society that recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions in scholarly and professional fields.
Five U-M faculty projects that demonstrate fresh approaches to advance student learning will be recognized May 7, as winners of the fourth annual Provost’s Teaching Innovation Prize. The award is sponsored by the Office of the Provost, the Center for Research on Learning and Teaching, and the U-M Library.
How can faculty help students develop their abilities to conduct analyses of literary texts? What impact do international experiences have on students’ intercultural competence? How can screen casts be used to improve student learning in large engineering courses?
Mark McManamay, application developer lead, Information & Technology Services, on BASE jumping: “There’s a point when you know you’re leaving, and that’s when everything hits you at once.”
“Campin’ Spot” from Brighter Michigan: Photography by Exposure.Detroit, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. through June 11, Gifts of Art Gallery, Taubman Health Center, South Lobby, Floor 1.
The lopsided solar car named Generation, unveiled Tuesday, might be the oddest-looking vehicle the top-ranked U-M team has ever built. But the bold shape is a calculated effort to design the most efficient car possible.
