blog posts

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  Thinking hands: How gesturing can help us understand difficult concepts

  Nov 6, 2024 9:30 am

  Hand gestures are a common, natural part of human communication. And if you’ve ever seen someone gesturing when on a cell phone or when trying to solve a geometry problem, you know that gestures also help us think. 

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  New book examines the impact of colonialism on Puerto Rico

  Nov 7, 2024 8:45 am

  Professor Jose Atiles' book suggests the Puerto Rican and U.S. governments exacerbated crises such as hurricanes, COVID-19, and spiraling public debt through socioeconomic, legal and racialized conditions they created. 

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  A new milestone in the study of octopus arms

  Nov 13, 2024 9:30 am

  The new model is a milestone both in biology, where it helps explain the octopus’s impressive capability, and engineering. 'The computational model is a useful testbed for roboticists to test their algorithms,' Professor Prashant Mehta said. 

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  Earthquake prediction techniques lend quick insight into strength, reliability of materials

  Nov 6, 2024 8:45 am

  'The results of this work allow researchers to test material failure more quickly than high-powered, detailed simulation models,' said graduate student Jordan Sickle, a leader of the study.

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  Professor’s book explores the relationship between beauty and crisis

  Nov 4, 2024 10:15 am

  Mimi Thi Nguyen explores the relationship between beauty and crisis, and how examining beauty can point to the social and political conditions necessary for a good life. Her new book is 'The Promise of Beauty.'

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  Thin skin significantly blunts injury from puncture, study finds

  Oct 28, 2024 11:00 am

  Researchers found that thin animal skin significantly dissipates the energy of a puncturing projectile. In their experiments, skin worked better than a thicker synthetic gel designed to mimic skin. 

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  Study: Youth action research projects need thoughtful design, youths’ input

  Oct 24, 2024 11:15 am

  Called the Youth Researcher Empowerment Framework, this proposed framework ensures that youth have an equal voice in these projects and connects their projects with the development of 11 specific social and emotional competencies.  

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  A micro-scale look at how parachute textiles act under stress

  Oct 21, 2024 11:45 am

  Beckman Institute researchers used micro-CT scans to understand how stress impacts parachutes on the fiber-scale. This information will be used to develop better models for identifying promising parachute textile candidates. 

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  Waste plastic can improve sustainable aviation fuel, researchers find

  Sep 20, 2024 11:15 am

  'To reduce carbon emissions associated with aviation fuel, sustainable aviation fuel is the only option. Landfill-bound waste plastic can be a source for sustainable aviation fuel,' said Hong Lu, a U of I research scientist. 

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  Study: Good nutrition boosts honey bee resilience against pesticides, viruses

  Sep 24, 2024 9:45 am

  U. of I. researchers wondered, 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.  

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  Urban heating, cooling to play substantial role in future energy demand under climate change

  Sep 13, 2024 11:15 am

  Global energy projections underestimate the impact of climate change on urban heating and cooling systems by roughly 50% by 2099 if greenhouse gas emissions remain high, researchers report. 

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  New book reveals Electoral College strategies in modern political era

  Sep 9, 2024 10:00 am

  'Battleground: Electoral College Strategies, Execution, and Impact in the Modern Era' draws on seven decades of data from public, private sources to explore Electoral College strategies of every major presidential campaign from 1952-2020.

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  More than maps: New atlas captures the state of global river systems through human context

  Sep 10, 2024 8:30 am

  The new book 'The World Atlas of Rivers, Estuaries, and Deltas' tells the story of these waterways long before human intervention and how they continue to evolve in the presence of - and often at odds with - human civilization. 

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  Study: Educators say Iowa’s divisive concepts law complicates teaching

  Sep 10, 2024 9:15 am

  Study finds Iowa’s ban on teaching divisive topics negatively affected educators’ relationships with colleagues in their schools, thwarted progress on equity and inclusivity, and hampered students’ learning about injustice.

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  New relationship project strengthens couples’, individual partners’ well-being

  Sep 4, 2024 10:30 pm

  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.  

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  Study: Creative idea generation at work leads to indulgent behaviors afterwards

  Sep 4, 2024 11:15 pm

  New research written by a University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign expert in work behaviors shows that engaging in brief creative ideation tasks can have detrimental consequences for one’s short-term health choices. 

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  ARPA-H project to pioneer rapid manufacturing of tumor models

  Aug 21, 2024 11:45 am

  Project leader, Professor Bill King, says that the project 'will create a fundamentally new manufacturing technology that uses artificial intelligence, robotics, and vision systems to monitor and control the growth of tumor models.' 

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  History prof examines Nelson Rockefeller’s career as a lens for GOP’s rightward shift

  Aug 20, 2024 11:15 am

  The prevailing view of Rockefeller as a moderate ignored how embattled moderates were within the Republican Party, Barrett wrote. She examines Rockefeller’s career with an emphasis on policies that affected African Americans. 

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  Study: Weight-loss success depends on eating more protein, fiber while limiting calories

  Aug 19, 2024 8:45 am

  Flexibility and personalization were key in optimizing dieters’ weight-loss success on the Individualized Diet Improvement Program, created by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign food scientists.

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  U of I-led project to assess whether financial help prevents repeated child maltreatment

  Aug 14, 2024 9:45 am

  Social work professor Will Schneider is the first large-scale exploration of the impact of financial assistance on preventing child maltreatment recurrence among Illinois families involved with the state’s child welfare system. 

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  Ancient DNA reveals Indigenous dog lineages found at Jamestown, Virginia

  Aug 20, 2024 12:30 pm

  'Previous studies (found) there were a lot of Indigenous dogs in the United States and that they were eradicated. We wanted to understand what that entailed: were they culled, was it the competition with European dogs...' 

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  Fetal brain impacted when mom fights severe flu: New mouse study explains how

  Jul 29, 2024 10:00 am

  'There are only a subset of infections that are going to be severe enough to cause concerns like this. That said, pregnant people should definitely get the flu vaccine to reduce their risk,' said animal sciences professor Adrienne Antonson.

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  Beckman researchers study cicada wings to develop new antibacterial surfaces

  Jul 25, 2024 9:00 am

  Antibiotics are commonly used to treat bacteria during an infection, but overuse eventually leads to microbial resistance. 'It’s imperative to develop durable surfaces that are mechanically antibacterial,' says researcher Yutao Chen.

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  Fear of falling, fall-related injuries haunt full-time wheelchair, motorized scooter users

  Jul 31, 2024 11:15 am

  U. of I. study finds that full-time wheelchair or motorized scooter users experience falls, fall-related injuries and a fear of falling that may cause them to limit their activities. 

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  U. of I. studies converting wastewater to fertilizer with fungal treatment

  Jul 22, 2024 10:30 am

  Creating fertilizers from organic waste can help reduce the use of fossil fuels and promote sustainable production. Two U. of I. studies consider using hydrothermal liquefaction to convert biomass into biocrude oil.

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  Study identifies best bioenergy crops for sustainable aviation fuels

  Jul 23, 2024 10:15 am

  Researchers weighed the many factors that go into selecting a biofuels feedstock to supply aviation fuel and meet various environmental, land-use and policy related goals. 

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  Cousins team up to tackle glioblastoma

  Jul 18, 2024 9:45 am

  Though their grandfather died in the early 1980s, the shared childhood memory of his battle with glioblastoma (GBM) motivates the work of two cancer researchers - one at U. of I. and one at Georgetown - whose mothers are twin sisters.  

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  Study: Consumption-tracking technology a mixed bag for consumers

  Jul 12, 2024 9:00 am

  Consumption tracking technologies meant to avert penalty fees are a mixed bag for consumers, says Professor Ying Bao of the Gies College of Business.

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  Puerto Rico’s anti-corruption laws promoted fraud by outsourcing government services

  Jun 14, 2024 10:00 am

  Study finds fraud and corruption in Puerto Rico flourished under its anti-corruption laws, which heightened the opportunities for malfeasance by promoting the outsourcing of government services to private corporations.

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  Gut microbes from aged mice induce inflammation in young mice, study finds

  Jun 13, 2024 8:15 am

  U of I researchers found evidence linking the gut microbiomes of aged mice to age-related inflammation common to mice and humans. 'It appears that as we age our microbiome might be less resilient to antibiotic challenges.' 

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  Study reveals how 'forever chemicals' may impact heart health in older women

  Jun 5, 2024 9:15 am

  The study reveals how PFAS chemicals interact with pro-inflammatory pathways in older women, providing potential explanations for the increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

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  Why do Dyeing poison frogs tap dance?

  May 29, 2024 12:30 pm

  The toe tapping behavior of various amphibians has long attracted attention from researchers and pet owners, but it's been poorly understood.

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  Chatbots can support behavior change (for those ready to act)

  May 16, 2024 10:45 am

  Large language model-based chatbots can’t effectively recognize users’ motivation when they'[re hesitant about making healthy behavior changes, but they can support those who are committed to take action, say U of I researchers.

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  Researchers reconstruct an evolutionary history of flowering plants

  May 8, 2024 12:45 pm

  Scientists from around the world constructed an unprecedented DNA tree of life that increases our understanding of the plants’ evolution, diversification, and adaption processes. 

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  Nerves prompt muscle to release factors that boost brain health

  May 6, 2024 2:30 pm

  U of I researchers examined the effect of nerve stimulation on muscle secretion of brain-boosting factors. The nerves trigger the muscle to release hormones and mRNA packages that foster gowth, connection between neurons in the brain.  

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  Beckman’s new micro-CT scanner first in the nation with life science applications

  Apr 30, 2024 11:30 am

  With microscopic computed tomography, also known as micro-CT or X-ray microscopy, researchers apply CT techniques to reconstruct samples as tiny and delicate as collagen and insect antennae.  

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  Illinois study: Backyards, urban parks support bird diversity in unique ways

  Apr 22, 2024 8:00 am

  Birds rely on public and private spaces in different seasons and for different reasons, U of I researchers report in a new study.

  
  

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  Emotional radio ads may ease listeners’ qualms, boosting support for organ donation

  Apr 18, 2024 11:15 am

  Radio ads that feature personal stories of organ transplant recipients or patients languishing on the waiting list may overcome some of the misgivings many nondonor listeners have and persuade them to sign up. 

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  Nothing is everything: How hidden emptiness can define the usefulness of filtration materials

  Apr 11, 2024 12:15 pm

  Researchers used microscopy, mathematical theory to unveil nanoscale voids in three dimensions. This advancement is poised to improve the performance of many materials in the chemical, energy and medical industries — particularly in filtration.  

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  Perinatal women of Mexican descent propose solutions to pandemic stressors affecting Latinos

  Apr 4, 2024 3:15 pm

  The women in the study had difficulties accessing mental health treatment, child care and food. Their insights were used to identify programs that could help meet the needs of Latino communities during future emergencies. 

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  Beneath the surface: Charting the Mahomet Aquifer for water security

  Mar 20, 2024 10:00 am

  The volume of the Mahomet Aquafir has always been a mystery, but a ground­breaking technology is giving us a deeper understanding of this vital water source, laying the groundwork for critical, equitable water management and governance. 

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  Greenhouse gas emissions in Global South countries linked with IMF lending policies

  Mar 19, 2024 12:45 pm

  Sociology professor Matthew Soener's study found that Global South countries' greenhouse gas emissions rose after borrowing from the International Monetary Fund using a structural loan, and rose even faster with additional loans.

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  Children’s education included 'mechanical literacy' in the industrial age

  Feb 27, 2024 10:30 am

  In her new book, information sciences professor Elizabeth Hoiem examines how children’s literature and material culture responded to industrialization and shaped the class politics of playful learning.

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  Common hair loss, prostate drug may also cut heart disease risk

  Feb 20, 2024 1:30 pm

  A new U of I study suggests finasteride (aka, Propecia or Proscar) may also provide a surprising and life-saving benefit: lowering cholesterol and cutting the overall risk of cardiovascular disease.  

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  Study tracks emerging contaminants from landfill to treatment plant to application

  Feb 8, 2024 10:45 am

  'Once in landfills, the stuff moves into the leachate... We’re just moving them from one environmental compartment to the next without addressing the problem. We never get rid of them; we’re just shifting them back and forth.' 

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  Multistate foodborne illness outbreaks impact restaurant stock price, public perception

  Feb 2, 2024 8:30 am

  Foodborne illness outbreaks spanning multiple states bring swift financial losses, increased media attention and a public-relations hit, says Maria Kalaitzandonakes, a professor of agricultural and consumer economics.

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  Researchers explore how tomatoes talk to each other

  Jan 29, 2024 3:00 pm

  'People tend to think that plants are not intelligent, but our studies have shown that they are actively responding to the environment around them using chemistry,' said graduate student researcher Erinn Dady. 

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  Aftermath of a distressing event is more memorable than the lead-up, study suggests

  Jan 19, 2024 12:15 pm

  Clarifying the relationship between trauma and memory can improve how we evaluate eyewitness testimonies, inform therapies to treat PTSD, and help clinicians combat memory decline in brain disorders like Alzheimer’s disease. 

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  Skin-deep resilience: Hidden physical health costs for minority youth overcoming adversity

  Jan 5, 2024 10:45 am

  'Early adolescents with high executive function who were residing in disadvantaged neighborhoods seemed to be doing really well with indices of behavioral adjustment over time, but their planful, regulated efforts may be taking a toll on their body.'

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  Genetic sequencing uncovers unexpected source of pathogens in floodwaters

  Dec 18, 2023 9:00 am

  Professor Helen Nguyen says this research shows that, 'Agricultural and human wastewater should not be the only source considered when designing mitigation plans to prevent the spread of pathogenic bacteria after hurricanes.'