Story Archive

Research Brief

Predators play irreplaceable role in ecosystems

New research shows that predators play a unique and important role in ecosystems by creating ‘ecological hotspots’ — localized areas important for plants and animals.

Research Brief

Optimizing tobacco cessation treatment with lung cancer screening

Researchers from the U of M Medical School examined how different combinations of behavioral treatment and medication affect tobacco cessation and, going forward, how they can be used to increase the benefits of lung cancer screenings.

Research Brief

Intimate partner violence before or during pregnancy more common among rural residents

Domestic violence, including intimate partner violence (IPV), before, during or after pregnancy is associated with many serious harms, including increased risk of maternal hemorrhage, higher rates of postpartum depression and increased risks of maternal and infant morbidity and mortality.

Research Brief

Wildfires contribute to nutrient-rich, murky water in lakes

New research from the Natural Resources Research Institute examines how direct wildfire burns within watersheds affect lake water quality.

Research Brief

Intensive lifestyle intervention for Type 2 diabetes associated with increased employment

When individuals with Type 2 diabetes received intensive lifestyle intervention in multiple areas, including sessions with lifestyle counselors, dietitians and other specialists, they were more likely to lose weight and improve diabetes control, while being less likely to experience disability and diabetes complications.

Research Brief

Study finds disparities in functional improvement of home health care patients based on race, ethnicity and income

Reliance on home health care services is increasing in the U.S. A new study from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health (SPH) quantifies the degree to which home health care patients’ race, ethnicity and income level is linked to disparities in their functional improvement, which can include clinically significant improvement in activities of daily living and a reduction in dependency on continued medical treatment.

Research Brief

Use of law enforcement strategies to curb underage drinking has decreased over past decade

Despite the harm that excessive alcohol consumption can cause in a community, use of some alcohol-related enforcement strategies remained low or decreased over the past 10 years — specifically those related to underaged drinking, according to a new study from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health (SPH).

Research Brief

Fermented vegetables positively impact gut health

Fermented foods have grown in popularity and are widely consumed, in part due to claims regarding their positive effect on digestive health.

Research Brief

Clever fly offers lessons on advanced predator adaptations

The saffron robber fly presented unique challenges to researchers at the College of Biological Sciences. Here’s what they discovered.

Research Brief

U of M researchers uproot decades of buckthorn management practices

According to new research from the University of Minnesota, buckthorn managers have long overestimated the plant, and in doing so, have given the invasive tree a significant advantage in spreading widely and pushing native species out of woodlands and forests throughout eastern North America.

Research Brief

Investing in nature improves equity, boosts economy

A new study shows that current trends in environmental degradation will lead to large economic losses in the coming decades, hitting the poorest countries hardest. But there is hope: investing in nature can turn those losses into gains.

Research Brief

Scientists document over 500 bee species in Minnesota

Minnesota is home to a confluence of four of the planet’s biomes, aspen parklands, prairie grasslands, deciduous forest and coniferous forest, and is home to a great variety of biodiversity as a result.

Research Brief

Profitability decline is forcing many rural hospitals to close or merge

As the financial distress of rural hospitals increases, access to healthcare is under threat for rural Americans. A new study from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health (SPH) examined this challenge by analyzing how rural hospitals — including unprofitable ones — fared over the course of eight years.

Research Brief

U of M develops sophisticated model to assess lactating cow heat stress

University of Minnesota researchers developed a highly sophisticated model to assess lactating cow heat stress, a problem that can lead to numerous health complications for cows and financial difficulties for dairy producers due to the reduced milk production and pregnancy rates associated with heat stress.

Research Brief

New insights into the origin of food sharing among humans

An interdisciplinary team sheds new light on the evolution of sharing in humans.

Research Brief

Research Brief: New study explores staffing priorities and challenges at local public health departments

A new SPH study analyzes the staffing priorities of local health departments in Minnesota and explores the barriers they are confronting to achieving adequate staffing levels.

Research Brief

New links found between personality and cognitive abilities

In a new landmark study, University of Minnesota research shows surprising links between human cognition and personality — pillars of human individuality that shape who we are and how we interact with the world.

Research Brief

A new tool to study cell movement promises to advance cancer research

U of M researchers have developed a test to quickly sort and evaluate cells for disease research and diagnosis.

Research Brief

New species of parasitic wasp associated with soybean pest in Minnesota

Researchers at the University of Minnesota have discovered a new species of tiny parasitic wasp that might prove beneficial to managing soybean gall midge, a recently emerged pest in Midwest soybean fields that can have devastating impacts on plant production.

Research Brief

U of M researchers develop resource to identify corn tar spot

Corn tar spot is a new disease causing significant yield loss in the United States. The lack of information about the pathogen and epidemiology of the disease — which was first reported in the U.S. in 2015 and has since spread to multiple states, including Minnesota in 2019 — has made it difficult to diagnose and treat properly.