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Are climate-related calamities erasing Illinois’ cultural history?
In a new report, scientists with the Illinois State Archaeological Survey describe how increased flooding, erosion and other effects of human-induced climate change are degrading many of the state’s cultural sites. ISAS research archaeologist Andrew White, a co-author of the report, spoke with News Bureau life sciences editor Diana Yates about the scope of the […]
Study offers insight into chloroplast evolution
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — One of the most momentous events in the history of life involved endosymbiosis — a process by which one organism engulfed another and, instead of ingesting it, incorporated its DNA and functions into itself. Scientific consensus is that this happened twice over the course of evolution, resulting in the energy-generating organelles known […]
Study tracks PFAS, microplastics through landfills and wastewater treatment plants
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Most of the PFAS and microplastics that flow into wastewater treatment plants from sewers and landfills end up back in the environment, a new study finds.
Thin skin significantly blunts injury from puncture, study finds
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Being thin-skinned offers unexpected advantages against puncture wounds, a new study finds.
Enzyme-inspired catalyst puts chemicals in right position to make ethers
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Taking inspiration from enzymes, chemists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign developed a catalyst to simplify the synthesis of ethers, key functional components of many drugs, foods, personal care items and other consumer goods. The catalyst puts the two chemical ingredients in just the right proximity and position to come together, bypassing […]
Genomic study identifies human, animal hair in ‘man-eater’ lions’ teeth
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Hairs extracted from the broken teeth of two 19th century “man-eater” lions finds human, animal DNA.
Study: Good nutrition boosts honey bee resilience against pesticides, viruses
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — In a new study, researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign tackled a thorny problem: How do nutritional stress, viral infections and exposure to pesticides together influence honey bee survival? By looking at all three stressors together, the scientists found that good nutrition enhances honey bee resilience against the other threats.
Report: Conscientiousness, not willpower, is a reliable predictor of success
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — According to two psychologists, the field of psychological science has a problem with the concept of self-control. It has named self-control both a “trait” — a key facet of personality involving attributes like conscientiousness, grit and the ability to tolerate delayed gratification — and a “state,” a fleeting condition that can best […]
New relationship project strengthens couples’, individual partners’ well-being
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois residents who took part in a new couples’ relationship strengthening program reported many improvements in their connections with their spouses or partners and in their individual well-being too, research suggests. The program, the Illinois Strong Couples project, focuses on topics such as communication, conflict management and friendship to help couples strengthen […]
Breaking open the AI black box, team finds key chemistry for solar energy and beyond
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Artificial intelligence is a powerful tool for researchers, but with a significant limitation: The inability to explain how it came to its decisions, a problem known as the “AI black box.” By combining AI with automated chemical synthesis and experimental validation, an interdisciplinary team of researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign […]
NSF funds new iBioFoundry at Illinois
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — A newly funded U.S. National Science Foundation iBioFoundry at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign will build on more than a decade of research at the U. of I. to integrate synthetic biology, laboratory automation and artificial intelligence to advance protein and cellular engineering. This is one of five new biofoundries to be […]
Scientists use evolution to bioengineer new pathways to sustainable energy, pharmaceuticals
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Using evolution as a guiding principle, researchers have successfully engineered bacteria-yeast hybrids to perform photosynthetic carbon assimilation, generate cellular energy and support yeast growth without traditional carbon feedstocks like glucose or glycerol. By engineering photosynthetic cyanobacteria to live symbiotically inside yeast cells, the bacteria-yeast hybrids can produce important hydrocarbons, paving new biotechnical […]