blog posts What was found in the Illini Hall time capsule? A glimpse of life in 1907 Feb 13, 2024 4:00 pm 'We had hoped that there was a time capsule there, but we really didn’t know for sure until they lifted the cornerstone back.' Sure enough, Jim Hinterlong reached inside the hole and found a small, water-stained box. Strong second half gives Illini resounding road win over Penn State Feb 16, 2024 10:30 am Five Illinois scorers finished in double figures as Illinois took down Penn State, 86-71, at Bryce Jordan Center on Thursday. The Illini secured their third conference road victory with four regular-season games to play. Genetically engineered plants: A glow in the dark petunia, bright purple tomatoes Feb 16, 2024 9:30 am Scientific American (Feb. 14) You can now pre-order a genetically engineered plant that glows continuously. 'People’s reactions to genetically modified plants are complicated,' says Steven Burgess, a U of I professor of plant biology. Trip to Penn State tonight for Fighting Illini Women's Basketball Feb 15, 2024 8:30 am Illinois (11-12, 5-8 B1G) visits Penn State (16-8, 7-6 B1G) for a 5 pm (central) tip-off. PSU is 11-2 at home this season, but have lost their last three games. How can our federal government solve big problems? How about over dinner? Feb 15, 2024 8:15 am The Meadville Tribune (Feb. 14) Jim Nowlan, with the U of I Institute of Government and Public Affairs, proposes the president, cabinet, and four top congressional leaders be required to have dinner regularly to wrestle with big problems. Where do we stand at the two-year mark of the Russian invasion of Ukraine? Feb 13, 2024 9:15 am With the prospects of a more sympathetic U.S. president taking office in 2025, Putin almost certainly won’t seek an off-ramp this year from the war in Ukraine, says U of I international relations expert Nicholas Grossman. Research explores influence of obscenity laws on literary history Feb 14, 2024 10:15 am While pornography is a genre with a long history, the legal category of 'obscenity' was effectively invented for the US after the Civil War in reaction to moral panic about the Free Love movement, says English professor Justine Murison. Student housing has a new mantra: Bigger is better Feb 14, 2024 9:00 am The New York Times (Feb. 9) Core Space’s Hub opened a block from the U. of I. in 2021, catering to students by offering a rooftop sun deck and pool, a barbecue area and a fitness center with a sauna. Illini Valentines Kevin and Pam: Eternal Flames Feb 14, 2024 8:15 am 'I was a pledge in my sorority and the older girls told me, "Whatever you do, don’t sit with a boy on that bench by the (Eternal Flame),"' recalls Pam. 'Because if you do and if you kiss him, you’re gonna get married.' Zeynep Madak Erdogan receives American Association for Cancer Research award Feb 7, 2024 11:45 am 'At the time of our paper’s publishing, our system was a novel concept and more disputed, but as the paper was shared, cited, and tested, our system is now more mainstream in the lab and the field,' said Madak Erdogan. Illini take care of business in dominant home win over Michigan Feb 14, 2024 8:00 am No. 14 Illinois trailed for only 10 seconds and completed the regular-season sweep over Michigan with a resounding 97-68 home win over the Wolverines at State Farm Center on Tuesday night. New Illinois initiative to embed arts into all aspects of university Feb 8, 2024 4:30 pm 'Arts are not decoration. They are deeply investigative, sophisticated practices. I want that to be recognized, acknowledged and engaged with,' says Cynthia Oliver, who was named the special advisor to the chancellor for arts integration. Illinois among top producers of Fulbright US Student awards Feb 13, 2024 9:30 am The U of I is one of the top university and college producers of Fulbright student grant recipients in the U.S . 'It is a great point of pride for us to be continually recognized as one of the nation’s top producers of Fulbright students,' said Chancellor Robert Jones. Join us! Check the calendar of Homecoming Week events Oct 13, 2023 11:15 am With a Homecoming week theme of 'Sweet Home Illini,' the U of I welcomes alumni and friends to campus for a full week's worth of events, from the 5k on Sunday, Oct. 15, through a fall football weekend that culminates with a Foreigner concert. Navajo scholar’s Indigenous leadership research aids educators of Native students Feb 8, 2024 10:30 am Sometimes researchers discover something they weren’t looking for—something as valuable, perhaps even more so, than the original treasure they sought. Such is the case with Oliver Tapaha. Illini face Michigan tonight at sold-out State Farm Center Feb 13, 2024 9:15 am The Big Ten rematch with Michigan tips off at 6 p.m. CT (Peacock). Illinois enters this week in sole possession of second in the Big Ten standings at 8-4, behind No. 2 Purdue (11-2). How Earth's new Rubin Observatory will usher in the next era of asteroid space missions Feb 12, 2024 1:00 pm Space.com (Feb. 9) The new Rubin Observatory may kick-start a new era of space exploration. 'Nothing will come close to the depth of Rubin’s survey and the level of characterization we will get for solar system objects,' says U of I Professor Siegfried Eggl. Allegretti wins Illini-record third Super Bowl Feb 12, 2024 8:45 am Allegretti's three Super Bowl wins is the most ever by a former Illini. He passed Jim Grabowski, Ray Nitschke, Preston Pearson, Howard Griffith, Eugene Wilson, Dave Diehl, and Ted Karras, who all have two Super Bowl rings. Illini complete season sweep over Northwestern in 82-71 home win Feb 9, 2024 11:45 am Adalia McKenzie and Makira Cook both scored in double figures, and Kendall Bostic grabbed 13 rebounds with a steal and a block to boot. It was Bostic's fourth game in the last five that she has reached double-digit boards. NCSA joins NSF's new AI infrastructure initiative Feb 5, 2024 1:45 pm 'The advent of the NAIRR pilot will lead us toward a planned substantial investment in AI by the U.S. federal government when we reach the full NAIRR program in a couple of years,' said NCSA deputy director John Towns. Two U of I faculty members elected to National Academy of Engineering Feb 8, 2024 10:00 am Electrical and computer engineering professor Kiruba Haran and mechanical science and engineering professor Taher Saif are newly elected members of the National Academy of Engineering. Microbial division of labor produces higher biofuel yields Feb 5, 2024 2:15 pm Researchers from the Departments of Food Science and Human Nutrition and Bioengineering found a way to increase ethanol production from a mixture of sugars using a microbial division-of-labor approach and mathematical modeling. Study tracks emerging contaminants from landfill to treatment plant to application Feb 8, 2024 10:45 am 'Once in landfills, the stuff moves into the leachate... We’re just moving them from one environmental compartment to the next without addressing the problem. We never get rid of them; we’re just shifting them back and forth.' Labor leader’s legacy extends beyond the movement to here on campus Feb 2, 2024 1:45 pm Over the course of Reuben Soderstrom's life, 1888-1970, the United States saw the most dramatic changes to how we work in our history—and he had a front-row seat. Why yoga may be even healthier than you thought Feb 8, 2024 9:45 am WebMD (Feb. 6) 'Yoga serves as a sort of brain fertilizer,' says U of I professor Sean Mullen. Yoga 'leads to the release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, a chemical that supports brain growth and learning and memory.' Fighting Illini host Northwestern for Pride Game tonight Feb 8, 2024 8:45 am The Illini Women's Basketball team partners with local organizations for Pride Night, a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community. Tipoff is at 6 pm against Northwestern, which is 8-14 overall on the season, 3-8 in the Big Ten. Freedom Corridor aims to create narrative of region's Black history Feb 7, 2024 1:15 pm Journal Courier (Feb. 5) "So our story — small 'o' — is now Our story — capital 'O'," says U of I professor Gerald McWorter, the great-great-grandson of he first African Americans to found a town in the U.S. Prairie Research Institute helps Illinois build roads while preserving natural resources Jan 31, 2024 10:00 am With the help of U of I scientists, transportation agencies are building Illinois roads in compliance with state and federal regulations, while preserving Illinois’ physical, biological, natural, and cultural resources. World renowned architect, Illinois alumna Jeanne Gang named 2024 commencement speaker Feb 1, 2024 2:00 pm Internationally recognized architect and Illinois alumna Jeanne Gang will serve as the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s commencement speaker on Saturday, May 11, at 9:30 a.m. in Memorial Stadium. Illinois Volleyball unveils spring schedule Feb 7, 2024 8:00 am The Illini open the spring schedule with a match against DePaul on March 8. First serve from Huff Hall is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. CT. Admission is free. Play provides a good brain carwash Feb 6, 2024 9:00 am NOLA.com (New Orleans, Feb. 4) Illinois recreation, sport and tourism professor Lynn Barnett co-wrote a study that concluded that playful adults report lower levels of perceived stress than their less playful counterparts. Fourth-quarter comeback not enough in Illinois' overtime road loss to Purdue Feb 6, 2024 9:45 am Illinois overcame a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter to force overtime, though the Fighting Illini's valiant effort did not prove to be enough in a 77-72 road loss to Purdue on Monday night. Whether a racial minority or majority at work, white teachers struggle with race relations Jan 31, 2024 8:30 am White teachers were often ill-equipped for discussions about racial issues because they had little prior experience thinking about or confronting race in their family, educational and previous work environments. Krannert Art Museum hosts first solo exhibition of artist Jen Everett Jan 30, 2024 1:30 pm Krannert Art Museum hosts the first solo exhibition for artist Jen Everett, whose work explores themes of Black life, family, responses to turmoil and Everett’s identity as a queer Black woman. 'Could you dim the lights?' opens Feb. 1. Black history that isn't taught: Historians share lesser known moments in racial history Feb 5, 2024 12:00 pm ABC News (Feb. 2) 'We’re fighting to ensure the most accurate interpretation, the most factual, empirical analysis of our experience is made available to our people and to the world,' says U of I professor Sundiata Cha-Jua. Multistate foodborne illness outbreaks impact restaurant stock price, public perception Feb 2, 2024 8:30 am Foodborne illness outbreaks spanning multiple states bring swift financial losses, increased media attention and a public-relations hit, says Maria Kalaitzandonakes, a professor of agricultural and consumer economics. Fighting Illini down Nebraska in overtime Feb 5, 2024 8:30 am Four Illini reached double figures as No. 14 Illinois came out on the winning end of a back in a back-and-forth battle in front of a sold-out State Farm Center on Sunday evening, taking down Nebraska in overtime, 87-84. Back from the dead: Tropical tree fern repurposes its dead leaves Jan 29, 2024 9:15 am Plant biology professor James Dalling and his colleagues discovered that some tree ferns recycle their dead fronds into roots. The researchers call these repurposed fronds 'zombie leaves.' Illinois secures a road win over Michigan Feb 1, 2024 8:15 pm Four Illini scorers finished in double figures to give Illinois a 77-64 road win over Michigan. Black History Month events at Illinois Jan 31, 2024 6:15 pm During the month of February, discover a range of events that celebrate Black History Month and give everyone in our community a chance to participate. Researchers explore how tomatoes talk to each other Jan 29, 2024 3:00 pm 'People tend to think that plants are not intelligent, but our studies have shown that they are actively responding to the environment around them using chemistry,' said graduate student researcher Erinn Dady. Toward more efficient LEDs: Mind the (green) gap Jan 24, 2024 11:15 am 'The ultimate goal is to triple the efficiency of today’s white light emitting diodes. And to do that, we need to fill the green gap in the spectrum, which is no easy task,' says electrical and computer engineering professor Can Bayram. No. 14 Fighting Illini pull away for win at Ohio State Jan 31, 2024 8:15 am Illinois pulled away in the second half to pick up a valuable road victory and take down Ohio State, 87-75, at Value City Arena on Tuesday night. The Illini return to action on Sunday evening, taking on Nebraska for the first time this season. What should US policy be toward Venezuela? Jan 25, 2024 10:00 am Professor Damarys Canache talks about the Biden administration’s decision to ease sanctions on Venezuela, the migration crisis and the upcoming 2024 Venezuelan presidential election. Cleaning water naturally the ancient Maya way Jan 29, 2024 9:15 am Scientific American (Jan. 26) U of I anthropology professor Lisa Lucero discusses the way ancient Mayans cleaned their water naturally, and the lessons we can learn from them. Will 2024 be the year of the cicada in Illinois? Jan 24, 2024 10:15 am Cicada expert Catherine Dana describes the variety and abundance of cicada species that will make 2024 a very special year. The overlap of Brood XIII and Brood XIX this year only occurs once every 221 years. Gies ranked top 10 public business school by Poets&Quants Jan 24, 2024 10:00 am Gies College of Business is once again ranked as a Top 10 public undergrad business program in the nation, according to the latest rankings from Poets&Quants. Notably, Gies ranked #9 overall in academic experience. Illinois overcomes double-digit halftime deficit to take down Minnesota Jan 29, 2024 8:00 am Illini Women's Basketball fought back from an 11-point halftime deficit to secure a comeback victory over Minnesota, 73-68, at State Farm Center on Sunday afternoon. Welcome to our newly admitted Class of 2028! Jan 27, 2024 11:15 am Backed by a rich legacy of innovation and impact, it's time to unleash your power at ILLINOIS.. USDA grant supports U of I professor's popcorn-based curriculum for high schools Jan 25, 2024 11:45 am Laboratory Equipment (Jan. 22) 'Using popcorn to scaffold more complex science concepts keeps students more engaged because it’s already something they’re familiar with,' says crop sciences professor Tony Studer.