blog posts Team cracks eggs for science Apr 8, 2021 9:45 am Illinois researchers assess the factors that a bird must overcome to pierce a foreign egg and remove it from its nest. The study is relevant to the hosts of avian brood parasites, which lay their eggs in other birds’ nests. 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 Team brings subatomic resolution to computational microscope Mar 26, 2018 10:30 am Scientists have built a 'computational microscope' that can simulate the atomic and subatomic forces that drive molecular interactions. Reserachers foresee multiple benefits Team achieves two-electron chemical reactions using light energy, gold May 15, 2018 10:00 am Puts scientists one step closer to building a carbon-recycling system that can harvest solar energy to efficiently convert CO2 and water into liquid fuels Tax incentives target poor neighborhoods but leave communities behind Apr 8, 2019 12:00 pm The lack of safeguards to protect poor communities in pro-gentrification incentives (such as the new federal 'opportunity zone' tax incentive) may actually be a feature of the policy. Tasting no-calorie sweetener may affect insulin response on glucose tolerance test Jan 29, 2020 1:30 pm 'The most important take-home message is that sweet taste in itself may have an impact on carbohydrate metabolism and glucose control,' researcher Yanina Pepino said. Take Zika seriously, but its main carrier isn't as far north as Illinois Mar 18, 2016 1:00 pm Illinois entomologist Brian Allen has been following Zika since its outbreak and is currently working on research proposals to further explore causes and preventions of the virus Tailored sexual health messages urgently needed for young female tourists Mar 21, 2017 9:30 am There’s an urgent need for sexual health campaigns that are tailored to young women’s motivations for taking sexual risks while traveling, a new study suggests. Tackling a mysterious disease afflicting snakes Apr 11, 2017 9:15 am “Before this, nobody had nebulized a snake. When I told my veterinary colleagues...what I was planning, they said, ‘That’s never going to work.’” 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' Symbiosis: Understanding cooperation and conflict in plants Aug 4, 2022 10:30 am Do the interests of the symbionts always line up with the hosts plants, or do genes that benefit symbionts come at the expense of the hosts? Researchers investigate this question through genomic sequencing of plants seeded with microbial symbionts. Sweet-taste perception changes as children develop Jul 31, 2020 3:45 pm While adults prefer levels of sweetness similar to typical soft drinks, children and adolescents are less sensitive to the taste and prefer concentrations that are 50% sweeter. Sweet corn growers, processors could dramatically increase yield, profit Oct 9, 2019 1:45 pm In an industry struggling to maintain profitability, it’s curious that U.S. processing of sweet corn is falling so far below its potential, according to a new study. Survey reveals widespread bias in astronomy and planetary science Jul 10, 2017 10:30 am “Those who study workplace climate ... have been saying these things for a long time. To my knowledge, however, this is the first time that anyone has looked at this in the sciences.” Survey of US academic libraries documents COVID-19 pandemic responses Mar 27, 2020 1:15 pm Professor Lisa Janicke Hinchliffe says the real-time tracking data will help institutions make decisions about access to libraries during the pandemic. Survey finds farmers feel responsibility to protect land and waters Jun 2, 2017 11:00 am Farmers are often blamed for using water-polluting fertilizer, but a PRI study found a strong majority of Illinois farmers believe they are doing their part to protect the environment Survey: COVID-19 vaccine recipients report changes in menstrual bleeding Jul 15, 2022 1:15 pm Study represents the most comprehensive assessment so far of menstrual changes experienced by pre- and post-menopausal individuals in the first two weeks after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. Surgical probe seeks out where cancer ends and healthy tissue begins Sep 15, 2015 4:45 pm A new surgical tool uses light to make sure surgeons removing cancerous tumors 'got it all' Suppression of COVID-19 peaks reflect time-dependent social activity, not herd immunity Apr 14, 2021 9:00 am Researchers showed that a temporary state of collective immunity - 'transient collective immunity' - emerged during early, fast-paced stages of the epidemic. But subsequent surges continued to appear because of changing social behaviors. Supervolcanoes likely triggered externally, study finds Nov 4, 2015 12:45 pm Supervolcanoes are likely triggered externally when the rock around them cracks or collapses, according to a study led by Illinois geologist Patricia Gregg. Supercomputer changing genetic medicine in Africa Jul 11, 2016 9:45 am Members of the Blue Waters team recently made it possible to discover genomic variants in over 300 deeply sequenced human samples to help construct a genotyping chip specific for African populations. Study yields new cyclic compounds, some with pharmaceutical potential Mar 12, 2018 8:45 am One of the newly generated compounds interferes with the binding of an HIV protein to a human protein, an interaction vital to the virus’s life cycle Study yields a new scale of earthquake understanding Jun 27, 2018 12:45 pm Using nanoscale techniques to study earthquake dynamics, researchers found that, under the right conditions, some rocks dissolve and may cause faults to slip Study: Year-round distribution of Earned Income Tax Credit has significant benefits Jan 7, 2016 12:15 pm Spacing it out Earned Income Tax Credit payments over the course of the year can result in significantly lower borrowing, more stable finances and less financial stress for low- and moderate-income families. Study: Viruses share genes with organisms across the tree of life Dec 6, 2017 8:45 am Study finds viruses share genes across the three superkingdoms of life, from bacteria and archaea, to eukarya, a group that includes animals, plants, fungi and all other living things Study: Vigilantism is an identity for some people Mar 10, 2022 9:30 am Illinois psychology researchers developed a new tool to determine whether an individual has adopted a vigilante identity, characterized by a desire to monitor other people’s behavior and punish those deemed wrongdoers. Study: Viewing artists as community problem-solvers increases support for public funding Dec 6, 2021 9:00 am People are significantly more supportive of public funding for artists when they see artists as collaborators who are working to bring attention to and help solve problems in their communities, according to a new study. Study urges alternative thinking about African resource extraction issues Jun 27, 2019 12:30 pm Attempts to solve the conflict over resource extraction in sub-Saharan Africa by imposing Western environmental regulations aren’t working. But it’s not for the reasons most experts might suspect, according to a new Illinois study. Study: Two ancient populations that diverged in the Americas later ‘reconverged’ May 31, 2018 2:00 pm It was previously thought that the first people in the Americas split into northern, southern branches, and that the southern branch alone gave rise to all ancient populations in Central and South America Study: Tradeoffs between commute time, safety Oct 22, 2019 2:00 pm Reserachers developed a new computer algorithm that will help city planners and others confront the issue of increased traffic congestion from rideshare services and autonomous vehicles. Study tracks waterbird use of Chicago-area wetlands Sep 14, 2022 10:00 am Researchers found that several wetland bird species make use of even small Chicago-area wetlands, and that the level of urbanization had little effect on most studied species’ use of such sites, provided the right kinds of habitat were available. Study tracks plant pathogens in leafhoppers from natural areas Aug 2, 2022 10:00 am By extracting and testing DNA from archival leafhopper specimens collected in natural areas, the study identified new phytoplasma strains and found new associations between leafhoppers and phytoplasmas known to harm crop plants. Study tracks evolutionary history of metabolic networks Oct 28, 2019 8:45 am The study shows how metabolic networks – which drive every cellular process from protein building to DNA repair – became less random, more modular and more hierarchical over time. 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.' Study tracks elephant tusks from 16th century shipwreck Dec 17, 2020 10:15 am In 1533, the Bom Jesus trading vessel carrying more than 100 elephant tusks sank near present-day Namibia. The wreck was found in 2008, and U of I scientists now have determined the source of much of the ivory recovered from the ship. Study tracks decades of life cycle changes in nonwoody plants Jun 9, 2020 9:00 am By tracking life-cycle events, average daily temperatures and precipitation, researchers found that some shifts in the timing of plant seasonal life cycle events correlated with temperature trends. Study ties present-day Native American tribe to ancestors in San Francisco Bay area Mar 21, 2022 2:45 pm Previous studies of artifacts and language patterns suggested that the Ohlone were relative newcomers to the region. But genomic research found a deep signal of continuity between the ancient population and the new one. Study: This is your teen's brain behind the wheel Apr 23, 2015 11:30 am 14-year-old subjects completed a simulated driving task while researchers tracked blood flow in their brains. In one trial, the teen driver was alone; in another, the teen’s mother was present and watching. Study tests microplasma against middle-ear infections Jul 29, 2021 8:45 am 'Many more studies must be conducted before we can explore the use of this technology in the human ear, but early indications are that this approach could be a viable alternative to surgery in cases where antibiotics alone are not effective.' Study: Telehealth services for the elderly should include caregivers Jan 25, 2022 8:45 am When the pandemic hit and health care systems switched to telehealth visits, many caregivers to the elderly - who would have been involved in in-person care - were left out of the process, according to a new study published in the Annals of Family Medicine. Study: Teens at greater risk of violence, injury during sexual assaults than previously thought May 30, 2019 10:45 am A recent study of the forensic evidence in 563 sexual assault cases in Massachusetts found 'striking similarities' in the types of injuries and violence experienced by adult and adolescent victims. Study: Targeting multiple life stages may be necessary for deer tick control Feb 15, 2019 9:45 am For researchers studying the dynamics of Lyme disease, understanding host-tick interactions could reveal weak spots that may leave ticks vulnerable to control. Study tallies extra calories Americans consume in their coffee, tea Jan 30, 2017 9:45 am A new analysis reveals just how much Americans are adding to their caloric intake by spicing up or sweetening their coffee or tea. Study: Supreme Court decision complicates prosecuting child abusers Jul 19, 2017 12:00 pm A Supreme Court decision that limits the types of statements that can be admitted as evidence unless the victim testifies in court discourages prosecutors from trying some child maltreatment cases Study: Support on social media decreases students' test anxiety Apr 28, 2017 9:45 am Reading supportive comments, “likes” and private messages from social media friends prior to taking a test may help college students who have high levels of test-anxiety significantly reduce their nervousness and improve their scores, a new study suggests. Study suggests how, when to support military couples after homecoming Mar 25, 2019 10:15 am A study of more than 500 military couples in the months after a deployment suggests how and when to help with the transition. Study suggests ample warning of supervolcano eruptions Apr 30, 2018 8:45 am Illinois geology professor Patricia Gregg and graduate student Haley Cabaniss have developed the first quantitative model that could help predict supervolcano eruptions Study: Student loans hamper wealth accumulation among black, Hispanic adults Jul 30, 2018 1:30 pm Black and Hispanic adults in the study who reported having outstanding student loans when they graduated college had $36,000 less in net worth than their peers at age 30 Study: Street gangs, crime serve as deviant leisure activities for youths May 29, 2017 10:00 am Study suggests gang membership, criminal acts often serve as deviant leisure activities, fulfilling young people’s needs for excitement, belonging and social support. Study: Stereotypes about race and responsibility persist in bankruptcy system Nov 29, 2017 8:45 am Research finds bankruptcy attorneys have little knowledge of racial disparities within the bankruptcy system, relying instead on common stereotypes about race, responsibility and debt