Study finds that individual layers of synthetic materials can collaborate for greater impact
Millions of years of evolution have enabled some marine animals to grow complex protective shells composed of multiple layers that work together to dissipate physical stress. In a new study, engineers have found a way to mimic the behavior of this type of layered material, such as seashell nacre, by programming individual layers of synthetic material to work collaboratively under stress. The new material design is poised to enhance energy-absorbing systems such as wearable bandages and car bumpers with multistage responses that adapt to collision severity.
Faculty members honored with 2025 Campus Awards for Excellence in Faculty Leadership
Four University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign faculty members were honored by the Office of the Provost with the 2025 Campus Awards for Excellence in Faculty Leadership.
Two Illinois students selected for Fulbright’s Summer Institute to the UK
Two University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign students received places in the Fulbright Commission’s Summer Institutes program.
Study reveals how social networks shape health in later life
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. ― A new study sheds light on the powerful connection between social networks and health in later life and reveals a surprising path for improving health equity among older adults. Published in the journal Innovation in Aging, the study tracked over 1,500 older adults for a decade using three rounds of data from […]
Does REAL ID really make flying safer?
REAL ID enhances air travel security by verifying that individuals are who they say they are, says professor Sheldon H. Jacobson.
Seniors in art and design to show their work at Krannert Art Museum
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Seniors from the School of Art and Design at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign will show the work that is the culmination of their undergraduate education in an exhibition at Krannert Art Museum. The School of Art and Design Bachelor of Fine Arts Exhibition will show the work of nearly 100 students […]
Illinois Youth Survey finds troubling substance use trends
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Alcohol use by Illinois teens was nearly double the national average, with 13.7% of Illinois students reporting they had imbibed during the previous 30 days compared with 6.9% of those across the U.S. The finding was among some troubling new trends in alcohol and drug use among Illinois teens reported in the […]
Paper: AI-human task-sharing could cut mammography screening costs by up to 30%
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The most effective way to harness the power of artificial intelligence when screening for breast cancer may be through collaboration with human radiologists — not by wholesale replacing them, says new research co-written by a University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign expert in the intersection of health care and technology. The study finds that […]
What is education’s role in fostering responsible belief?
Champaign, Ill. — Nicholas Burbules is the Gutgsell Professor Emeritus of Education Policy, Organization and Leadership at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, whose primary research areas include the philosophy of education, the ethics of communication, and technology and education. He is the author of recent papers that explore the communicative “virtues” that support productive discourse […]
Review: Social drinking also a well-worn path to alcohol use disorder
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — When picturing a “typical” alcoholic, people tend to imagine a person drinking at home alone. But that focus overlooks the social origins of many serious alcohol problems, say the authors of a new review paper in the journal Current Directions in Psychological Science. “Evidence for the centrality of social motives in problem […]
Behind the Scenes
Learning from cockatiels
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — When the lights go out, the 18 shrieking cockatiels in the room get quiet. I aim my phone’s flashlight into a large cage where Philip Wiley, another of the six veterinary students participating in this advanced avian medicine professional development course, is poised to catch one of the birds. The light helps […]
Taking flight on a New York City stage
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — It’s a Saturday afternoon and I’m waiting in a cramped hallway beneath The Joyce Theater stage in Chelsea, Manhattan. My palms are sweaty, and I feel anxious as I attempt to take my mind off the looming event, my New York City debut. The audience is filled with my peers, teachers, family […]
Illinois in the News
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How Does Ozempic Work?
Verywell Health (New York City, Feb. 27) — Ozempic works by stimulating insulin to manage blood sugar levels and it also slows down digestion and provides signals to the brain that your stomach is full, says molecular and integrative physiology professor Patrick Sweeney.
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Online Posts Misconstrue Data on Social Security Numbers
FactCheck.org (Philadelphia, Feb. 27) — Finance professor Jeff Brown discusses the number Elon Musk uses to show the “eligible” Social Security numbers by age group.
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A sequence-independent way to edit protein backbones
Chemical & Engineering News (Washington, D.C., Feb. 25) — Chemistry professor Wilfred van der Donk comments on a study showing how to install a new carbon-carbon bond into a polypeptide.
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