blog posts Study links sulfide-producing bacteria and colon cancer in African-Americans Mar 15, 2017 9:30 am A new study reveals that African-Americans have measurable differences in the number and type of bacteria that live in the colon – and those differences are related to their higher-than-average colon cancer risk. Robotic arm gives architecture students more fabrication options Mar 15, 2017 3:30 pm The School of Architecture has a new fabrication tool for students to use in building objects they’ve designed. Why do we lose muscle as we age? Mar 16, 2017 10:00 am The good news is that Beckman researcher Marni Boppart is on the job, examining why muscle loss occurs and looking for ways to rejuvenate muscle. Team nebulizes aphids to knock down gene expression Mar 20, 2017 8:00 am The new method of delivering “interfering RNA” in a mist will likely speed the process of discovering the function of many mystery genes in insects Tailored sexual health messages urgently needed for young female tourists Mar 21, 2017 9:30 am There’s an urgent need for sexual health campaigns that are tailored to young women’s motivations for taking sexual risks while traveling, a new study suggests. Illinois coast to get a complete physical checkup - from a helicopter Mar 22, 2017 8:15 am Lake Michigan sand deposits from Kenosha, WI to Chicago are being mapped with technology never before deployed for mapping the bottom of the Great Lakes. Farming becoming riskier under climate change Mar 27, 2017 10:45 am Due to climate change, the Illinois corn planting window will be split in two to avoid wet conditions in April and May. Architecture professor’s book examines the biases in design of products and places Mar 28, 2017 10:30 am Book by professor Kathryn Anthony looks at both bad and good examples of design and suggests ways for consumers to demand better designs for products and places. Answering the biggest questions: ‘Where did everything come from?’ and ‘Are we alone?’ Mar 28, 2017 10:45 am According to Dr. Felipe Menanteau, all of human learning is driven by these two fundamental questions. Newly characterized protein has potential to save U.S. farmers millions annually Mar 30, 2017 3:45 pm "We could feed around 200 million people with the calories lost to photorespiration each year just in the Midwestern United States,” said co-author Berkley Walker Paper: Experienced auditors better at fraud detection after a simple cue Apr 4, 2017 8:30 am "We think that very experienced auditors subconsciously try to avoid false positives, which is why they may need a little encouragement to detect deception," Study reveals 10,000 years of genetic continuity in northwest North America Apr 4, 2017 1:30 pm “Our analysis suggests that this is the same population living in this part of the world over time, so we have genetic continuity from 10,000 years ago to the present,” said anthropology professor Ripan Malhi Scientists engineer sugarcane to produce biodiesel Apr 5, 2017 8:30 am A multi-institutional team led by the University of Illinois have proven sugarcane can be genetically engineered to produce oil in its leaves and stems for biodiesel production History professor awarded prestigious ACLS fellowship Apr 5, 2017 11:00 am Illinois professor Erik S. McDuffie is the recipient of a 2017 fellowship from the American Council of Learned Societies, the second fellowship he's received this academic year. Hidden pharmaceutical treasure discovered in 'silent' genes Apr 10, 2017 8:45 am “...once whole bacterial genomes were sequenced, we realized that we have only discovered a small fraction of the natural products coded in the genome." Tackling a mysterious disease afflicting snakes Apr 11, 2017 9:15 am “Before this, nobody had nebulized a snake. When I told my veterinary colleagues...what I was planning, they said, ‘That’s never going to work.’” Study of sleep apps finds room for improvement Apr 12, 2017 8:00 am An analysis of phone-based sleep apps finds that while most help users set sleep-related goals, track, sleep, few make use of other methods known to help Nanopores could map small changes in DNA that signal big shifts in cancer Apr 12, 2017 10:00 am Illinois researchers developed a method to detect and map DNA methylation, which can be a sign of cancer Study links brain structure, anxiety and negative bias in healthy adults Apr 14, 2017 10:15 am U. of I. psychology professor Sanda Dolcos and graduate student Yifan Hu found brain differences among healthy college students that are linked to their risk of anxiety and negative bias. Illinois religion professor awarded Guggenheim Fellowship Apr 14, 2017 11:00 am Jonathan Ebel will use his fellowship tenure to complete work on a religious history of the Great Depression and the New Deal in agricultural California. Grass fed? No antibiotics? Certified organic? What's most important to consumers? Apr 19, 2017 3:15 pm 'The biggest surprise in the study is that ‘no growth hormones’ is the number one concern consumers have across the board on all of these products.' New scientific technique predicts a climate change scenario in national parks Apr 24, 2017 10:45 am 'We hope that these methods will be a useful tool for guiding management in the face of an uncertain and changing climate.' Engineers shine light on deadly landslide Apr 26, 2017 2:00 pm A new report details the factors leading to the deadliest landslide in the continental U.S., as well as how to mitigate landslide consequences in the future. Research at Illinois: Life-saving chemical detection becoming a possibility Apr 27, 2017 9:45 am Postdoctoral researcher Mohammad Amdad Ali says directed molecular transport could be the answer to both finding low-levels of chemical warfare agents and detecting early-stage diseases. Study: Support on social media decreases students' test anxiety Apr 28, 2017 9:45 am Reading supportive comments, “likes” and private messages from social media friends prior to taking a test may help college students who have high levels of test-anxiety significantly reduce their nervousness and improve their scores, a new study suggests. Brain tissue structure could explain link between fitness and memory Apr 28, 2017 9:45 am A new study by University of Illinois researchers found that the key may lie in the microstructure of the hippocampus, a region in the middle of the brain involved in memory processes. Illinois team discovers a new invasive clam in the U.S. May 1, 2017 9:45 am The new invader is likely not good news for native clams or the river ecosystem as a whole, the researchers said. Graybar opens innovation lab at U of I Research Park May 1, 2017 12:00 pm 'The Graybar Innovation Lab will accelerate our digital transformation by combining leading-edge technology with fresh ideas from the University of Illinois’ students and faculty.' Study offers new insight into powerful inflammatory regulator May 2, 2017 8:45 am The study is the first to show that the protein Brd4, while problematic in some circumstances, also can protect the body from infection. Four Illinois professors elected to National Academy of Sciences May 2, 2017 8:00 pm John Cronan, Jeffrey Moore, Donald Ort and Gary Parker are among 84 new members and 21 foreign associates announced by the Academy on May 2. Anemonefish dads further fathering research May 3, 2017 9:15 am Male anemonefish are the primary caregivers in the nest. A new study examines how hormones influence their commitment to fathering. Report: Even in death, indigenous border crossers marginalized May 3, 2017 9:30 am Anthropology professor Cris Hughes and her colleagues found that people who died crossing the border into Arizona were less likely to be identified if they had more indigenous ancestry. Historian wants readers to experience the Russian Revolution May 3, 2017 1:30 pm U. of I. history professor Mark Steinberg’s new book on the Russian Revolution, marking its centennial this year, focuses on how people made sense of history as it unfolded in their own lives. Modified soybeans yield more in future climate conditions May 4, 2017 9:15 am This research is one step in the right direction towards trying to figure out a way of mitigating those temperature-related yield losses that will likely occur even with rising carbon dioxide concentrations.” Computer-generated doctor explains test results to patients May 8, 2017 9:30 am A computer-generated physician, now under development, explains diabetes and cholesterol test results to would-be patients in videos designed for viewing on electronic medical record portals. Provenance exhibition shows challenges of tracing the path of ownership of artwork May 9, 2017 8:30 am Provenance of a historical object or work of art is important both to authenticate the object and to ensure that ownership is legal and the object was not looted. Researchers develop transistors that can switch between two stable energy states May 9, 2017 9:30 am Researchers developed an upgrade to the transistor laser that could boost computer processor speeds by forming two stable energy states and the ability to switch between them quickly Jeffrey Moore named director of the Beckman Institute May 9, 2017 2:45 pm “Jeff’s research expertise, administrative experience, and dedication to Illinois make him the perfect person to lead the Beckman Institute,” said Peter Schiffer, vice chancellor for research New book gives voice to people who grew up in poverty in India May 10, 2017 9:30 am The end goal is to paint a fuller picture of people living in subsistence markets, and go beyond sympathy to “informed empathy.” Professor Madhu Viswanathan. Antibiotic breakthrough: Team overcomes gram-negative bacterial defenses May 10, 2017 12:00 pm Researchers have created a molecular Trojan horse that can penetrate gram-negative bacteria, a problem that had stalled development of new antibiotics against these increasingly drug-resistant microbes. 1970s program attempted to diversify Illinois library school May 11, 2017 9:45 am The Carnegie Scholars was a group of 30 minority students admitted to the graduate library program in the early 1970s in an effort to increase the diversity of the program. Higher mass transit use associated with lower obesity rates May 11, 2017 12:30 pm Healthy mass transit systems could contribute to healthier communities. A study at Illinois found higher mass transit use was correlated with lower obesity rates across the U.S. ‘Molecular prosthetics’ can replace missing proteins to treat disease May 11, 2017 9:00 pm Researchers have demonstrated that a small molecule can transport iron in animals when proteins that normally do the same job are missing, a condition that often causes severe anemia Electroplating delivers high-energy, high-power batteries May 12, 2017 2:45 pm The process that makes gold-plated jewelry or chrome car accents is now making powerful lithium-ion batteries. Self-healing tech charges up performance for silicon-containing battery anodes May 15, 2017 8:45 am Professors Nancy Sottos and Scott White led a team that developed a silicon nanoparticle composite material for battery anodes that could lead to more reliable, longer-lasting batteries. Photos more credible, cartoons more persuasive May 15, 2017 2:45 pm If you’re creating a message to educate, inform, or persuade, don’t underestimate the power of a well-executed cartoon. New study sheds light on origins of life through molecular function May 18, 2017 8:45 am Scientists traced the origins, evolution of molecular functions and found metabolism and binding arose first, followed by the functional activities of larger macromolecules and cellular machinery. Study links healthy brain aging to omega-3, omega-6 fatty acids May 18, 2017 9:00 am Two new studies link patterns of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the blood to the integrity of brain structures and cognitive abilities that are known to decline early in aging. Sensors detect disease markers in breath May 18, 2017 11:00 am A small, thin square of an organic plastic that can detect disease markers in breath or toxins in a building’s air could soon be the basis of portable, disposable sensor devices. Consumers see much greater risk than reward in online ads May 18, 2017 4:15 pm Illinois researcher says the personalized advertising that follow us online is “a very special type” in the way it elicits risk perceptions and privacy concerns.