blog posts Researchers look at lessons learned from disaster recovery around the world Jul 31, 2017 1:15 pm There's an urgency to get people housed and businesses operable. But there is also an opportunity to make improvements in the design of a community, its infrastructure, and land use States benefit from high-tech investments, given time and patience Jul 31, 2017 1:30 pm A national study of high-tech industry investments in the 80s and 90s suggests tehy pay off – including in places where prospects for high-tech seems less than ideal Study finds parallels between unresponsive honey bees, autism in humans Jul 31, 2017 3:00 pm 'Our data are telling us that social unresponsiveness does have some common molecular characteristics in these distantly related species.' The bad rap for rap Aug 2, 2017 9:00 am Research shows how rap and hip-hop music are more positive than their stereotype suggests One year of observations from the Dark Energy Survey Aug 3, 2017 10:30 am The data, processed by Illinois' NCSA, verify the theory that 26% of the universe is in the form of mysterious dark matter and that space is filled with an also-unseen dark energy Lizard blizzard survivors tell story of natural selection Aug 3, 2017 3:45 pm “I think this is a really strong and clear story about biological responses to extreme weather events.” Researchers: Too much information can be a good thing Aug 7, 2017 9:00 am In the world of health care, the phrase “too much information”—or TMI—can be a serious problem. But not always Climate change may confuse plant dormancy cycles Aug 7, 2017 11:45 am “We think of climate change as being a slow and steady process; it’s possible that evolution could keep up with a pace like that. But we’re seeing extreme and sudden temperature fluctuations.” Media portrayals of pregnant women, new moms unrealistic, study says Aug 7, 2017 12:15 pm Images celebrating celebrities’ lightning-fast weight loss after giving birth – and the media’s overall focus on women’s bodies during and after pregnancy – can be detrimental One step closer in explaining MS relapse during upper respiratory infection Aug 8, 2017 1:15 pm 'We know that when MS patients get upper respiratory infections, they’re at risk for relapse, but...why (do) immune cells all of a sudden want to go to the brain?' asks professor Andrew Steelman Increased risk of suicide, mental health conditions linked to sexual assault victimization Aug 9, 2017 8:45 am Data shows having been sexually assaulted is associated with significantly increased risk of anxiety, depression, suicidality, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse... Taboo words’ impact mediated by context, listeners’ likelihood of being offended Aug 10, 2017 8:00 am 'Depending on the identity of the speaker and the appropriateness of the situation in which they say it, a given taboo word may have stronger or weaker psychologica...effects' Paper examines links between parents’ earnings, gender roles, mental health Aug 14, 2017 9:15 am Some mothers’ and fathers’ psychological well-being may suffer when their work and family identities – and the amount of financial support they provide – conflict with conventional gender roles. New microscope technique reveals internal structure of live embryos Aug 14, 2017 9:15 am Illinois researchers have developed a way to produce 3-D images of live embryos in cattle that could help determine embryo viability before in vitro fertilization in humans. Harnessing rich satellite data to estimate crop yield Aug 17, 2017 9:00 am Satellite data is being harnessed by Illinois researchers for a more complete picture of cropland and to estimate crop yield in the U.S. Corn Belt Slowing dangerous bacteria may be more effective than killing them, researchers report Aug 17, 2017 9:45 am Illinois researchers have discovered a mechanism that allows bacteria of the same species to communicate when their survival is threatened Paper: Clinical signs best predictors of mortality in critically ill calves Aug 18, 2017 10:45 am Clinical signs such as gastrointestinal problems or septic arthritis may be better predictors of mortality in neonatal calves with diarrhea than blood pH levels and other laboratory findings Cicada wings may inspire new surface technologies Aug 22, 2017 10:00 am Mechanical science and engineering and entomology researchers teamed up to look at cicadas for insight into the design of artificial surfaces with de-icing, self-cleaning, anti-fogging abilities Study links fish stress hormones to whether they take the bait Aug 22, 2017 10:45 am Largemouth bass whose cortisol levels rise most after a brief bout of stress are inherently harder to catch by angling Illinois launches first U.S. nanomanufacturing node Aug 23, 2017 8:00 am Illinois researchers have been awarded NSF funding to launch the country’s first computational node aimed at developing nanomanufacturing simulation tools Ringing in ears keeps brain more at attention, less at rest, study finds Aug 24, 2017 4:30 pm Illinois researchers found chronic tinnitus is associated with changes in certain networks in the brain, and that those changes cause the brain to stay more at attention, less at rest Researchers identify cheaper, greener biofuels processing catalyst Aug 25, 2017 11:00 am Nonpetroleum-based biological fuels may get greener, more affordable, thanks to research that examines the use of a processing catalyst made from palladium metal and bacteria Register: Illinois' second annual Health Communication online conference Aug 28, 2017 3:45 pm The conference will showcase research on the relationships between technology, electronically mediated communication and healthcare. Registration and call for presenters now open Illinois campus explores legacy of the Russian Revolution in its centennial year Aug 29, 2017 9:45 am One hundred years ago, the Russian Revolution “shook the world,” in the words of a famous book Illinois entomologist Berenbaum earns British Ecological Society's highest honor Aug 29, 2017 4:00 pm May Berenbaum was honored for her research focusing on chemical interactions between insects and plants, including the detoxification of natural and synthetic chemicals Hurricane Harvey could speed the arrival of soybean rust in Illinois Aug 30, 2017 10:00 am Hurricanes have been responsible for long-distance movement of rust spores in the past; scientists think Hurricane Ivan brought soybean rust to the U.S. from Colombia in 2004 Scientists discover spring-loaded mechanism in unusual species of trap-jaw ant Aug 30, 2017 2:15 pm Researchers reveal how a group of trap-jaw ants can snap their jaws shut at speeds of up to 50 miles per hour – just fast enough to capture their elusive prey. Illinois researchers capture images in the field Sep 5, 2017 12:15 pm A new book by Illinois Natural Survey History educators, wildlife photographers and researchers Michael R. Jeffords and Susan L. Post documents some of their research adventures. Book of essays considers how religions view other faiths Sep 5, 2017 12:30 pm A new book edited by University of Illinois religion professor Robert McKim examines how followers of a religious faith view those outside of their religion. Paper shows retirees' decision to claim Social Security benefits influenced by ‘framing’ Sep 6, 2017 9:45 am A new paper co-written by business professor Jeffrey R. Brown says retirees are more likely to delay claiming Social Security benefits due to how the decision is “framed” to them. Study finds brain network organization connects nutrition to intelligence Sep 7, 2017 12:30 pm Illinois professor Aron Barbey led a study that found the functional network organization in the brain mediates the relationship between nutrition and intelligence. Study finds biomarkers as predictive of sepsis as lengthy patient monitoring Sep 7, 2017 12:45 pm A new study with Carle Foundation Hospital physicians found that one measurement of biomarkers in the blood can predict a patient’s sepsis status as well as monitoring the patient for hours. What would it be like if the rain from Hurricane Harvey fell in Illinois? Sep 8, 2017 12:30 pm To help Illinoisans understand Hurricane Harvey, state climatologist Jim Angel shows what it would be like if 40 inches of rain fell in the state. Redistricting less contentious when resolved using computer algorithm Sep 11, 2017 9:30 am 'Any legislator who is truly committed to their citizens must consider algorithmic redistricting as an available, and viable, option during the next redistricting period...' $45M to help feed a hungry world Sep 15, 2017 9:45 am “RIPE has validated that photosynthesis can be engineered to be more efficient to help close the gap between the trajectory of yield increase and the trajectory of demand increase.” Changes in nonextreme precipitation may have not-so-subtle consequences Sep 18, 2017 8:45 am llinois researchers found that changes in nonextreme precipitation are more significant than previously realized and larger than those in major floods, droughts Even after debunking, misinformation and ‘fake news’ persist Sep 20, 2017 9:00 am Even in the face of evidence to the contrary, the effects of misinformation persist and can’t be wholly erased, says Illinois psychology professor Dolores Albarracin Infection in pregnant pigs leads to antisocial piglets Sep 20, 2017 9:15 am When a pregnant woman gets the flu, her immune system's reaction could lead to behavioral disorders like autism in the child. Researchers want to know why Classics professor uses 3-D technology to answer an ancient question Sep 22, 2017 9:15 am For classsics professor Daniel Leon, a recent discovery about ancient life in Athens occurred because of what he calls 'serendipity' — and a bit of 21st century technology Click beetles inspire design of self-righting robots Sep 25, 2017 9:00 am The beetles have a unique hinge-like mechanism between their heads and abdomens that allows them to flip into the air and back onto their feet when they are knocked over Tiny aquariums put nanoparticle self-assembly on display Oct 2, 2017 3:15 pm A team of Illinois engineers is observing the interactions of colloidal gold nanoparticles inside tiny aquariumlike sample containers to gain more control over the self-assembly process of engineered materials. Large, crystalline lipid scaffolds bring new research possibilities Oct 2, 2017 3:30 pm A new study reveals a lipid structure that can support much larger proteins and molecules than before. New machine evaluates soybean quality during harvest Oct 3, 2017 12:15 pm The machine, which includes a high-speed camera, mounts inside the tank of the harvester. It takes images of the beans as they pass by and analyzes the beans in real time. NCSA congratulates colleagues on their Nobel Prize in Physics Oct 3, 2017 3:30 pm NCSA at Illinois, a member of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) Scientific Consortium, congratulates the three Laureates Pay-it-forward college financing policies examined in new study Oct 4, 2017 9:00 am Pay-it-forward college financing programs that let students pay tuition upon departure rather than entry may make college more accessible to students in the U.S. To kick-start creativity, offer money, not plaudits, study finds Oct 4, 2017 12:15 pm How to reward creative types for turning in fresh, inventive work? With a plaque or a party recognizing their achievement, or with cold, hard cash? New study says it’s all about the money, honey. Are we at a tipping point with weed control? Oct 5, 2017 9:30 am If farmers could no longer control weeds with existing herbicides, Americans would quickly notice a spike in their grocery bills Illinois’ Gropp featured twice in DOE’s top 40 scientific milestones of past 40 years Oct 6, 2017 9:45 am Two papers coauthored by Bill Gropp, director of Illinois' NCSA were named in a select group of papers that have "changed the face of science" Few hunters know how their duck stamp dollars are spent Oct 9, 2017 4:30 pm Illinois hunters each pay $25 for an annual federal duck stamp to legally shoot waterfowl, yet few know how their money is used, according to a University of Illinois study. Study finds no ‘narcissism epidemic’ among college students Oct 10, 2017 9:30 am Today’s college students are slightly less narcissistic than their counterparts were in the 1990s, researchers report in a new study – not significantly more, as some have proposed.