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U. of I. Engineering Open House to take place March 10-11
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Wild and wacky Rube Goldberg machines, “robot wars,” and more than 160 fun-filled exhibits await visitors to “Beyond Imagination,” the 86th annual Engineering Open House at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. “We are expecting well over 10,000 visitors, who will experience the myriad of engineering marvels and mysteries in this ever-changing […]
Nanoparticles create biocompatible capsules
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – An innovative strategy of mixing lipids and nanoparticles to produce new drug and agricultural materials and delivery vehicles has been developed by researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. “This is a new way to make nano-size capsules of a biologically friendly material,” said Steve Granick, a professor of materials science […]
Quantum computer solves problem, without running
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – By combining quantum computation and quantum interrogation, scientists at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have found an exotic way of determining an answer to an algorithm – without ever running the algorithm. Using an optical-based quantum computer, a research team led by physicist Paul Kwiat has presented the first demonstration of […]
Approach to school affects how girls compare with boys in math
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – More women are pursuing higher education and doctoral degrees than ever before, but women still are rare in the math-oriented professions. Yet, researchers say, girls perform just as well as boys on achievement tests and tend to earn better grades in math than do boys during the earlier school years. A new […]
The new planet, Sedna, and where that leaves Pluto
James B. Kaler is a professor emeritus of astronomy and an award-winning author. As an astronomer, Kaler has studied stellar evolution, including planetary nebulae – the colorful remnants of dying stars. As a popularizer of astronomy, Kaler has written 10 books and numerous magazine articles. He was interviewed by News Bureau Physical Sciences Editor James […]
Detection of DNA on nanotubes offers new sensing, sequencing technologies
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign who recently reported that DNA-wrapped carbon nanotubes could serve as sensors in living cells now say the tiny tubes can be used to target specific DNA sequences. Potential applications for the new sensors range from rapid detection of hazardous biological agents to simpler and […]
Training benefits brains in older people, counters aging factors
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Too old to learn new skills? By golly, think again. New research at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign shows that training re-ignites key areas of the brain, offsetting some age-related declines and boosting performance. The findings, involving functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), provide the first visible evidence for a relationship between […]
U. of I. students to build solar home for contest in Washington, D. C.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is one of 20 universities selected to participate in the 2007 Solar Decathlon, a competition in which teams of students from colleges and universities in the United States, Europe and Canada compete to design, build and operate homes powered exclusively by solar energy. During the fall […]
Thin skin, slow-growing gills protect larval stage of Antarctic fish
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Very thin but hardy, unblemished skin and slow developing gills appear to be keys to survival for newly hatched Antarctic notothenioids, a group of fish whose adults thrive in icy waters because of antifreeze proteins (AFPs) in their blood. Such adaptations are important, researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign say, […]
Wrinkled membranes create novel drug-delivery system
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – A University of Illinois scientist studying how membranes wrinkle has discovered a novel system for on-demand drug delivery. Sahraoui Chaieb, a professor of mechanical and industrial engineering, has created temperature-sensitive capsules that can release drugs on demand. The capsules, which can range in size from 10 to 100 microns, can be tuned […]
Two elected to membership in National Academy of Engineering
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Incoming University of Illinois Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Linda P.B. Katehi and College of Engineering Interim Dean Ilesanmi Adesida have been elected to membership in the National Academy of Engineering, the academy announced today. Katehi and Adesida were among 76 engineers selected for membership in the NAE, which was […]
Transistor laser functions as non-linear electronic switch, processor
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The transistor laser invented by scientists at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has now been found to possess fundamental non-linear characteristics that are new to a transistor and permit its use as a dual-input, dual-output, high-frequency signal processor. “We have hit upon something surprisingly fundamental and rich in possibilities,” said Nick […]