blog posts Agricultural robot may be ‘game changer’ for crop growers, breeders Feb 23, 2017 8:45 am Robot may soon be roaming agricultural fields, transmitting real-time data about growth and development, information that can be used to identify genetic traits likely to produce the greatest yields. Changing the environment within bone marrow alters blood cell development Feb 22, 2017 9:30 am Researchers at the University of Illinois report they can alter blood cell development through the use of biomaterials designed to mimic characteristics of the bone marrow. Illinois part of new center focused on vector-borne disease Feb 21, 2017 10:00 pm The CDC is providing $10 million over five years to the new Upper Midwestern Center of Excellence in Vector Borne Diseases. Of that, $1.8 million will fund work at Illinois, led by Dr. Marilyn O’Hara Ruiz at Vet Med. 3d-printed objects serve as sacrificial templates, mimicking physiological structures Feb 21, 2017 8:45 am 'The object can be cast in a hydrogel, then dissolved, leaving a 3D channel network, which can be designed to mimic physiological structures such as blood or lymphatic vessels and secretory ducts.' Tiny nanoclusters could solve big problems for lithium-ion batteries Feb 20, 2017 9:30 am As devices become smaller and more powerful, they require faster, smaller, more stable batteries. Illinois chemists have developed a superionic solid that could be the basis of next-generation lithium-ion batteries. Tumor-targeting system uses cancer’s own mechanisms to betray its location Feb 14, 2017 9:30 am By hijacking a cancer cell’s own metabolism, researchers have found a way to tag and target elusive cancers with small-molecule sugars. This opens treatment pathways for cancers... Study rewrites early history of corn in Illinois Feb 14, 2017 8:45 am The study refutes the notion that Indian corn (maize) was cultivated in the Mississippi floodplains in Illinois hundreds of years before its widespread adoption at about 1000 A.D. iSEE researchers develop new powder to combat oil spills in water Feb 14, 2017 7:45 am Most methods for oil cleanup today rely on releasing toxic chemicals into the ecosystem. The NCS particle leaves fish and other aquatic life — as well as humans — unharmed. Dual-function nanorod LEDs could make multifunctional displays Feb 10, 2017 9:45 am Cellphones and other devices could soon be controlled with touchless gestures and charge themselves using ambient light, thanks to new LED arrays that can both emit and detect light. What does Facebook learn from our 'likes' and other reactions? Feb 9, 2017 11:15 am In creating Go Rando, Professor Ben Grosser asked why Facebook would provide a set of reactions for its users, and what it is gaining from learning more about how we feel. New brush polymers catalyze their own formation Feb 8, 2017 11:45 am Illinois graduate student Ryan Baumgartner, professor Jianjun Cheng and graduate student Ziyuan Song have developed highly branched proteinlike molecules that catalyze their own formation. Climate change will affect carbon storage level, richness in Midwest soil Feb 7, 2017 10:45 am Researchers from Illinois and collaborating institutions predict that Midwest soil may lose as much at 15% of its stored carbon - and thus its agricultural fertility - over the next 100 years due to global climate change. Cultural, linguistic gaps may deter Latinos from joining health programs Feb 6, 2017 4:30 pm The success of community health interventions targeting Latinos could be hindered by linguistic and cultural gaps unless researchers recognize diversity among Latino populations and adapt to it Illini professor, students join cloud-seeding project in Idaho Feb 6, 2017 9:30 am The team is part of SNOWIE (Seeded and Natural Orographic Wintertime Clouds – the Idaho Experiment), a project that scientists hope will teach them more about how to put more snow on the ground. LIS professor writes textbook on diversity issues for librarians Feb 3, 2017 8:00 am Professor Nicole Cooke's new book textbook helps librarians understand the importance of serving diverse groups of people. It examines the political, social, economic and technological divides among library patrons. New MRI opens door to innovative veterinary research and care Feb 2, 2017 12:45 pm Illinois' College of Veterinary Medicine is now one of a few veterinary research and clinical care schools in the U.S. with a state-of-the-art 3-Tesla MRI facility. Feline Leukemia Virus opens doors to secondary diseases Jan 30, 2017 12:15 pm Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is an agent that spreads easily between cats and has potentially lethal effects, causing a variety of secondary diseases that range from secondary infections to cancer. Study tallies extra calories Americans consume in their coffee, tea Jan 30, 2017 9:45 am A new analysis reveals just how much Americans are adding to their caloric intake by spicing up or sweetening their coffee or tea. Illinois technician combines engineering and creativity in a DIY synthesizer Jan 27, 2017 10:30 am Skot Wiedmann creates music on a palm-sized synthesizer he built in just a few hours. He can experiment with sound using his fingers on the surface to create chords and move up and down octaves. Tiny exports signal big shifts in cancer tissue, researchers find Jan 25, 2017 3:15 pm Microscopic shifts in metabolism and increases in tiny transport vesicles out of tumor cells preface larger changes to the tumor environment and could prepare the way for cancerous cells to spread and metastasize Potential biological control agents found for fungal diseases of soybean Jan 25, 2017 11:30 am Fungal viruses could be used to create biological control agents to kill pathogenic fungi and improve crop yield. Artist uses location, weather and other data to create sculptural landscapes Jan 25, 2017 9:30 am Illinois Art & Design professor Stephen Cartwright creates sculptural landscapes from data he collects about himself and his environment. Crop achilles' heel costs farmers 10 percent of potential yield Jan 23, 2017 4:00 pm Scientists assumed leaves at the top of a plant would be the best at turning higher levels of light into carbohydrates through photosynthesis, but research shows that's not the case in C4 plants like corn. Trees an important source of income for rural farmers in Africa Jan 23, 2017 11:00 am Trees on farms contribute an average of 17 percent to annual household income for tree-growing households, and are typically less susceptible to drought and other weather extremes than annual crops. Tool to map gene’s ‘social network’ reveals function, interactions, drug efficacy Jan 23, 2017 9:00 am Professor Jian Peng developed a tool to map a gene’s 'social network,' which could help researchers better understand its function and interactions, provide insights into disease and treatment How children assign meaning to words and sentences Jan 20, 2017 2:30 pm Cynthia Fisher’s research shows how toddlers understand advanced grammar. Team discovers how bacteria exploit a chink in the body’s armor Jan 19, 2017 2:30 pm Scientists have discovered a new type of bacterial enzyme that can blunt the body’s key weapons in its fight against infection. 'Eleventh hour' for many of the world’s nonhuman primates Jan 18, 2017 1:45 pm A report in the journal Science Advances details the grim realities facing a majority of the nonhuman primates in the world – the apes, monkeys, tarsiers, lemurs and lorises inhabiting shrinking forests Illinois scientists, students take part in cloud seeding research Jan 13, 2017 9:45 am Can cloud seeding increase snowfall? This week, a team of researchers begins a cloud-seeding project in southwestern Idaho to answer that question. Climate change affects carbon dioxide storage, Midwest soil richness Jan 12, 2017 4:00 pm Researchers from the University of Illinois and collaborating institutions predict that Midwest soil may lose as much as 15% of its stored carbon — and thus its agricultural fertility — over the next 100 years due to the effects of global climate change. Researcher to develop codes for DNA data storage system Jan 11, 2017 11:00 am CSL Professor Olgica Milenkovic and her team have been awarded a $500,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to continue their work on making DNA a viable data storage system. Botanical explorer discovers plant that survives frigid eastern Russian winters Jan 11, 2017 8:00 am University of Illinois plant geneticist Erik Sacks suspected one of Eastern Russia's native plants may hold the key to breeding cold-tolerant food and biomass crops. Counseling, antidepressants change personality (for the better), team reports Jan 6, 2017 1:00 pm A review of 207 studies involving more than 20,000 people found that those who engaged in therapeutic interventions were, on average, significantly less neurotic and a bit more extraverted after the interventions Robots that can read your mind are a breakthrough for manufacturing Dec 21, 2016 10:15 am Illinois professor Kesh Kesavadas and his team have used brain computer interface to control a robot (see the video!) Will climate change leave tropical birds hung out to dry? Dec 20, 2016 11:15 am In a University of Illinois study, nearly one-third of the 20 species studied in Panama may decrease if conditions become dryer. New book explores forces behind Chicago Teachers Union strike of 2012 Dec 20, 2016 10:15 am A book by labor professors Steven Ashby and Robert Bruno documents how the strike became a cause célèbre for the labor movement in the face of corporate-driven education reform efforts. Astronomers discover 'hyper-starburst' galaxy Dec 15, 2016 3:00 pm The finding presents an opportunity to study one of the mysteries behind star formation, according to one of the study’s co-authors at the University of Illinois. ‘Cultural distinctiveness’ can influence consumer preferences for certain products, study says Dec 15, 2016 1:15 pm The concept of “cultural distinctiveness” prompts consumers to fulfill a need to connect with home by favoring brands or products associated with a related cultural group Researchers work to improve the lifecycle of materials Dec 14, 2016 2:00 pm In the latest edition of the journal Nature, a trio of Beckman researchers review the field they pioneered more than a decade-and-a-half ago and look at the future of autonomous polymers. Study links nutrition to brain health and intelligence in older adults Dec 13, 2016 9:15 am A study of older adults links consumption of a pigment found in leafy greens to the preservation of “crystallized intelligence,” the ability to use the skills and knowledge one has acquired over a lifetime. Report proposes standards for sharing data and code used in computational studies Dec 12, 2016 3:00 pm A report by leaders in computational methods and reproducibility makes recommendations for ways researchers and others can work together to standardize sharing of data sets and software code. Sexual harassment common among middle school children, study finds Dec 9, 2016 10:30 am Sexual harassment is a prevalent form of victimization that most antibullying programs ignore and teachers and school officials often fail to recognize, said bullying and youth violence expert Dorothy L. Espelage. How we can make jet engines quieter Dec 9, 2016 10:00 am Daniel Bodony of Illinois and XSEDE talks about his research on making jet engines quieter for both NASA and the Navy. Conservation effort spreads seeds of destruction across the Midwest Dec 7, 2016 10:00 am Weed scientists in at least two Midwestern states have been reporting for years that a conservation program meant to provide habitat for pollinating insects is sowing bad seeds along with the good. Scientists tweak photosynthesis to boost crop yield Dec 6, 2016 1:45 pm Researchers report in the journal Science that they can increase plant productivity by boosting levels of three proteins involved in photosynthesis. Paper: Enzyme that digests vitamin A may regulate testosterone levels Dec 6, 2016 1:00 pm An enzyme that converts the dietary carotenoid beta carotene into vitamin A in the body may also regulate testosterone levels and growth of the prostate, a new study found. Researchers discover hot hydrogen atoms in Earth's upper atmosphere Dec 6, 2016 1:00 pm A team of Illinois researchers has discovered the existence of hot atomic hydrogen (H) atoms in an upper layer of Earth’s atmosphere known as the thermosphere. TSA could save money by waiving PreCheck fees for frequent travelers, study finds Dec 5, 2016 9:45 am There is an easy way to reduce lines at the airport, increase security and save taxpayer dollars: waive the $85 fee for frequent fliers to enroll in the TSA PreCheck program. Professor studies Chicago's initiative to sell city-owned vacant lots for $1 Dec 2, 2016 1:00 pm Dr. William Stewart, a professor in the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism, recently co-authored a study with the Forest Service on Chicago's Large Lots Program, which sells vacant city-owned parcels to nearby homeowners for $1 each. ‘Nudges’ an inexpensive, effective way to increase completion of health promotion programs Dec 1, 2016 4:00 pm Researchers found small “nudges” in the right direction were a simple, inexpensive and effective way to increase completion of health care programs.