Topic: University of Michigan

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Life with student debt: tales from 4 college grads

College costs have soared in the past decade, rising much faster than inflation. The result: More students borrow – so much so that cumulative student loan debt now tops $1 trillion, more than Americans owe on credit cards. Some grads pay $700 or more a month. How do they swing it?
Nigeria plane crash: Did the plane run out of fuel?

Nigeria plane crash: The pilot reported that both engines had failed as the Dana Air flight approached Lagos. What causes two engines to fail?
Modern Parenthood Breastfeeding goals: Over half of new moms miss the mark

Breastfeeding goals are largely unmet in the US where 85 percent of new moms intend to breastfeed for at least three months; more than half of all new moms miss that mark.
SpaceX launch: private industry inspires new generation of rocketeers (+video)

SpaceX launch a reminder that NASA isn't the only game in town anymore. Aspiring engineers, rocket designers, space geeks look to 'New Space' companies to boldly go where only governments used to go.
What causes wrongful convictions? Lies, mistaken eyewitnesses top the list.

Researchers examined 873 wrongful convictions and found that perjury or false accusations were responsible for more than half. New report offers insight into what leads to miscarriages of justice.
Focus Share of working moms nearing all-time high, but has it gotten any easier?

The percentage of mothers in the workforce is nearing record highs, leading to more societal acceptance and childcare options, but mothers still face a 'mommy wage gap' and other challenges.
Painkiller addiction becoming more common in infants, study shows

Painkiller addiction is becoming more and more common in infants, according to a recently released study that shows that the number of US babies born with opiate drug withdrawal has tripled in the past decade.
Are crop yields the Achilles heel of organic farming?

Organic agriculture can't compete with conventional in terms of crop yields, according to a new study.
BP engineer arrested in Gulf oil spill

Former BP engineer Kurt Mix is accused of deleting text messages that revealed the true scope of the disaster.
Look ma, no helmet! Michigan repeals helmet law for motorcyclists.

The repeal of Michigan's helmet law for motorcyclists Friday could bring millions in motorcycle-tourist dollars to the state, advocates say. Critics say it will raise health-care costs.
Lions and humans likely collaborated in mammoth slaughter (+video)

A recently unearthed, strawberry-blond mammoth specimen from Siberia gives researchers new information about how humans and lions hunted.
President Obama vastly outspends GOP presidential campaigns

Obama has spent more than $135 million — more than GOP challengers Romney and Rick Santorum combined — on his re-election apparatus, according to an Associated Press analysis of Federal Election Commission records.
Detroit nears deal to avert bankruptcy, but is it a state takeover?

Both city and state officials say they are close to an agreement that could force extensive restructuring of city finances, as Detroit faces a $200 million deficit and bankruptcy by May.
Opinion Warm spring weather and global warming: If only scientists could be so persuasive

Warm spring weather can help convince Americans that global warming is happening and a problem. But scientists must change the way they talk about this subject. They must leave their ivory towers and learn to speak about climate change in a language that people understand.
Why are used cars so expensive?

Late-model used cars are in short supply, jacking up the price. Some cars, like the Mazda CX-9 Touring SUV, are cheaper new than used.
Stocks end big week with a whimper

Dow and Nasdaq stock indexes edge down Friday after gaining more than 2 percent for the week. S&P sees small rise, despite an unexpected decline in consumer sentiment.
New human species discovered? How China fossils could redefine 'human'

Scientists have recently dated and described fossils from what may be a new species of hominid, the Red Deer Cave people. The discovery could shed new light on emergence of humankind in East Asia.
Growth of Himalayas slowing down, study finds

The collision between Eurasia and the Indian subcontinent, which created the world's highest mountain range, is slowing down, a new study has found.
The Vote Ron Paul poll shocker: He beats Obama head-to-head

At the moment, Ron Paul bests President Obama in a head-to-head matchup by 43 to 41 percent, according to a Rasmussen Reports poll released Tuesday.
NASA clocks 20 million mph winds near black hole

Scientists report record-breaking winds arising from a black hole called IGR J17091-3624. The wind's speed, 20 million miles per hour, would be expected in much larger black holes.
Americans' trend line on gasoline: Use less, spend more

US oil consumption is down, and fuel economy for new vehicles is at an all-time high. Despite these leaner ways, Americans are spending 65 percent more on gasoline since 2005. Why?
Black hole produces 'cosmic Category 5 hurricane'

A stellar-mass black hole, which is born when an extremely massive star collapses, typically contains about five to 10 times the mass of our sun.
Elephants in Arabia? Scientists find prehistoric footprints.

The fossilized gigantic footprints detected in the Arabian dessert belong to a herd of elephants, scientists say. The seven-million-year-old discovery marks the world’s oldest evidence on how these ancient mammals lived.
30-year mortgage rates stay at record low

30-year mortgage rates average 3.87 percent for the third week in a row. That's the lowest for 30-year mortgage rates since the 1950s, when the long-term loans became popular.
Cover Story Modern romance: Gen-Y is late to the wedding, but wants marriage

Gen-Y is is rewriting modern romance as the path to marriage gets longer but more certain: Young people want more certainty before the wedding.