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  • Chang Liu working in Chen’s liquid-phase transmission electron microscopy laboratory. Photo by Fred Zwicky

    Researchers reveal first real-time look at nanoparticles forming solid materials

    Mar 30, 2023 10:15 am

    Particles can be seen raining down, tumbling along stairsteps and sliding around before finally snapping into place to form a crystal’s signature stacked layers. 

  • stock image of a beagle

    U of I study gives a thumbs up to carefully formulated vegan diets for dogs

    Mar 27, 2023 9:00 am

    Triglycerides, cholesterol were significantly lower in dogs fed these vegan diets. Professor Kelly Swanson says that could benefit obese pets and help maintain a healthy weight. 'Overall, it looked like there were some beneficial shifts from a gut health perspective.'

  • Pinto Bean the squirrel, in preserved form. Photo credit Joseph Lee Spencer

    The return of Pinto Bean, the piebald squirrel

    Mar 29, 2023 12:30 pm

    WBBM-AM (March 28)  Named Pinto Bean by students, the squirrel was piebald - it had distinctive patches of gray and white fur. The squirrel was stuffed, mounted on a tree branch and is now on display in the Forbes Natural History Building.
     

  • outfielder Kelly Ryono stands on second base after hitting a double. She also had a home run and a walk for a total of five RBI

    Bats come alive during Illini’s run-rule victory over SIUE

    Mar 29, 2023 10:30 am

    Five home runs powered Fighting Illini softball past SIUE on Tuesday as Illinois topped the Cougars, 13-4, in a five-inning run-rule affair. 

  • Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker. Photo by Bloomberg

    State of Illinois' new plan to compete for billions in federal funding

    Mar 28, 2023 10:15 am

    A new coalition called Innovate Illinois is led by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, UL Solutions CEO Jennifer Scanlon and U. of I. Chancellor Robert Jones, and includes congressional leadership, which is key to winning federal funding.

  • fifth-year infielder Avery Steiner stands near an umpire as she waits for a play to unfold

    Fighting Illini Softball hosts SIUE and Indiana State for midweek contests

    Mar 28, 2023 9:30 am

    Three games in two days at Eichelberger Field: The Illini face off with the Cougars on Tuesday at 5 p.m. A doubleheader with the Sycamores is slated for 4 p.m. on Wednesday. 

  • image of the author beside image of the book cover.

    How emotional intimacy became politically valued in post-WWII Britain

    Mar 24, 2023 1:30 pm

    History professor Teri Chettiar's new book looks at how the intimate emotional life of families took on great political importance in post-WWII Britain, and emotional well-being was seen as a key factor for a stable democracy. 

  • Illinois researchers including professor Diwakar Shukla, left, professor Xiao Su, Anaira Román Santiago and Song Yin collaborated on a study that verifies that electrochemistry – rather than filtration and harmful solvents – can remove short-chain PFAS from the environment and municipal water supplies. Photo by Fred Zwicky

    Advanced electrode to help remediation of stubborn new 'forever chemicals'

    Mar 27, 2023 3:00 pm

    Study uses electrosorption rather than filters and solvents and combines synthesis, separations testing and computer simulations to help design an electrode that can attract, capture a range of short-chain PFAS from environmental waters. 

  • the hands of a Chinese farmer hold harvested perennial rice, 'Yunda 107'. China News Service/China News Service via Getty Images

    Perennial rice: Plant once, harvest again and again

    Mar 27, 2023 10:45 am

    NPR (March 27) – Illinois crop sciences professor Erik Sacks, who helped develop perennial rice over the last two decades, discusses how perennial grains could bring huge environmental benefits and be a boon for farmers.

  • Shozo Sato, Fury of the Pacific, 1994. Blue tone ink, standard in, and silver pigment on sized, pre-mounted paper. Courtesy of the artist.

    Exhibition explores black ink, watercolor paintings by Shozo Sato

    Mar 21, 2023 1:45 pm

    The black ink and watercolor paintings by Shozo Sato, including landscapes of the American West, are featured at Krannert Art Museum. Contemporary work by artists using traditional Japanese  aesthetics has not been well-studied by art historians, says curator Maureen Warren.

  • Illini batter at the plate with Nebraska players standing on dugout steps in the background

    Hartleb matches Eilbracht's 518 wins with 10-7 victory over Nebraska

    Mar 27, 2023 8:45 am

    The Fighting Illini will be back in action on Tuesday, where they will take on the Missouri Tigers in the Braggin' Rights Game at GSC Credit Union Ballpark in Sauget, Ill. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. 

  • Vladimir Putin arrest warrant seen in press release from the International Criminal Court in The Hague. On 17 March 2023 in Brussels, Belgium. Jonathan Raa | Nurphoto | Getty Images

    What will result from the war crimes arrest warrants for Russian President Putin?

    Mar 21, 2023 8:45 am

    'When the International Criminal Court issues an arrest warrant, it means that the prosecutor has proved to the court that there are grounds to believe that international crimes have been committed and that the people named in the warrant are responsible...' 

  • Illinois professors Prashant Jain, Gloriana Gonzalez, D.K. Lee, Carol Symes, and Derek Holem. Photo compilation by Michelle Hassel

    Five Urbana-Champaign faculty members named University Scholars

    Mar 24, 2023 10:15 am

    Five U of I professors have been named University Scholars in recognition of their excellence in teaching, scholarship and service. The award is presented by the University of Illinois System to faculty members from the Chicago, Springfield and Urbana universities. 

  • an Illini second baseman, sporting huge patches of eye black, throws to first in an attempt to turn a double play

    Illini Baseball opens Big Ten play with trip to Nebraska

    Mar 24, 2023 9:15 am

    The Illinois baseball team returns to action Friday in Lincoln, Neb., where they begin Big Ten play at Haymarket Park. The Illini (10 -7) earned their first home win of the season on Tuesday, defeating Bradley, 6-4, in midweek action.

  • A new mammoth sculpture is found in the same place its ancestors wandered 30,000 years prior. That’s even older than the neighboring Natural History Building (NHB), built in 1892, from where it draws inspiration. Photo by Fred Zwicky

    There's a new sculpture on the Quad - and it's MAMMOTH

    Mar 23, 2023 4:15 pm

    The next, and past, big thing: The great wooly mammoth is back… Visible to all, not an apparition… Near the University of Illinois Main Quad. 

  • stock image of students working on laptops

    Designing AI software to improve student learning

    Mar 17, 2023 1:30 pm

    Can artificial intelligence be used to improve students’ learning—while keeping their data private and being fair and effective for students from all demographic backgrounds? Nigel Bosch and Dong Wang aim to find out.

  • The on-air and production team for 'Illini Sports Night' in a group pose during an Illini Women's Basketball game

    ‘Illini Sports Night’ airs first show on B1G+ network

    Mar 23, 2023 4:30 pm

    'It was awesome to see that hard work and preparation create a live show,' said Emmie Larson, senior in journalism and executive producer of Illini Sports Night. 'This is something we’ve all never done before. It was cool to know we were capable of doing that.'

  • Matthis Besard watches his put at the NIT in Tuscon, AZ

    Besard named B1G Golfer of the Week

    Mar 23, 2023 9:00 am

    Senior Matthis Besard has been named Big Ten Golfer of the Week after leading the Illini to a share of fourth place last weekend against a strong field, which included nine top-30-ranked programs, at the National Invitational Tournament in Tucson, Ariz.  

  • Illinois graduate student Zander Kelley

    Surprise computer science proof by U of I student, colleague stuns mathematicians

    Mar 22, 2023 5:00 pm

    Quanta Magazine (March 21) 'My best idea for how to make progress on this problem [was] to actually improve the tool itself, not to use it in a more clever way,' said U of I grad student Zander Kelley.

  • Drake Westcott at the plate carefully watching a pitch come in

    Westcott powers Illini Baseball to 6-4 win over Bradley

    Mar 22, 2023 9:15 am

    The Illini's first home win of the season was No. 517 in head coach Dan Hartleb's career, putting him just one win behind Lee Eilbracht for the most in program history. 

  • then-graduate student Tyler Kearney, currently the associate vice president for finance and administration at Louisiana State University; and Jennifer A. Delaney, a professor of education policy, organization and leadership at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Photo by L. Brian Stauffer

    Are TV sports networks game-changers for financing collegiate athletics?

    Mar 20, 2023 1:45 pm

    A new study finds that revenue from college sports TV networks increased spending by universities’ athletic programs while decreasing subsidization by other campus units. 


  • Illinois Farm Bureau image of 2% milk on a store shelf

    Dairy, meat demand high despite prices

    Mar 21, 2023 1:15 pm

    The Edwardsville Intelligencer (March 20) 'The last half of 2022, dairy consumption only went down about 2%. Some people were surprised it didn’t go down more, as the cost of those products was up about 22%,' says U of I professor and dairy specialist Mike Hutjens.

  • the famous Tesla Coil concert, a part of Engineering Open House

    Open House Weekends at Illinois!

    Mar 21, 2023 2:45 pm

    The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign welcomes future students and their families to campus for our incredible open houses. Begun more than 100 years ago with the first Engineering Open House, today we have more wonders to see and experiences to share than ever!

  • Coach Shauna Green speaks to players during a time out

    One year later: Coach Green breaks records, rewrites history

    Mar 21, 2023 9:30 am

    Shauna Green has completely transformed the Illini, serving at the helm of a program that set multiple records and made history during a 2022-23 campaign that ended in the NCAA Tournament, something that had not happened in two decades. 

  • researcher Andrew Margenot looks at rows of canning jars filled with soil samples, dating from as early as 1862

    Unique opportunity to learn how Illinois soils have changed over 120 years

    Mar 16, 2023 3:00 pm

    In a dusty U of I barn that was scheduled for demolition, soil scientist Andrew Margenot discovered a time capsule in the form of thousands of jars of soil from around the state, some dating as far back as 1862. 

  • Greenhouse assistant student worker Alexandra (Lexi) Gomez cuts back dead foliage from a Ischnosiphon pruinosus plant. Photos by Fred Zwicky

    Nurturing a tropical paradise in the heart of the Midwest

    Mar 10, 2023 9:00 am

    The U of I Plant Biology Greenhouse and Conservatory houses more than 200 species and 60 families of tropical and subtropical plants selected for their botanical interest or economic importance.

  • Temple presenting her talk 'Different kinds of minds.'

    How do different thinkers interpret the world?

    Mar 20, 2023 11:15 am

    U of I alumna Temple Grandin's story changed the way the world understands autism. In this TED talk, she speaks about the many ways people interpret the world, the different kinds of thinkers and how to support them all. 

  • Mia Takekawa smiles broadly as she gets a hug after her performance

    Takekawa shares bars title, Illini earn fifth place at B1G Championships

    Mar 20, 2023 9:15 am

    'Mia Takekawa never fails to deliver,' Head Coach Nadalie Walsh said. "She 100% deserves to be the bar champion and runner-up on beam. I couldn't be prouder of her and just the legacy she's leaving," 

  • Jackie Joyner-Kersee. Photo by: Suzy Gorman

    2023 Commencement Speaker : Jackie Joyner-Kersee

    Mar 7, 2023 9:30 am

    Six-time Olympic medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee will serve as U of I's commencement speaker Saturday, May 13. ESPN named her one of the 50 Great Athletes of All Time. Sports Illustrated named her Female Athlete of the 20th Century.

  • U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm, right, visits CABBI fields at the Illinois Energy Farm

    Five more years of funding for U of I's Bioenergy Research Center

    Mar 17, 2023 1:15 pm

    'Continuing to fund the important scientific work conducted at our Bioenergy Research Centers is critical to ensuring these sustainable resources can be an efficient and affordable part of our clean energy future,' said Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm.

  • Illinois professors, from left, Jodi Flaws, Megan Mahoney and Rebecca Smith found that nocturnal hot flashes can serve as a predictor of insomnia in menopausal women.

    Study models the causes of insomnia in menopausal women

    Mar 14, 2023 8:15 am

    'Surprisingly, we did not find that hormone levels can predict sleep disruption. We did, however, find that women who have hot flashes at night also have insomnia. (And) women who had insomnia in the fourth year also had it in the first year.'

  • The neuron-based computer. Photo by Andrew Dou, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

    80,000 mouse brain cells used to build a living computer

    Mar 17, 2023 11:00 am

    New Scientist (March 16) A computer built by U of I researchers uses tens of thousands of living brain cells and can recognize simple patterns of light, electricity. The work could eventually be incorporated into robots that also use living tissues.

  • two images side-by-side. Braunagle and Byrd each shown after winning their match

    Braunagel, Byrd advance to Quarterfinal Round at NCAA Championships

    Mar 17, 2023 8:30 am

    Five Illinois wrestlers completed day one of the NCAA Championships on Thursday. Lucas Byrd advanced to the  quarterfinals for the first time, and Zac Braunagel pulled out a third period comeback upset to advance to his first quarterfinals.

  • Babe Ruth follows through on a swing during batting practice. By many accounts, the Boston Red Sox star pitcher turned New York Yankee slugger is still considered the greatest baseball player of all time. He's number 5 on the reshuffled list.

    Statistics, history researchers' new model re-evaluates MLB's 'greatest ever'

    Mar 13, 2023 10:30 am

    'Under this model, great all-time statistics requires that an MLB player is both better than their peers and played during a time in which the MLB eligible population is large. ...The model constructs an even playing field that extends across eras.'

  • twilight on a wheat field. Image via Wikimedia Commons

    Asian crops face El Nino threat, deepens food inflation worries

    Mar 16, 2023 12:00 pm

    Reuters (March 15) U.S. wheat production could benefit. 'In the southern Plains – parts of Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas n particular – those areas do tend to do a lot better, when it comes to rainfall, in an El Nino year,” U of I climatologist Trent Ford said.

  • Junior guard Makira Cook brings the ball up court in a file photo.

    Makira Cook named to AP All-America honorable mention list

    Mar 16, 2023 8:45 am

    Cook is the first Illinois women's basketball player to earn AP All-America accolades since Karisma Penn following the 2012-13 season. In her first season with the Orange and Blue, Cook has put together the best year of her career.

  • Dain Dainja on graphic promoting the NCAA Tournament game on March 16, 2023

    NCAA Tournament first round: Illinois vs. Arkansas today

    Mar 16, 2023 8:30 am

    Brad Underwood becomes the fourth coach in school history to lead Illinois to at least three straight NCAA Tournaments, joining Lou Henson, Bill Self and Bruce Weber.

  • Project Gutenberg logo

    A brief history of Project Gutenberg

    Mar 15, 2023 12:00 pm

    500 years after Gutenberg began using his printing press to publish books for the masses, U of I student Michael S. Hart uploaded the text of the Declaration of Independence to the nascent internet, signaling the beginning of the e-book age.

  • graphic promoting Illini vs Mississippi State on March 15, 2023

    Women's Basketball opens NCAA Tournament against Mississippi State tonight

    Mar 15, 2023 8:45 am

    Illinois has secured the biggest one-year Big Ten win improvement in program history, and for the first time since 2003, the Illini have earned a berth in the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament.

  • A Silicon Valley Bank customer meets the press March 13, 2023, after exiting the bank’s headquarters in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP)

    Did 'woke' investments cause Silicon Valley Bank's collapse?

    Mar 14, 2023 11:15 am

    PolitiFact (March 13) U of I business law expert Robert Lawless says 'wokeness' didn’t cause the bank’s collapse. 'It had nothing to do with it. It’s like saying, "Why isn’t ‘blue’ the answer to ‘one plus one’?" It’s Banking 101. That’s what was going on.'

  • Illinois Neurodiversity Initiative to help students with autism, dyslexia, ADHD

    Mar 6, 2023 11:00 am

    Awareness is growing of the array of talents and skills that neurodivergent individuals can bring to the workplace. INI aims to see that students are successfully employed within six months of graduation, said program creator Jeanne Kramer.

  • Dr. Nelson and a student work with a young boy in the former mop closet turned into a therapy space

    The humble beginnings of Speech & Hearing Science at Illinois

    Mar 10, 2023 3:00 pm

    In 1938, Dr. Severina E. Nelson wanted to start an outreach program providing speech therapy. 'Finally, the janitor volunteered to donate his mop closet so that I could set up a speech therapy lab. He moved to the basement.'

  • softball players huddle on a field around one player who is leading their cheer

    Midweek games against Missouri and Valparaiso await Fighting Illini Softball

    Mar 14, 2023 8:15 am

    The Fighting Illni (16 - 7) take on the Missouri Tigers in a doubleheader today, beginning at 1 p.m. CT. The home opener against Valpo on Wednesday is slated for 1 p.m. CT. 

  • Olivia Howell poses with championship trophy

    Olivia Howell: NCAA National Champion in Indoor Mile

    Mar 13, 2023 4:30 pm

    Olivia Howell closed out the 2023 indoor track season on top of the mile podium. She crossed first with a 4:34.00 to earn her first NCAA Indoor Championship Title and claim her second-straight Indoor First Team All-American nod.

  • The CZ Biohub Chicago will develop new technologies, such as this instrumented tissue mimic, that will use embedded sensors and probes to better understand and measure human biology. Graphic by Janet Sinn-Hanlon

    Illinois to co-lead new Chan-Zuckerberg Biohub in Chicago

    Mar 2, 2023 11:30 am

    CZ Biohub will work to embed sensors into tissues to understand how healthy and diseased tissues function in unprecedented detail. 'This might feel like science fiction today, but we think it’s realistic to achieve huge progress in the next 10 years.'

  • people stand on the catwalk of the observatory and point skyward. Photo by Carly Conway

    U of I Observatory, a National Historic Landmark, still comes alive at night

    Mar 13, 2023 4:15 pm

    People still love to visit the observatory, but it needs work. Last year, U of I was awarded a $500,000 Save America’s Treasures grant, to be matched by an additional $500,000 in campus funds, providing a total of $1 million for critical renovations. 

  • stock image of a young man sleeping. Wikimedia Commons

    Best night's sleep balances quantity and quality

    Mar 13, 2023 11:00 am

    U.S. News & World Report (March 10) 'Results from this study revealed significant associations between optimism and various characteristics of self-reported sleep,” says U of I social work professor Rosalba Hernandez.

  • Anti-terrorist operation in eastern Ukraine (War Ukraine) Фото Юзеф Венскович. Via Flickr with Creative Commons license

    Is Russia-Ukraine war heading toward stalemate?

    Mar 2, 2023 10:15 am

    One year into the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the most likely outcome is a stalemate, despite the mounting cost in blood and treasure, says political science professor Edward A. Kolodziej,  an expert in global politics.

  • Illini team huddles on the court during a game

    Illini earn No. 9 seed, open NCAA Tourney Thursday vs. No. 8 Arkansas

    Mar 13, 2023 8:30 am

    The Illini open their NCAA Tournament run against No. 8 seed Arkansas in the first round on Thursday at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa. Game time is set for 3:30 p.m. CT and will be televised on TBS. 

  • Speech and Hearing Science Professor Brian Monson. Photo by Fred Zwicky

    Study compares third-trimester sound exposures in fetuses, premature infants

    Mar 1, 2023 11:15 am

    The analysis reveals profound differences in their exposures to noise, language and the biological sounds of the mother, with implications for the infants’ development, says study leader Brian Monson, a professor of Speech and Hearing Science.