Michigan’s Motorcycle Helmet Repeal Means Higher Crash-Related Hospital Costs
Riding a motorcycle without a helmet has been legal in Michigan for 14 years. But in the case of an accident, a new study from University of Michigan researchers found that the potential negative impact of forgoing a helmet goes beyond the rider and even their loved ones.
“When people argue that helmet choice is solely a personal freedom issue, they overlook who ultimately pays for the treatment,” says Dr. Patrick L. Johnson, a U-M surgery resident and lead author of the study. “A significant portion of these costs fall on public payers, taxpayers, and trauma systems — meaning we all share the financial burden.”
The researchers analyzed data from nearly 20,000 motorcycle crash patients between 2009 and 2015 — comparing patients in Michigan to patients in four control states. The researchers found that after Michigan voters repealed the state’s universal helmet law in 2012, the change was associated with a 26% increase in average inpatient costs per motorcycle crash survivor — roughly $6.4 million annually in total, adjusted for inflation.
Extroversion Linked to Lower Stress Levels
In a study led by Michigan State University, researchers found that extroversion may be a result of learning to handle stress better.
Three times over an 18-year period, 2,000 participants completed daily diaries, chronicling their moods, types of stressors, and emotional experience. Results showed that as participants improved in handling stress, they became more extroverted, agreeable, and open to new experiences — all things that correlate with greater happiness.
William Chopik, the study’s lead author, is hopeful that this information will help people see how they can change their daily decisions to live a happier, more fulfilled life.
Insulin Drug Aims to Improve Quality of Life for Type 1 Diabetics
Supported by a $300,000 grant from Breakthrough T1D International, Dr. Zhiqiang Cao, professor of chemical engineering and materials science at Wayne State University, is developing an ultra-rapid-acting insulin to eliminate the need for those with Type 1 diabetes to self-medicate at mealtimes. According to the CDC, Type 1 diabetes affects roughly 1.7 million Americans, and the treatment could drastically improve their lives.
MSU Wins National Research Award for 1965 Discovery
Michigan State University received a 2025 Golden Goose Award for the global impact and scientific success of cisplatin, a platinum-based chemotherapy drug that has become an industry-standard treatment for fighting cancer. The Golden Goose Award highlights the practical value of research, as it can lead to unexpected but great benefits. MSU researchers discovered cisplatin’s cancer-treating properties in 1965.
Originally, when a team of researchers was studying how electricity affected bacteria growth, they noticed bacteria did not grow well around the platinum electrode they were using. This accidental discovery led to the development of cisplatin as an anti-cancer drug. Cisplatin is responsible for saving millions of lives and is one of the most effective chemotherapy treatments.
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