The Michigan Engineer News Center

NASA announces new mission to study solar particle storms, with six small satellites the size of toaster ovens that will orbit Earth and measure radiation from the sun

April 1, 2020
CLaSP professor Justin Kasper's work on NASA's SunRISE is featured in Daily Mail.
the ISS overlooks aurora borealis

More than $5M to improve solar storm forecasts

U-Michigan researchers play lead roles in national effort funded by NSF, NASA. | Medium Read
Myofibroblasts can be seen accumulating in the 3d lung connective tissue model even in soft conditions mimicking a healthy lung. Image is stained for cytoskeleton (blue), cell nuclei (yellow), and a marker for myofibroblast activation (alpha-smooth muscle actin, red). Credit: Baker Lab.

New treatments for deadly lung disease could be revealed by 3D modeling

Traditional 2D research may rule out better treatment options. | Medium Read
Holding a sample of the solar cell

Urban solar energy: Solar panels for windows hit record 8% efficiency

Transparent solar panels on windows could take a bite out of a building’s electricity needs. | Medium Read

Simulating aerosolized particles to improve bus safety during COVID-19

Improving construction worker safety with wearable sensors

Flexible, adaptable micro-robots inspired by origami

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Research News
Robot with structural batteries

Powering robots: biomorphic batteries could provide 72 times more energy than stand-alone cells

The researchers compare them to fat deposits in living creatures. | Medium Read

$1.8M DARPA project aims to protect cars, trucks and spacecraft from hackers | Medium Read

A new look at an inevitable problem: muscle loss in aging | Medium Read

The science behind campus bus changes during COVID-19 | Medium Read
Campus & Community
Lissa MacVean, a lecturer in civil and environmental engineering, teaches her graduate course outside. Photo by Joseph Xu

Caution and connection in in-person classes during COVID-19

Faculty members and students share their perspectives. | Medium Read

New associate deans of academic affairs and research named | Short Read

Emergency fund fills in gaps for students during pandemic | Medium Read

Engineering course challenges students to create tech solutions for COVID-19 | Long Read
Faculty Perspectives

School bus safety during the COVID-19 pandemic: 8 recommendations

In The Conversation, Capecelatro offers suggestions like keeping windows open, shorter trips and below half-capacity seating on public buses. | Short Read

The pandemic has revealed the cracks in US manufacturing: Here’s how to fix them | Short Read

Advanced mobility is about more than technology. Our workforce should reflect that. | Short Read

Before we put $100 billion in AI | Short Read
In the News
The New York Times August 31, 2020
Humans take a step closer to ‘flying cars’
Professor of Aerospace Engineering Ella Atkins tells New York Times that eVTOL machines will have mixed applications, being more efficient than helicopters but less efficient than cars.
The New York Times August 31, 2020
Looking to reopen, colleges become labs for coronavirus tests and tracking apps
Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering Krista Wigginton tells New York Times that universities are working to find new tools to help them track and curb the spread of COVID-19 on campuses.
Detroit News August 14, 2020
Detroit-to-Ann Arbor self-driving vehicle corridor aims for national leadership
University of Michigan, the state and industry partners' connected corridor initiative is highlighted in Detroit News.
MLive.com August 7, 2020
Can a building truly be COVID-proof? A look at the latest virus-busting technology.
Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering Jesse Capecelatro provides some best practices to staying safe in the COVID era.
history

Five year plan: The North Campus story

Ed Lesher: Aircraft Hall of Famer

LASIK: The Bladeless Scalpel

Q&A with Samuel Ting