blog posts Germanic languages and lit professor receives Humboldt Foundation research prize Feb 4, 2019 9:00 am Mara Wade is internationally known for her emblem research, research on European aristocratic and festival culture, gender research and research on the urban culture of Nuremberg Study: Gestures help students learn new words in a foreign language Jan 31, 2019 1:45 pm Students’ comprehension of words in a foreign language improves if teachers pair each word with a gesture – even if the gesture is arbitrary and does not represent a word’s actual meaning Microplastic contamination found in common source of groundwater Jan 31, 2019 9:15 pm A new study is the first to report microplastics in fractured limestone aquifers – a groundwater source that accounts for 25 percent of the global drinking water supply Ainsworth wins 2019 NAS Prize in Food and Agriculture Sciences Jan 23, 2019 3:45 pm Professor Elizabeth Ainsworth will receive the 2019 NAS Prize in Food and Agriculture Sciences for her research into how climate change will affect crops Conservation efforts help some rare birds more than others Jan 23, 2019 8:30 am Land conservation programs in Illinois appear to have helped some rare birds increase their populations to historic levels, but other species with wider geographic ranges haven't fared as well Rising temperatures may safeguard crop nutrition as climate changes Jan 22, 2019 1:30 pm Rising carbon dioxide levels decrease the amount of iron and zinc in seed by about 8 to 9 percent, but increased temperatures had the opposite effect Feeling groovy: Neurons integrate better with muscle grown on grooved platforms Jan 22, 2019 12:00 pm Growing muscle tissue on grooved platforms helps neurons more effectively integrate with the muscle, a requirement for engineering muscle in the lab that responds, functions like muscle in the body 'Revealing Greater Cahokia' details research on ancient metropolis Jan 22, 2019 8:00 am Archaeologists painstakingly dissected the wealth of artifacts left behind at Greater Cahokia and, in the process, resurrected something of the history, culture, religion of those who built the city Troubled waters: The dangers facing the world's major rivers Jan 18, 2019 4:45 pm 'Prioritizing the fate of the world’s great river corridors on an international political stage is imperative,' writes geology professor Jim Best Beckman research advances understanding of how readers process language Jan 16, 2019 10:30 am The findings could lead to new teaching methods for struggling readers or second language learners Cilia beat to an unexpected rhythm in male reproductive tract, study in mice reveals Jan 14, 2019 2:45 pm Study finds cilia don’t transport sperm, as previously thought, but agitate the fluid to keep the sperm from aggregating. The findings could have implications for human fertility The secret Hollywood studio that shaped the nuclear age Jan 14, 2019 2:30 pm The story of Lookout Mountain Laboratory was largely unknown because it was run largely in secret, as a unit of the U.S. Air Force. Two U of I professors spent 10 years piecing it together for a new book, website Researchers gain control over soft-molecule synthesis Jan 14, 2019 2:30 pm Illinois researchers developed a new technique that allows them to program the size, shape and composition of soft materials Expert: Trump’s attitude toward immigrants, migratory laborers echoes past presidents Jan 14, 2019 9:15 am Trump’s approach to undocumented immigrants and migratory laborers follows the example of pre-Cold War presidents who relied on racial animus to scapegoat foreigners, says professor Michael LeRoy Adolescent sleep problems linked with being bullied Jan 11, 2019 11:30 am Illinois researcher finds strong evidence that kids who have been victims of bullying from their peers are more likely to have increasing sleep problems—such as difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep—over time Paper: Courts check presidential powers over immigration policy Jan 11, 2019 9:15 am Research indicates presidential powers over immigration have been hamstrung by the courts. Plaintiffs have won all or part of 89% of rulings in cases considering immigration orders that affect employment relationships Researchers diversify drug development options with new metal catalyst Jan 9, 2019 10:30 am Illinois researchers have developed a new manganese-based catalyst that can change the structure of druglike molecules to make new drugs, advancing the pace and efficiency of drug development Environmental greenness may not improve student test scores, study finds Jan 4, 2019 9:15 am An Illinois research team found in a study of Chicago public school students that urban greenery was not associated with higher math and reading test scores Unmuting large silent genes lets bacteria produce new molecules, potential drug candidates Jan 3, 2019 5:15 pm By enticing away the repressors dampening unexpressed, silent genes in Streptomyces bacteria, Illinois researchers have unlocked several large gene clusters for new natural products Camera trap study reveals the hidden lives of island carnivores Dec 21, 2018 9:30 am 160 cameras reveal that several mammalian predators are living on various islands in this remote archipelago in Lake Superior ACES professor: The political history of the farm bill Dec 21, 2018 9:00 am 'Because of the way the farm bill has been put together over time, it’s really a window into Congress and government. When you step back, you see, historically, how regional interests came into play' New imaging tool shows molecular features of breast cancer tissue in real-time Jan 1, 2019 10:15 am Using an optical imaging system developed in Dr. Stephen Boppart's lab, researchers have successfully visualized the tumor microenvironment of human breast tissue shortly after it was surgically removed Study links nutrient patterns in blood to better brain connectivity, cognition in older adults Dec 19, 2018 10:30 am Illinois researchers found a relationship between blood levels of several key nutrients associated with the Mediterranean diet and healthy brain connectivity and cognition Home-packed lunches include more vegetables if children help, study finds Dec 18, 2018 2:30 pm 'Having the child help decide what they’ll eat for lunch may allow the parent and child to work together to choose fruits and vegetables the child is interested in eating.' Workplace discrimination claims fare poorly in arbitration, study says Dec 18, 2018 9:00 am Employee discrimination claims largely received worse outcomes in arbitration than other work-related disputes such as wrongful termination or breach of contract, says Illinois professor Study: Ambient restaurant noise may affect the bottom line Dec 14, 2018 9:45 am Restaurant noise is a common complaint for diners, with some 25 percent saying they consider noise to be the most irritating component of eating out New drug seeks receptors in sarcoma cells, attacks tumors in animal trials Dec 13, 2018 9:45 am A new compound that targets a receptor within sarcoma cancer cells shrank tumors and hampered their ability to spread in mice and pigs, an Illinois study reports Dracula ants possess fastest known animal appendage: the snap-jaw Dec 12, 2018 8:30 am Move over, trap-jaw ants and mantis shrimp: There’s a faster appendage in town. The Dracula ant can snap its mandibles at speeds of more than 200 mph - the fastest animal movement on record Center for Autonomy launched to develop research, education in emerging field Dec 11, 2018 11:45 am New center will play an important role in designing innovative systems that can function autonomously, or without human intervention, in a safe and reliable way Coping skills program for disaster survivors may help children living in chronic poverty Dec 10, 2018 3:15 pm Conduct problems, hyperactivity and aggression declined; prosocial behaviors increased while the students participated in the intervention Study: Early career choices appear to influence personality Dec 10, 2018 8:45 am In a study that tracked young adults over a period of six years, psychology professor Brent Roberts and colleagues found that early life career choices are associated with shifts in personality Planning processes for Chicago's 606 Trail spawned gentrification, study finds Dec 7, 2018 10:30 am When nonprofit organizations coordinate large green infrastructure projects such as Chicago’s 606 Trail, the likelihood of gentrification occurring significantly increases Team converts wet biological waste to diesel-compatible fuel Dec 4, 2018 9:45 am Researchers report they can convert wet biowaste, such as swine manure and food scraps, into a fuel that can be blended with diesel and that shares diesel’s combustion efficiency and emissions profile Study: Boys with social difficulties most susceptible to early substance use Dec 3, 2018 11:30 am Boys who had significant problems in all four domains – social skills, anxiety, learning and conduct – were the most susceptible to engaging in aggression and substance use Eleven Illinois researchers rank among world’s most influential Dec 4, 2018 12:30 pm Chemistry professor Catherine Murphy is one of eleven Illinois faculty members on the Clarivate Analytics Highly Cited Researchers list, 2018 Adoption of mobile payment shifts consumer spending patterns, habits Nov 29, 2018 12:30 pm Paying for goods with a smartphone not only increases the overall transaction amount and frequency of purchases by consumers, it also effectively replaces the actual, physical credit cards in their wallets North American checklist identifies the fungus among us Nov 29, 2018 11:45 am Illinois Natural History Survey mycologist Andrew Miller and his colleagues created the first comprehensive checklist of North American fungi. North American checklist identifies the fungus among us Nov 28, 2018 11:00 am Illinois Natural History Survey mycologist Andrew Miller and his colleagues created the first comprehensive checklist of North American fungi. New sensor detects sarin, other nerve agents, in minutes Nov 27, 2018 5:00 pm Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a stamp-sized sensor that can detect trace amounts of certain chemical warfare agents, such as sarin, within minutes. The research is published in ACS Omega. New grant will provide childcare support to low-income undergraduates Nov 26, 2018 3:00 pm Social support is a significant need for many undergraduate students who are juggling the demands of parenthood, employment and postsecondary education, according to Brent McBride, director of the Child Development Laboratory. Martin Ostoja-Starzewski awarded 2018 Worcester Reed Warner Medal Nov 21, 2018 11:45 am Engineering professor Martin Ostoja-Starzewski has been awarded the 2018 Worcester Reed Warner Medal from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Scientists study puncture performance of cactus spines Nov 21, 2018 11:45 am The spines of Cylindropuntia fulgida, also known as jumping cholla, have a reproductive role. They latch on to passersby and carry small chunks of cactus flesh to new locations. Youth dating violence shaped by parents’ conflict-handling views, study finds Nov 16, 2018 3:15 pm A new study says urban teens whose parents advocate nonviolent approaches to resolving conflicts may reduce their children’s likelihood of abusing their romantic partners – even if these parents also say that aggression is warranted in certain situations. Diagnostic tool helps engineers to design better global infrastructure solutions Nov 15, 2018 8:45 am Ann-Perry Witmer has developed a new computer algorithm that helps engineers who work internationally incorporate the influences of local values into their infrastructure designs Historian tells new story about venerated ‘Domesday Book’ Nov 13, 2018 8:30 am An Illinois historian tells a new story about England’s famous “Domesday Book” and what it tells us about the trauma of the Norman conquest For community college students, ‘nudge-induced borrowing’ increases achievement Nov 12, 2018 9:00 am When student loan amounts were printed in community college financial aid award letters, it led to better academic results and, in the following year, an increase in transfers to four-year colleges Fostering gratitude reduces materialism, increases generosity in adolescents Nov 12, 2018 10:00 am Study shows encouraging gratitude decreases materialism and its attendant negative social consequences, and increases generosity toward others -- often in short supply in adolescents E-cigarette use rising dramatically among Illinois teens, survey finds Nov 8, 2018 8:30 am E-cigarettes are introducing increasing numbers of Illinois teens to the habit of smoking, according to a survey conducted by the U of I's Center for Prevention Research and Development Study: Communities with less variety in housing types have higher foreclosure rates Nov 6, 2018 8:45 am Researchers in Urban and Regional Planning found that communities with more diversity in types of housing have lower foreclosure rates and can better weather a housing crisis Study: At-risk mothers receive less support, information on breastfeeding Nov 1, 2018 1:45 am Researcher Carolyn Sutter found that women who are at greater risk of breastfeeding cessation also may have less access to resources that could provide helpful information and assistance