blog posts Valuable antibody patents vulnerable to overly broad doctrinal shift in patent law Aug 17, 2022 10:30 am A U of I legal scholar who studies intellectual property protection for advanced biotechnologies advocates for a middle ground in patent claims involving antibodies, the backbone of modern bioscience. U.S. Transportation Secretary Buttigieg here to support transportation infrastructure research Aug 1, 2023 10:30 am The new Transportation Infrastructure Precast Innovation Center got 'a dose of encouragement and excitement about the mission we are undertaking' with a visit from Buttigieg, Rep. Nikki Budzinski, and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin on Monday. US test scores fell during the pandemic - but experts say don't blame school closings Oct 25, 2022 10:45 am Salon (Oct. 25) "Even when instruction was being provided...students and staff may have been dealing with issues that meant there was less focus on conventional academics, or that instruction may have been less effective,' says U of I's Paul Bruno. USS Illinois: The forgotten Iowa-class battleship the Navy never finished Feb 23, 2024 8:45 am The National Interest (Feb. 21) The ship’s bell was finished, and you can see the bell at the U. of I.’s Memorial Stadium, where Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps students strike the bell to signal touchdowns. U.S. Senate signals support for amended Respect for Marriage Act Nov 18, 2022 11:15 am Deseret News (Nov. 16) Federal law defines marriage as between a man and a woman. 'Those laws still sit on the books. The Supreme Court says, "Thou shalt not enforce that law," but those laws should come off the books,' says Robin Fretwell Wilson. Using a 19th-century hand press to teach history of printing Dec 8, 2022 9:45 am 'I want students to literally get their hands on historical technology. Rather than talking about how print worked, students do these things – set print, bind books and use computer technology,' says Professor Ryan Cordell. U.S. firm to build world’s largest GenAI platform exclusively for health Nov 8, 2023 2:00 pm The Hindu (Nov. 8) Vizzhy Inc. has decided to invest over $12.5 million in a center to investigate metabolic diseases led by Narendra Ahuja, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Illinois. U.S. deaths involving meth are skyrocketing, fentanyl a big factor Feb 22, 2023 11:15 am HealthDay News (Feb. 21) 'The staggering increase in methamphetamine-related deaths in the United States is largely now driven by the co-involvement of street opioids,' says U of I epidemiology professor Rachel Hoopsick. USDA will triple its investment in 'climate-smart' agriculture to reduce carbon emissions Sep 16, 2022 10:00 am Marketplace (Sept. 15) So, what exactly does that mean? 'We’re trying to figure that out,' says Jonathan Coppess, an agricultural economist at the U. of I. 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. USDA confirms cow-to-cow transmission a factor in bird flu spread Apr 22, 2024 11:15 am Reuters (April 19) 'Those of us who have worked with influenza for a long time were fairly quickly saying, "Yep it moves cow to cow,"'says Illinois Professor Jim Lowe. 'You can’t explain the epidemiology any other way.' Urban gardens' tomatoes safe from soil lead. Gardeners, unfortunately, are not Jul 22, 2022 9:30 am Scientists don’t know much about how crops take up and accumulate lead, but new U of I research in Chicago backyard gardens shows tomatoes are likely safe to eat, even when grown in highly lead-contaminated soils. Up next for Illini Soccer: Hosting Missouri on Thursday night Sep 7, 2022 10:30 am Illinois soccer continues its five-match homestand at Demirjian Park with matches against Missouri on Thursday, Sept. 8, at 7 p.m. CT and against in-state opponent Loyola on Sunday, Sept. 11, at 1 p.m. CT. Upcoming heat wave could scorch corn crops, experts fear Aug 3, 2022 10:15 am The Hill (Aug. 2) – Another major heat wave this week could damage corn crops, experts fear. 'We’re used to high yields getting higher every year and it’s certainly possible that this year might not hit that goal,' says emeritus professor Emerson Nafziger. U of I to lead National Artificial Intelligence Research Institute focused on STEM learning May 5, 2023 10:45 am The National Science Foundation announced today it is awarding $20 million over five years to establish the Inclusive and Intelligent Technologies for Education (INVITE) Institute, based in the College of Education at the Urbana campus. U of I to lead feasibility studies on units that pull CO2 from air Aug 15, 2023 2:15 pm Direct Air Capture is a process that separates carbon dioxide from the air, helping to reduce legacy CO2 in the atmosphere. The separated CO2 can then be safely and permanently stored deep underground or converted into products like concrete. U of I teams to participate in national program to advocate undergrad research Oct 17, 2022 8:00 am Four teams of Illinois faculty, staff, and undergraduate researchers were selected to take part in a new program to build national awareness of the benefits of undergraduate research as a high-impact educational practice. U of I team helps DOD develop better analysis, design procedures for rail, roads Feb 22, 2023 11:30 am Civil and Environmental Engineering researchers will help the Department of Defense develop better systems to evaluate the structural health of rail lines and modernize pavement design and evaluation procedures. U of I team develops automated platform for plasmid production May 16, 2022 2:45 pm These small, circular DNA molecules are well known for their applications in the production of therapeutic proteins like insulin, but designing and constructing them has been one of the most time-consuming, labor-intensive steps in biology research. U of I team central to NSF project researching flow of Earth’s mantle Dec 22, 2022 11:15 am A National Science Foundation project is exploring the microphysical activities of rocks that affect the Earth's upper mantle. 'Our modeling sits at the intersection of all this work. It's at the heart of the scientific process behind this project.' 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.' U of I study finds Illinois workers' wages would rise if amendment passes Aug 11, 2022 10:45 am Study says guaranteeing 'fundamental right' to collectively bargain would boost wages, improve working conditions. Also, 'When you protect worker rights, you actually attract people into that workplace,' says labor expert Robert Bruno. U of I study: Asian tiger mosquito more rampant in Illinois than previously thought Sep 9, 2022 10:15 am The Center Square (Sept. 7) 'It’s just an incredibly annoying mosquito,' entomologist Chris Stone says. 'It’s a very aggressive biter. It bites during the daytime, so it really has the potential to be noticed and reduce people’s quality of life.' U of I student wins Apple Swift Student Challenge May 2, 2024 9:30 am WBBM-TV (video; April 30) — Illinois computer science student Michael Parekh is being recognized for creating an app to help others understand how to respond to cardiac arrest. U of I students win second place in food science competition with 'Churroats' Aug 28, 2023 1:30 pm 'Churroats' are a rethinking of churros, made with oat pulp and baked instead of deep fried for a lower-fat snack. Oat pulp is a residue from the production of oat milk; it degrades quickly and usually goes to waste. U of I student’s research reveals signaling molecule key to activating hair regrowth Aug 3, 2022 10:30 am New research by a Carle Illinois College of Medicine student may unlock new naturally occurring treatments for patients with hair loss. 'The genetic basis for understanding how hair follicles can be reactivated has been a mystery until now.' U of I students bring volunteer force to Special Olympics’ 'Medfest' Jan 17, 2024 12:45 pm 'Thinking back to when I was at the U. of I., I wish I would’ve done stuff like this. They drove up two hours to spend the day with us—the athletes loved them,' said Melissa Garritano, senior director of Special Olympics in the Chicagoland area. U of I student named Young Innovator of the Year for gynecological cancer innovation Oct 4, 2023 10:45 am A Carle Illinois College of Medicine student was named Young Innovator of the Year for her presentation on a new way to detect human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer with a simple test that provides results within 15 minutes. U of I's talking robot heads like gossip and could help us understand hearing better May 10, 2023 4:15 pm ZME Science (May 10) Researchers at U of I's Augmented Listening Laboratory unveiled a collection of bizarre 3D-printed talking robots, which are used to study how our ears receive sound when multiple conversations happen simultaneously. U of I's new Center for Sustainable Aviation: Not just about reducing carbon emissions Oct 19, 2022 2:30 pm Conversations about making aviation more sustainable typically land on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and reliance on fossil fuel resources. Those are primary factors, but Center director Phillip Ansell is taking a more holistic approach. U of I's famous Engineering Open House, April 5 & 6 Apr 1, 2024 10:00 am For the past 100+ years EOH has drawn hundreds of thousands of visitors to the University of Illinois and provided a unique outlet for visitors to explore engineering. Welcome to EOH 2024. U of I's Discovery Partners Institute will launch cannabis research facility Dec 16, 2022 11:30 am Green Market Report (Dec. 15) Given its strengths in agriculture, genomics, medicine, 'It’s a natural for us to be a gathering point' for cannabis research, says DPI director Bill Jackson. 'It’s an industry Illinois wants to win in, ...that’s going to be sizable.' U of I scientist to serve on White House task force on carbon capture, storage Apr 6, 2023 8:15 am Task force members will provide recommendations on federal permits of carbon dioxide pipelines. The capture of manmade CO2 can potentially reduce pollution and make further progress on the goal of a net-zero emissions economy by 2050. U of I's Center for Children's Books announces Blue Ribbon Winners Jan 5, 2023 10:15 am 'Readers will find a healthy variety of subjects and genres, and we even have a bonus of short story collections, a format we are always thrilled to see thrive,' says editor Kate Quealy-Gainer. U of I's ballbot wheelchair may be the future of mobility assistance Mar 22, 2023 9:45 am The ballbot wheelchair may be the future of mobility assistance. Researchers from across the U of I have created a robotic wheelchair that uses a single, rolling ball to provide a handsfree, intuitive, and flexible device for users. U of I's Agronomy Day growing to include pop-up events and more May 25, 2022 11:45 am In its 65th year, Illinois’ 'Agronomy Day' is a day no more. Instead, College of ACES will host a series of events all season long, including traditional field days as well as new pop-up tailgate events and shade tree talks. U of I research to boost astronaut fitness on NASA’s mission to Mars Dec 13, 2022 11:30 am Beckman Institute researchers will explore the regenerative power of cells in space. Their research will help protect human health aboard Orion, the spacecraft destined to ferry astronauts from the Earth to the moon and Mars. U of I research: Reading for pleasure can strengthen memory in older adults Dec 7, 2022 12:00 pm Reading is simultaneously engaging and relaxing, and it’s fun to do alone or with friends. Now researchers say reading may help preserve memory skills as people — and their brains — grow older. U of I researchers work with Native Americans to curate to oral histories Jun 12, 2023 9:00 am Researchers at Illinois are working with Native American tribes across the country to digitize oral histories and ethnographic materials collected from tribal members and to make them accessible online. U of I researchers working to convert biowaste into pavement Jan 17, 2023 12:00 pm '(Our process) mimics petroleum formation in nature, where biowaste buried deep underground gradually turns into crude oil over millions of years. In the HTL reactor, the process takes less than an hour,' says principal investigator Yuanhui Zhang. U of I researchers warn of historic blight in Illinois cucurbit crops Jul 25, 2023 11:00 am FarmWeek (July 25) Plant disease specialists say the infection could wipe out cucurbit crops like pumpkins and cucumbers. 'Start [checking] from the beginning because curing disease is almost impossible but protecting plants is easier.' U of I researchers use Amazon Web Services to prototype flood prediction model for Appalachia Feb 29, 2024 11:45 am Reserachers are developing a hydrological prediction tool capable of providing the National Park Service flood hydrographs with 18-hour lead times. U of I researchers show how large language models can auto-hijack websites Feb 19, 2024 2:30 pm The Register (Feb. 17) 'What really worries me about future highly capable models is the ability to do autonomous hacks and self-reflection to try multiple different strategies at scale,' says Illinois Professor Daniel Kang. U of I researchers ID genes that make roots grow toward gravity Sep 28, 2022 11:45 am Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (Sept. 27) 'NASA is interested in growing crops in space, and they need to know what you’d have to breed for to do that,” says U of I's Mathew Hudson. 'Plants are pretty discombobulated without gravity.' U of I researchers have a plan to harvest fresh water from ocean vapor Dec 21, 2022 10:15 am Gizmodo (Dec. 20) U of I professor Praveen Kumar says drought-affected places like the American Southwest would be ideal beneficiaries of a device that would harvest water vapor from above the ocean to supply fresh water. U of I researchers develop new tool in fight against lion poaching Aug 18, 2022 10:15 am The Mail & Guardian (Aug. 18) 'With lions increasingly subject to poaching for their teeth, claws and bones, we wanted to develop software to allow law enforcement...the capacity to examine the geographic source of the lions using DNA.' U of I researchers develop lower-cost method to desalinate water at scale Jul 7, 2023 10:45 am Design News (July 7) Professor Xiao Su led a team that developed a low-energy, inexpensive way to purify water. 'I see our solution as a platform to tackle both the energy and water crises,' says Su. U of I researchers develop a novel approach to mapping brain behavior Mar 7, 2024 1:30 pm LabRoots (March 5) 'If you look at the brain chemically, it’s like a soup with a bunch of ingredients. Understanding... how those chemical reactions support computing is critical to having a better idea of how the brain functions.' U of I researchers develop all-species coronavirus test Jul 6, 2023 10:15 am The SARS-CoV-2 virus has been detected in cats, dogs, rodents, deer, apes and several farm and zoo animals. It also mutates in these hosts, potentially leading to new variants that can endanger their – and human – health. U of I researchers create first high-yield plastic microprocessors that cost under a penny each Jun 23, 2022 9:15 am Researchers developed the first flexible plastic microprocessor chips that can be manufactured at scale for less than a penny per unit. They could help even everyday objects become 'smart' - including your beer.