blog posts Illini Baseball hosts Nebraska in final home series this weekend May 13, 2022 2:15 pm Illinois (26-19, 12-6) is currently in fifth place in the Big Ten and is coming off a series sweep of Miami (OH) last weekend. Nebraska is 19-27 (7-11 B1G) and won one of three at Minnesota last weekend. State of Illinois crafting new, equity-based higher education funding formula May 12, 2022 2:00 pm Crain’s Chicago Business (May 12) Dollars could shift from the flagship U of I system to other state schools which enroll fewer people, but have higher percentages of minority and low-income students. Saturday: Your last chance to visit the Undergraduate Library May 12, 2022 10:15 am By popular demand, the UGL will remain open Saturday to allow folks to visit over graduation weekend! It will be open May 14th from 1-4 pm for anyone who would like to visit the building one last time. Its doors will close for good at 4 pm. Expert: Secure Act regulations seek to dispel 'illusion of wealth' for older adults May 12, 2022 9:45 am New disclosures on quarterly retirement account statements may alarm some workers who could find their projected monthly retirement income to be 'seriously deficient,' says law professor and tax policy expert Richard L. Kaplan. Alumna Lisa Holder White to replace state Supreme Court Justice Rita Garman May 11, 2022 11:30 am Fourth District Appellate Justice Lisa Holder White was named Tuesday to replace retiring Justice Rita Garman on the Illinois Supreme Court, becoming its first Black female justice. Both Garman and White are U of I alumna. Illini Softball: Seven named to All-Big Ten teams May 11, 2022 11:00 am Avrey Steiner named First Team All-Big Ten. Sydney Sickels, Kailee Powell named Second Team. Paige Berkmeyer, Lauren Wiles, Stevie Meade named to the All-Freshman team. Lakyn Wagoner earned the Sportsmanship Award. Long-term study of pregnant women finds increasing chemical exposure May 11, 2022 10:45 am A national, long-term study that enrolled a highly diverse group of pregnant women found rising exposure to chemicals from plastics and pesticides that may be harmful to development. William Trent wins Spencer Foundation Mentorship Award May 11, 2022 10:30 am 'We wanted to tell the story of his mentorship from his students’ perspective... We each had our own personal story of how Dr. Trent had affected us as humans and scholars, and when we shared our stories his cumulative impact was clear.' Congratulations! May 11, 2022 10:15 am This linked page includes the complete Commencement program, links to the livestream of the ceremony, and much more. Alumnus Eli Murray wins Pulitzer Prize with ‘Tampa Bay Times’ team May 10, 2022 4:15 pm Murray, and his colleagues won for their series 'Poisoned,' an exposé of highly toxic hazards inside Florida’s only battery recycling plant that forced the implementation of safety measures to protect workers and nearby residents. Kayla Burbage joins Illini Volleyball for Fall 2022 May 10, 2022 9:30 am A 6-4 opposite/outside hitter from Clayton, N.C., Burbage transferred to Illinois following a year at the University of Missouri, where she started 24 of their 28 matches as a Freshman and led the team in blocks. Professor's new book explores racism in Russia over the past 150 years May 10, 2022 9:30 am White militarism has flourished in Russia under Putin’s rule, making it one of the most dangerous places in the world for racial violence, writes professor Eugene Avrutin in 'Racism in Modern Russia: From the Romanovs to Putin.' Law professors: Illinois should prep for influx of out-of-state abortion seekers May 9, 2022 11:00 am Chicago Tribune (May 9) If the leaked draft becomes a SCOTUS decision, 'Illinois should brace for the effect. Overnight, this state will become a destination for abortion,' write U of I's Robin Fretwell Wilson and Jason Mazzone. Illini earn third seed in 2022 Big Ten softball tournament May 9, 2022 8:45 am Illinois earned a first-round bye as the third seed, and will begin action in the quarterfinals on Thursday (May 12) at 12:30 p.m. CT, facing the winner of No. 6 Ohio State and No. 11 Purdue. Ice-capped volcanoes slower to erupt, study finds May 9, 2022 8:45 am Undergraduate researcher Lilian Lucas and geology professor Patricia Gregg found that additional pressure from thick overlying glacial ice can make volcanic systems more stable and slower to erupt than volcanoes without ice. Miami's Wong shows college sports hurtling toward free market May 6, 2022 11:00 am Washington Post (May 5) 'We are rapidly moving toward professionalization at full market rate for these NCAA players,' says U of I's Michael LeRoy. 'It’s very clear it’s really not about endorsements, it’s about paying guys for their performance.' World's largest softball tailgate returns Saturday May 6, 2022 9:00 am With a goal of filling every seat at Eichelberger Field, tailgating begins at 11:00 a.m. with inflatables, balloon artists, face painting, food trucks, and more. Fans are encouraged to stay to watch their Fighting Illini take on Penn State. How does history suggest work will change following the pandemic? May 6, 2022 8:45 am Following a pandemic, workers historically have recognized the value of their labor and become unwilling to accept poor wages and working conditions, said medieval studies expert Carol Symes. Green roofs are worth the cost for urban residents May 5, 2022 1:00 pm Countries around the world are investing resources to reduce the impact of stormwater runoff. 'Green roofs are part of the solution because they capture some of the rain that would otherwise end up in sewage systems,' says Prof. Amy Ando. Four-story vertical wind tunnel installed within walls of Talbot Lab May 5, 2022 12:45 pm The wind tunnel that spans Talbott Lab’s four stories is the largest of its kind. It was designed to study turbulent flows laden with particles, but it also enables research on wall-bounded turbulence and heat transfer effects. Four Illini Men's Golf team members earn All-Big Ten honors May 5, 2022 9:30 am Among the awardees, Adrien Dumont de Chassart earned his second consecutive Player of the Year award and head coach Mike Small took home his 12th B1G Coach of the Year laurel overall, and his 11th of 13 dating back to 2009. Professor Nancy Sottos elected to National Academy of Sciences May 4, 2022 11:45 am Election to the NAS is one of the highest professional honors a scientist can receive. Sottos is also a member of the National Academy of Engineering, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Artificial intelligence produces a recipe for lower-carbon concrete May 4, 2022 10:30 am 'We designed new formulations that nearly halve the carbon requirements of concrete yet are just as strong or stronger than traditional formulations. Given the popularity of concrete, there is a global scale of potential applications.' Supreme Court leak investigation will be led by U of I Law alumna May 4, 2022 10:15 am Bloomberg Law (May 3) Col. Gail A. Curley, who earned a law degree from U of I in 1999, will lead the probe of the leak of a draft opinion that would overturn abortion rights in the U.S. by striking down a 1973 landmark Supreme Court decision. Illini Baseball wins Tuesday night battle with Indiana State May 4, 2022 9:00 am The Fighting Illini won the second game of the season against Indiana State on Tuesday night, 6-3. Jacob Campbell and Cam McDonald led the Illini at the plate, driving in a combined three runs while both tallied hits in the win. First major breakthrough for U of I's Molecule Maker Lab May 3, 2022 2:00 pm It would have been a tedious process using conventional methods. The Molecule Maker Lab made it easier because it’s designed to facilitate molecular discovery research that requires testing of large numbers of molecules. Corn genetic heritage the strongest driver of chemical defenses against munching bugs May 3, 2022 1:30 pm University of Illinois researchers compared how different corn varieties responded to chewing insects in the presence of a soil bacterium. Countries will solve the chip crisis by working together, not by acting alone May 3, 2022 1:00 pm Fortune (April 29) Illinois professor Rakesh Kumar writes, 'The solution to the chip shortage isn’t to increase onshore production, but rather to deepen supply chains, even if only between like-minded countries.' DIA discontinues exploration of Division 1 men’s ice hockey May 3, 2022 8:45 am To date, we have been unable to generate the financial support necessary to greenlight the project — a concern that grew even more daunting through the pandemic, when we saw cost projections for the new facility increase by 30%. Will Russian invasion of Ukraine spark a global food crisis? May 3, 2022 8:00 am Professor Scott Irwin: 'On the international front, the invasion of Ukraine is having a major impact on worldwide grain, livestock and food markets because of the role of the Black Sea region as a major supplier of the world’s grain needs.' How a billionaires boys’ club came to dominate the public square May 2, 2022 12:15 pm Washington Post (May 1) 'Even if Elon Musk was the smartest person on earth, had the best heart, had been touched by God, I wouldn’t want him to have that much power,' said U of I professor Robert McChesney. 'It's antithetical to democratic political theory.' I-Rural: Helping communities meet increased demand for rural tourism May 2, 2022 10:45 am 'Many people traveled to rural destinations with low population densities during the pandemic, allowing (Illinois) communities to reimagine their potential for tourism development,' says recreation, sport and tourism professor Sharon Zou. . Marching Illini Director Barry Houser: The Attitude of Gratitude May 2, 2022 9:00 am Barry L. Houser, director of the Marching Illini, answers the Proust Questionnaire. Illini Men's Golf wins seventh straight B1G Championship May 2, 2022 8:30 am The team made history on Sunday, battling windy conditions in a back-and-forth contest to overtake Michigan State and secure the Big Ten Championship for a conference-record seventh consecutive season, and the 12th in the last 13 years. People infected with COVID remain contagious up to nine days after testing positive Apr 29, 2022 1:45 pm UPI (April 28) A new study at the University of Illinois may help explain why the COVID virus appears to spread so easily - and quickly - in some cases but not in others. Commencement Speaker Jill Ellis: U of I coach to two-time World Cup champion Apr 29, 2022 1:00 pm Jill Ellis, who won back-to-back FIFA Women’s World Cups as coach of the U.S. Women’s National Team, will serve as the Illinois University-wide Commencement speaker Saturday, May 14, at 9:30 a.m. in Memorial Stadium. Illini Women's Tennis advances in B1G Tournament with win over Iowa Apr 29, 2022 9:30 am The Illini battled Iowa for over three hours until freshman Kasia Treiber sealed the 4-3 win with a three-set victory in the second round of the conference tournament. The Illini advance to the quarterfinals, playing Wisconsin Friday at 6 p.m. CT. Older Latinos redefine family to include friends, neighbors, community members Apr 29, 2022 9:15 am Latinos view the support of friends, neighbors and other community members as so vital to their well-being in later life that they redefine these relationships as family, according to new research from U of I social work professor Lissette Piedra. Two elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences Apr 29, 2022 8:45 am Materials science and engineering professor Nancy Sottos and history professor Maria Todorova have been elected to the AAAS in recognition of their accomplishments and leadership in academia, the arts, industry, public policy and research. Study tracks COVID-19 infection dynamics in adults Apr 28, 2022 10:30 am 'We capture the most complete, high-resolution, quantitative picture of how SARS-CoV-2 replicates and sheds in people during natural infection. There are no other data like this,' said U. of I. microbiology professor Christopher B. Brooke Gas, blasts, and a mystery of star formation Apr 28, 2022 9:45 am Post-starburst galaxies were previously thought to scatter all of their gas and dust in violent bursts of energy. A study co-authored by a U of I astronomer reveals that these galaxies don’t scatter all of their star-forming fuel after all. Fifth-seeded Illini Women’s Tennis ready for Big Ten Tournament Apr 28, 2022 9:30 am After finishing the regular season in a tie for third place in the conference, the women's tennis team shifts its focus to the Big Ten Championships, held at the Hawkeye Tennis & Recreation Center in Iowa City, April 27-May 1. U of I alumnae, professor preserving Ukrainian cultural heritage online Apr 28, 2022 9:15 am The Saving Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Online project aims to preserve digital records when web servers, physical records and objects are at risk of being destroyed by Russian attacks on Ukraine. Illinois students receive Critical Language Scholarships Apr 28, 2022 8:45 am The U.S. Department of State program provides full scholarships to U.S. undergraduate and graduate students to spend eight to 10 weeks abroad, with an expectation that they'll use their language skills in their future careers. School of Music celebrates 125th anniversary with weekend of special concerts Apr 27, 2022 10:00 am The Illinois School of Music will celebrate its 125th anniversary from April 29 to May 1, 2022, with a weekend of special concerts that demonstrate the talent and range of its students, faculty, alumni, and community performers. Flying taxi cabs in the near future? Researcher Naira Hovakimyan says, 'Heads up' Apr 27, 2022 9:45 am For years, Hovakimyan's L1 adaptive flight control system has provided maneuverability and safety in airplanes, vastly outperforming human pilots in challenging conditions. This technology is key to making trustworthy small autonomous aircraft. Illini Baseball set to play Bradley in Peoria tonight Apr 27, 2022 8:30 am The Illinois baseball team travels to Bradley for a midweek night game against the Braves. Illinois (20-17, 11-4) is coming off their first B1G series loss of the season against Maryland. How the media profited from ‘restricted’ neighborhoods that barred Black buyers Apr 26, 2022 11:15 am The Philadelphia Inquirer (April 26) 'The population in the city shifted from the ‘20s (onward) and, from the beginning, elite newspapers’ readers were the white flight audience,' says U of I journalism professor Nikki Usher. Men's Golf closes regular season with impressive tournament win Apr 26, 2022 8:45 am The win at the Robert Kepler Intercollegiate at Columbus Country Club secures the Illini's third team title for the 2021-22 season. They now turn their attention to the championship season - starting with the B1G championship this weekend. Illinoisans urged to remove bird feeders until avian flu subsides Apr 25, 2022 12:00 pm Chicago Tribune (April 22) U of I's Kenneth Koelkebeck says backyard chickens are just as susceptible as the large commercial farms to bird flu outbreaks. 'It’s like a quarantine situation,' he says.