blog posts The 'toxic soup' in which firefighters work has become the centerpiece of intensive research Nov 16, 2017 11:15 am WMAQ-TV (Nov. 15) 'Smoke is made of a whole lot of different things,” says Illinois research scientist Gavin Horn 'And the smoke depends a whole lot on what’s burning.' Experts: GOP tax bill gives big benefits to business owners, the rich – much less for regular Joes Nov 17, 2017 10:00 am Christian Science Monitor (Nov. 15) 'This is really tiny tinkering for individuals, (while) on the business side this is a major reduction of business taxes,' says Illinois tax policy expert Richard Kaplan Illinois now second largest producer of computer science graduates in the U.S. Nov 17, 2017 2:45 pm ChicagoInno (Nov. 12) Tech employers have plenty of fresh talent to choose from, as the number of local STEM graduates, and computer science grads specifically, is skyrocketing A study shows that less rain is falling day to day in South Carolina. Nov 22, 2017 11:15 am Post and Courier (Nov. 21) That could mean bigger trouble for water users and the environment than extreme storms or drought, says Illinois professor Praveen Kumar Late 1950s: Control Systems Laboratory at Illinois sought to mesh digital with learning Nov 27, 2017 12:15 pm Nature (Nov. 22) PLATO, the first generalized computer-assisted instruction system, was an early demonstration of time-sharing, networking - a 'prescient but doomed 1960s US computer network' On Reuters list of the 100 most innovative universities in the world, U of I System ranks No. 25 Nov 28, 2017 11:15 am The news service highlighted a new Caterpillar-run data innovation lab at the UI Research Park, and EnterpriseWorks, a tech incubator that turns faculty research into startups Worst terror attack in recent Egyptian history has highlighted the threat posed to Sufis there Nov 29, 2017 11:45 am The National (Nov. 28) Unlike Shiites, Sufism is not a specific sect of Islam. 'It’s about as difficult to define as Islam itself, because it’s that vast,' says Illinois professor Valerie Hoffman U of I System has expanded its guaranteed admission program with City Colleges of Chicago Dec 4, 2017 9:30 am U.S. News & World Report (Nov. 30) President Tim Killeen announced that eligible City Colleges alumni will be guaranteed admission at any of the system’s three campuses Blueberries prevent high blood pressure, heart disease and cancer while also combatting aging Dec 6, 2017 12:15 pm Longevity (Dec. 6) Illinois study on prostate cancer showed the anthocyanins found in blueberries may attack cancer-causing free radicals and prevent tumor cells from forming In 1997, two apps were in the process of taking over the internet. Both had roots at Illinois Dec 7, 2017 1:00 pm Motherboard (Dec. 6) One of those applications, Netscape, became a bedrock of how we surf the web. The other, Eudora, put a graphical twist on email Illinois study suggests aerobic excercise changes the makeup of the microbes in our gut Dec 11, 2017 2:30 pm Business Insider (Dec. 10) 'These are the first studies to show that exercise can have an effect on your gut independent of diet or other factors,' says Professor Jeffrey Woods Most black people aren't poor, but the U.S. media tells you otherwise Dec 15, 2017 8:00 am Newsweek (Dec. 13) – The media is presenting an image of black families far different from the reality, according to a new study by Illinois professor Travis Dixon The best defense against fake news? Knowledge about how the news media work Dec 18, 2017 2:15 pm CDC News (Dec. 16) Illinois journalism professor surveyed 400 adults to see whether their tendency to believe in conspiracy theories was related to their understanding about how the media work Simple mantle plume can’t account for size, complexity of volcanic system in western U.S. Dec 20, 2017 9:45 am United Press International (Dec. 18) Instead, Illinois researchers believe Yellowstone volcanism derives much of its heat and power from the Pacific oceanic mantle Researchers: Any snake, anywhere, could be vulnerable to a spreading fungal disease Dec 21, 2017 1:15 pm New York Times (Dec. 20) Illinois' Matthew Allender, who has published with his colleagues more than a dozen papers on the fungal disease, joins the call for greater monitoring, study Los Angeles Zoo euthanized herd of Nubian ibex infected with incurable strain of herpes Dec 22, 2017 1:30 pm Los Angeles Times (Dec. 21) Illinois Vet Med professor Jennifer Langan says the disease, usually found in underdeveloped nations, is rarely seen in the U.S, New study says exercise may change our gut health Jan 4, 2018 2:00 pm The New York Times (Jan. 3) Exercise may change the composition and activity of the trillions of microbes in our guts in ways that could improve our health over time, a new Illinois study finds. Police should be trained to consider someone’s mental status when applying force, if possible Jan 8, 2018 11:45 am WBEZ-FM (Jan. 8) By doing so, officers can potentially step back and realize they don’t necessarily need to use force, according to the director of the Police Training Institute at Illinois Does sexual harassment training work? Jan 9, 2018 11:30 am PBS Newshour (Jan. 8) Illinois' Louise Fitzgerald says ignorance of what constitutes harassment is not the problem. 'Do you reallty think grown men need to be taught not to grope their co-workers?' Illinois' commercialized TerraSentia robot gathers data under crop canopy Jan 12, 2018 2:15 pm Agri news (Jan. 10) 'Since most of the important events on a field start under the canopy, we created (this) robot to help capture the actual actionable information rapidly and effectively' Remember those 'spot the difference' games? Here’s why your brain is so bad at them Jan 16, 2018 2:00 pm Popular Science (Jan. 14) Dan Simons, a professor of psychology at Illinois, says we see the big picture, because if we spotted everything, we’d be unable to focus our attention A ventless gas fireplace is safe to use -- as long as users strictly follow the manual Jan 17, 2018 4:00 pm The Connecticut Post (Jan. 16) But a study conducted by the Building Research Council at Illinois suggests that many homeowners may not adhere to guidelines as much as they should Illinois student's father survived kidney cancer. She sees Illini 4000 as the ultimate way to give back Jan 18, 2018 11:30 am Chicago Tribune (Jan. 17) 'There are many ways you can make a difference in this world,' says Maggie Piazzi. She'll join 24 other Illini this summer in a bike ride from New York to California Consumers see more risk than reward, fear privacy breaches in online ads Jan 19, 2018 12:15 pm Study Finds (Jan. 13) Consumers see more risk than benefit, so they 'perceive more privacy concern, and finally to avoid the advertising,' says Illinois professor Chang-Dae Ham Former Illini coach Lou Henson, wife Mary, given New Mexico State's Presidential Medallion Jan 22, 2018 11:45 am Las Cruces Sun-News (Jan 20) The Presidential Medalion recognizes the Hensons' contributions to the New Mexico State University beyond his years as basketball coach Wary, weary or both, southern lawmakers tone down culture wars with elections looming Jan 23, 2018 10:00 am New York Times (Jan. 22) 'I think people are tempering, and I think they’re thinking harder about what can be achieved,' said Robin Fretwell Wilson, a law professor at Illinois 25 years ago, two Illinois graduate students created the first popular web browser: Mosaic Jan 24, 2018 12:15 pm ZDNet (Jan. 23) Because Mosaic was fast and enabled people to see images within pages, it quickly gained fans. It also popularized icons, bookmarks, and a more attractive interface Illinois Extension receives $1.5 million grant from the IEPA to help reduce nutrient loss to waterways Jan 25, 2018 11:30 am Effingham Daily News (Jan. 24) Extension will hire two watershed coordinators to help producers implement management practices identified in the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy 41 states lack regulations requiring buffer zones to protect young children from pesticide drift Jan 26, 2018 1:30 pm Morris Herald-News (Jan. 26) 'We say you need to be very cautious spraying around noncrop areas, be aware of wind speed and direction,' says Illinois Extension's Dennis Bowman University of Illinois system office is shrinking Jan 29, 2018 12:45 pm Chronicle of Higher Ed (Jan. 29) When its administrative realignment is complete, the U of I System will have shifted 115 positions, $8.4 million in recurring funds to the three campuses Illinois House committee looks at $107 pension bond issue Jan 31, 2018 10:45 am Crain's Chicago Business (Jan. 29) University of Illinois' Runhuan Feng was asked to devise a solution that counted on no cuts in benefits but instead relied strictly on boosting revenues Experts sound alarm on herbicide resistance: For some weeds, we may have no good chemical options Jan 31, 2018 11:15 am Country Guide (Jan. 30) Adam Davis, a professor of crop sciences at Illinois, says Palmer amaranth and waterhemp have gone beyond mere 'hard-to-control weed' status UI launches bioenergy research center to generate fuel products directly from plants Feb 2, 2018 1:00 pm Kansas City Star (Feb. 1) 'We're really hoping to open the door to a whole bio-economy where we're using plants as factories,' said Center director Evan DeLucia Could Robert Mueller indict Trump? It would be the first indictment of a sitting president Feb 5, 2018 1:00 pm Politico (Feb. 2) Mueller may lack the legal standing to bring those charges, says Ronald Rotunda, a professor emeritus of law at Illinois Two-thirds of our electricity still comes from fossil fuels, but solar is growing rapidly Feb 6, 2018 11:00 am WGLT-FM (Feb. 6) – About 1% of all electricity generated in the U.S. comes from solar power, says Illinois professor Don Fullerton. 'It’s not going to take over the world yet' NSF-funded institutions must now report if a researcher commits sexual harassment Feb 8, 2018 2:30 pm Nature (Feb. 8) 'At the end of the day, if the employing institution doesn’t do its job, those who are affected will still be in a very difficult situation,” says Illinois' C.K. Gunsalus New medical school will train next generation of doctors to revolutionize health care Feb 9, 2018 1:45 pm Chicago Tribune (Feb. 8) U of I's Carle Illinois College of Medicine bills itself as the nation's first medical program designed from inception to integrate engineering with medicine U. of I. researchers study how information moves across social media, affecting people’s beliefs Feb 12, 2018 12:15 pm Seattle Times (Feb. 11) Tarek Abdelzaher, a professor of computer science at Illinois, is leading a team that received a five-year grant from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. Brief diversions can improve your ability to focus for prolonged periods of time Feb 14, 2018 12:15 pm CNBC (Feb. 14) 'Brief mental breaks will actually help you stay focused on your task,' says Illinois psychology professor Alejandro Lleras The rise of the #metoo era means there are now many mechanisms of accountability Feb 19, 2018 12:00 pm Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Feb.19) Illinois law professor Lesley Wexler says those can range from civil and criminal action to public condemnation and social media whisper campaigns Addition of reactive silicate rocks to soil can boost crop production, limit the CO2 release Feb 20, 2018 12:30 pm United Press International (Feb. 19) Illinois researcher Stephen Long says reactive silicate rock would do the same job as crushed limestone, but also help capture CO2 from the atmosphere New disease-resistant apple cultivars will soon overtake Honeycrisp in popularity Feb 22, 2018 3:45 pm Agri News (Feb. 21) 'I know everyone wants Honeycrisp, but they’re notoriously hard to grow,' says U of I apple expert and professor of crop sciences Mosbah Kushad U of I's Allerton Park has seen the future, and it does not include state funding Feb 23, 2018 4:45 pm WGLT-FM (Feb. 22) Allerton's unique combination of historic manor house, nature trails, formal gardens and art from around the world comes at a cost the state can no longer support How an Illinois man is trying to change federal union laws Feb 26, 2018 3:00 pm WBEZ-FM (Feb. 26) Illinois professor Bob Bruno explains the importance of a U.S. Supreme Court case that could drastically change labor unions in the U.S. Collecting trash, cutting grass in vacant lots curbed gun violence in poor metro areas Feb 27, 2018 1:15 pm Seeing and interacting with people in your neighborhood on a recurring basis is 'a powerful force' in helping people feel safe in their communities, says Illinois professor William Sullivan Culture clash between LGBT couples, faith-based agencies complicates adoptions Mar 1, 2018 4:15 pm Deseret News (March 1) 'We are seeing...the leading edge of a culture war. And we’ve seen three skirmishes in the last week,' says Illinois law professor Robin Fretwell Wilson UI veterinarians respond to highway accidents in which livestock have been injured Mar 2, 2018 1:00 pm The Seattle Times (March 1) Their role is to assessi the animals for injuries, oversee the safe transfer of uninjured ones and euthanize those badly hurt and suffering NBC will cut commercial time in its prime-time lineup by 10% this fall Mar 5, 2018 2:30 pm CNN Money (March 2) Illinois professor John Wirtz says ads aren't biggest reason people have turned to online video services — convenience is. 'Their expectations are different' Researchers' genetic modification enables plants to use a quarter less water Mar 7, 2018 2:15 pm Japan Times (March 7) Illinois professor, senior author Steve Long calls it a major breakthrough that could help feed the world's growing population as water resources diminish Twitter Demetricator will change how you think about, use social media Mar 8, 2018 1:45 pm Slate (March7) Illinois professor's app hides numbers of followers, retweets. 'People with Demetricator installed quickly realize that they were very competitive around these numbers'