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DNA sensor quickly determines whether viruses are infectious
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — A new sensor can detect not only whether a virus is present, but whether it’s infectious – an important distinction for containing viral spread. Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and collaborators developed the sensor, which integrates specially designed DNA fragments and nanopore sensing, to target and detect infectious viruses in […]
Tiny porous crystals change the shape of water to speed up chemical reactions
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Chemical engineers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign now understand how water molecules assemble and change shape in some settings, revealing a new strategy to speed up chemical reactions critical to industry and environmental sustainability. The new approach is poised to play a role in helping chemical manufacturers move away from harmful […]
Ultrathin self-healing polymers create new, sustainable water-resistant coatings
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Researchers have found a way to make ultrathin surface coatings robust enough to survive scratches and dings. The new material, developed by merging thin-film and self-healing technologies, has an almost endless list of potential applications, including self-cleaning, anti-icing, anti-fogging, anti-bacterial, anti-fouling and enhanced heat exchange coatings, researchers said. The new study […]
New tool maps future climate costs for airlines, passengers
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — When Phoenix temperatures topped 120 F in June 2017, American Airlines canceled dozens of flights at a local airport because the airplanes could not take off safely in the extreme heat. Scenarios like this are likely to become more common as a result of climate warming, scientists say, but the operational costs […]
Unified theory explains how materials transform from solids to liquids
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Years of meticulous experimentation have paid off for researchers aiming to unify the physics that defines materials that transition from solids to liquids. The researchers said a new theoretical model could help develop new synthetic materials and inform and predict civil engineering and environmental challenges such as mudslides, dam breaks and avalanches. […]
Less salt, more protein: Researchers address dairy processing’s environmental, sustainability issues
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Researchers say the high salt content of whey – the watery part of milk left behind after cheesemaking – helps make it one of the most polluting byproducts in the food processing industry. In a new study, chemists demonstrate the first electrochemical redox desalination process used in the food industry, removing and […]
Nutrient-rich human waste poised to sustain agriculture, improve economies
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The future connection between human waste, sanitation technology and sustainable agriculture is becoming more evident. According to research directed by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign civil and environmental engineering professor Jeremy Guest, countries could be moving closer to using human waste as fertilizer, closing the loop to more circular, sustainable economies. A new […]
Black hole size revealed by its eating pattern
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The feeding patterns of black holes offer insight into their size, researchers report. A new study revealed that the flickering in the brightness observed in actively feeding supermassive black holes is related to their mass. Supermassive black holes are millions to billions of times more massive than the sun and usually reside […]
2020 deadlier than previous five years, even with COVID-19 numbers removed, study finds
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — 2020 was a deadly year in the United States for more reasons than COVID-19, says a new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Compared with the previous five years, March through November 2020 saw an increase of more than 450,000 deaths – and more than 176,000 of those were not from […]
Chemical reactions break free from energy barriers using flyby trajectories
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — A new study shows that it is possible to use mechanical force to deliberately alter chemical reactions and increase chemical selectivity – a grand challenge of the field. The study led by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign researcher Jeffrey Moore and Stanford University chemist Todd Martinez demonstrates how external mechanical forces alter […]
Light-harvesting nanoparticle catalysts show promise in quest for renewable carbon-based fuels
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Researchers report that small quantities of useful molecules such as hydrocarbons are produced when carbon dioxide and water react in the presence of light and a silver nanoparticle catalyst. Their validation study – made possible through the use of a high-resolution analytical technique – could pave the way for CO2-reduction technologies that […]
Children’s book by U of I students teaches third graders about automotive engineering
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — A new book written and illustrated by two recent alumnae of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign introduces third graders to the nuts and bolts of automotive mechanics and engineering. “Jenny Saves a Convertible” is the first book written and illustrated by U. of I. students to be published through a project with […]