Scientists at the University of Maryland have created a way to convert one of the primary greenhouse gases—methane—into a range of valuable commodity chemicals while releasing no climate-changing emissions in the process. The achievement, detailed Wednesday in the journal Advanced Energy Materials, is a major opportunity for the chemical and natural gas industries and a step forward in the fight to protect Earth’s climate.

From the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on communities of color to fatal encounters between police and African Americans, UMD sociology Professor Rashawn Ray acknowledges it would be easy to be pessimistic in the face of addressing such challenges. Yet during his speech on Saturday for the inaugural Homecoming “Beyond the Field” address, he was hopeful, encouraged by the progress that can be made through academic inquiry. “I believe in the power of critical thinking,’ Ray said. “I believe in the power of research to create meaningful change.”

There are myriad benefits to learning a new language—from conversing with people from other backgrounds, to easing international travel, to advancing your career. But acquiring a new language as an adult is not always easy, particularly if a person is trying to distinguish phonetic sounds not often heard in their native language.

Visa policies in the United States hold immigrants back from starting new ventures, restrict their employment choices early in their careers and can limit their entrepreneurship later, a new University of Maryland study has found.

While many might hypothesize that health-related behaviors such as wearing a mask and getting vaccinated against COVID-19 are tied to political beliefs in the United States, an international group of researchers—including members of the Department of Psychology—recently published a study that confirms this conventional wisdom.

A new partnership between the University of Maryland and Jigsaw, a unit of Google, will create groundbreaking virtual reality training for police officers to learn and evaluate de-escalation and communication skills.

While hearing aids and other assistive devices have improved over the years, users can still experience an auditory muddle of competing noise. But imagine a device that could help its wearer tune in to just one person in a crowded room, while pushing unwanted sounds into the background.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded a $126,000 Fire Prevention and Safety grant to the University of Maryland (UMD), College Park to fund a study on fireground contaminant exposure control approaches utilized by fire departments regionally and nationally.  

COLLEGE PARK, Md -- The University of Maryland has been awarded a 5-year, $2M grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to launch a new Mid-Atlantic Veterans Business Outreach Center in College Park, Md. The Center will provide resources and support to aspiring veteran entrepreneurs and veteran-owned small businesses, serving as a regional epicenter for training, consulting and technical assistance.

You’ve just attended an exciting concert by your favorite musical group. In the car on the way home and over the next few days, you catch yourself replaying its songs in your head. You “hear” the music in your brain—the melodies, the fast and slow parts, even the dramatic pause before one last refrain of the chorus. The term for this is “musical imagery”—the voluntary internal hearing of music in the mind without the need for physical action or external stimulation.