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  • Accounting majors in the class of 2023, the first to enter a postpandemic professional world, will find no shortage of demand for their services as the industry grapples with a scarcity of candidates. PHOTO: THOMAS WELLS/THE NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI DAILY/ASSOCIATED PRESS

    Why grads aren’t hot on accounting careers: Low starting pay, onerous testing

    May 12, 2023 12:45 pm

    The Wall Street Journal (May 12) – Michael Donohoe, the head of accounting at Illinois, blames stagnant salaries. 'Over the last eight to 10 years, starting salaries have not kept pace with these really cool emerging fields, like data science.' 

  • English professor Jim Hansen in his office, surrounded by horror movie posters. Photo by Fred Zwicky

    Why do we love horror films?

    Oct 25, 2022 9:45 am

    Horror films dominate Netflix queues right now. English professor Jim Hansen spoke about why we love horror. He says it’s because horror films let us 'choose the shape of our fears and then to face up to those fears.'

  • A yellow-banded poison dart frog. Leszek Leszczynski via Flickr under CC BY 2.0

    Why do poison dart frogs ‘tap dance’? U of I researchers shed light

    Mar 6, 2024 9:45 am

    Smithsonian Magazine (March 4) Two U of I biologists suggest the vibrations from the frogs’ footwork cause insects to react and move around. 'Frogs can only really forage when prey is alive and moving,' says Professor Eva Fischer.

  • graphic - Duck shooting gallery by Jon Reinfurt

    Why don’t ducks get the flu?

    Dec 7, 2023 10:15 am

    Ducks carry flu viruses, but rarely get sick. Could waterfowl hold clues to preventing future pandemics? 'Maybe we can get inspiration from these animals and make much better antibodies or drugs,' says biochemistry professor Nicholas Wu.

  • a blue and yellow poison frog/ Photo by Sarah Westrick

    Why do Dyeing poison frogs tap dance?

    May 29, 2024 12:30 pm

    The toe tapping behavior of various amphibians has long attracted attention from researchers and pet owners, but it's been poorly understood.

  • A historical marker erected in 1994 in Mueller Park in Decatur, Illinois, includes excerpts from the journal of the Rev. Benjamin Petit, who traveled the Trail of Death with the Potawatomi in 1838. Photo by Maisie Sparks

    Why create 'An African American Reflection on the Potawatomi Trail of Death'?

    Oct 9, 2023 12:45 pm

    Christian Science Monitor (Oct. 6)   'We read land acknowledgments. ...They sort of say we’re sorry, but they don’t say what happened,' says U of I Professor Latrelle Bright, co-creator of the interactive experience.

  • Chancellor Jones sits in the Presidents Lounge in the Illini Union. Photo by Fred Zwicky/Public Affairs

    Why Chancellor Jones is absolutely bullish on Illinois’ future

    Oct 5, 2022 10:15 am

    Here's why Chancellor Robert Jones says, 'I’m more than just optimistic. I’m downright giddy and excited about the future. And you can quote me on that!'

  • Why businesses are still furiously hiring even as a downturn looms

    Sep 6, 2022 10:00 am

    Yahoo Finance (Sept. 5) The demand side of the jobs market has not changed much by the pandemic, but the supply side was more radically altered according to a recent study by U of I professor Eliza Forsythe and three co-authors. 

  • Chicago's St. Regis tower, designed by the architecture firm of U of I alumna Jeanne Gang. Photo by J E Koonce via Flickr

    Why are so many tall and supertall buildings being built?

    Feb 3, 2023 10:45 am

    Very tall buildings are attractive options in cities where land is at a premium, but they come with construction challenges, said University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign architecture professor Abbas Aminmansour.

  • Toby Beauchamp is a professor of gender and women’s studies at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

    Why are so many states trying to limit transgender rights?

    Jun 14, 2022 2:00 pm

    An increasing number of states are proposing anti-transgender bills aimed at issues affecting children. They will lead to more legislation limiting the rights of transgender adults as well, says Professor Toby Beauchamp.

  • atmospheric sciences professor Atul Jain. Photo by Brian Stauffer

    Why are global carbon emissions starting to increase again?

    Dec 5, 2023 9:45 am

    After a brief pause during COVID-19, global carbon emissions from fossil fuel and industry – the main contributors to climate change – are set to increase significantly, says atmospheric sciences professor Atul Jain. 

  • Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano in Hawaii. Native Hawaiians consider the mountain sacred and object to construction on it. Photo via Wikimedia Commons

    Who should manage public land that is sacred to Native Americans?

    Sep 30, 2022 10:30 am

    The Conversation (Sept. 30)  'That is the question that the U.S. government and some states hope recent policy changes will address by giving Indigenous people greater input into managing such land,' writes Professor Rosalyn LaPier.

  • Professor Christopher Brooke. Photo by L. B. Stauffer

    Who should get an omicron COVID-19 booster?

    Sep 12, 2022 9:30 am

    Although the omicron variants seem less deadly, COVID-19 vaccine boosters are needed to keep up with the virus as it evolves, says University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign microbiology professor Christopher Brooke.

  • “I could jump back in, but then I got used to being retired,” said Thomas Strait, who chose early retirement at the beginning of the pandemic.Credit...Al J. Thompson for The New York Times

    Who are America’s missing workers? Labor supply has not fully recovered from COVID

    Sep 13, 2022 2:15 pm

    New York Times (Sept. 12) 'People were retiring and opening up these positions. Employers are searching for them, so if you were in one of these difficult lower-paid jobs, there’s more opportunity for you to move up,' says U of I professor Eliza Forsythe.

  • Communication professor Stewart Coles. Photo by Fred Zwicky

    White people more likely to confront authors of racist online posts to set discussion rules

    Feb 12, 2024 9:45 am

    'If the objective is reframed from trying to change a transgressor’s deep-seated attitudes to a potentially more achievable goal (defining social norms)...participants’ willingness to confront others about racist content increases.'

  • Education professor Jennifer Nelson. Photo by Fred Zwicky

    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.

  • political science professor Nicholas Grossman. Photo by Brian Stauffer

    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.

  • Business Instructional Facility at U of I

    Where did all the MBA applicants go?

    Oct 3, 2022 11:30 am

    Crain’s Chicago Business (Oct. 2) Some MBA programs are taking practical steps to encourage more applicants. U of I's Gies College of Business increased its offerings in digital commerce  to attract more learners, says Associate Dean Nerissa Brown.

  • stock image: a mother drives while looking at her adolescent child in the back seat through the rearview mirror

    When mothers and children talk about problems, environment matters

    Jun 4, 2024 10:45 am

    Talking to their parents about daily stressors can help adolescents deal with their problems. This is particularly important during the transition to middle school. But does it matter where these conversations take place? 

  • The Orthodox Cultural Center in Gaza City was hit by an Israeli airstrike in October. The main library in the city was hit the following month. (Ali Jadallah / Anadolu/Getty Images)

    When libraries like Gaza’s are destroyed, what’s lost is far more than books

    Dec 13, 2023 10:45 am

    Los Angeles Times (Dec. 12) U of I professor Laila Hussein Moustafa writes about what is lost when libraries are destroyed during times of war, especially as it pertains to the libraries in the Gaza Strip in the ongoing conflict. 

  • Prior to the lawsuit, Illinois track & field only had resources for approximately 15 uniforms and a travel budget for 12-to-15 women for a sport that fielded 25-to-30 athletes. Archive [hoto shows track team, some members without uniforms.

    When courage moved the needle for Illini Women’s Athletics

    Jul 18, 2022 10:15 am

    The addition of seven varsity sports in 1974 was undoubtedly a milestone moment for U of I women's athletics, but a more significant moment occurred three years later when a pair of student-athletes filed a sexual discrimination lawsuit.

  • What would it take for O'Hare International Airport to run on hydrogen?

    Sep 14, 2023 2:15 pm

    Aerospace engineering professor Phil Ansell conducted a case study using the electrolyzed hydrogen fuel needs of Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport with today’s electric grid mix.

  • 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...' 

  • the thick-billed longspur, formerly known as McCown's longspur in honor of confederate general John Porter McCown. Photo from Wikimedia Commons

    What will be the impact of the decision to no longer name birds after people?

    Nov 9, 2023 9:45 am

    The American Ornithological Society’s decision to rename birds that were named after people will allow us to consider how we remember historical figures and acknowledge the oppression in our nation’s history, says professor David Sepkoski.

  • A Union Pacific freight train winds its way through Colton, on Wednesday, Mar. 18, 2015. Photo by the Orange County Register

    What were the underlying issues of the railroad labor dispute?

    Sep 15, 2022 10:15 am

    A strike by railroad unions would have been bad news for the Biden administration and for an already-stressed economy, says Michael LeRoy, an expert in labor relations at Illinois.

     

  • woman suffering with COVID symptoms wearing a mask. iStock illustration.

    What we know and don’t know about long COVID

    Oct 20, 2022 12:15 pm

    The Hill (Oct. 20) 'People don’t talk about just getting COVID anymore,' says Tara Leytham Powell, a professor of social work at Illinois. 'Long COVID is more of a fear.'

  • A copy of The Illini, the predecessor of The Daily Illini, was found in the time capsule. (Photo courtesy of University Library.)

    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. 

  • The Business Instructional Facility at Gies College of Business

    What U of I has learned during the explosive growth of its iMBA program

    Jul 18, 2022 11:15 am

    Inside Higher Ed (July 17) In 2016, the first iMBA cohort at Illinois was about 100 students, and this academic year it’s over 4,600. Program administrators Brooke Elliott and Nerissa Brown share what they’ve learned as they’ve grown the program.

  • Twitter logo on the exterior of its headquarters. Photo by Jeff Chiu for AP

    What the chaos at Twitter means for the future of social movements

    Jun 12, 2023 10:30 am

    CNN (June 11) Twitter has provided direct access to lawmakers, but 'there are now issues in how people see Twitter as a source of information and a source of political community,' says U of I media professor Rachel Kuo.

  • Robert Brunner, the associate dean for innovation and chief disruption officer at the Gies College of Business

    What’s the transformative potential of artificial intelligence?

    May 17, 2023 9:00 am

    Anxiety about artificial intelligence has been driven by its rapid development as well as knowledge worker concerns about potentially being replaced by it, says Robert Brunner, chief disruption officer at the Gies College of Business.

  • Professor Robin Fretwell Wilson. Photo by L. Brian Stauffer, 2015

    What's the significance of the Respect for Marriage Act?

    Jan 17, 2023 11:00 am

    'Civil rights aren’t like colliding trains, where one civil right has to take precedence over another. Protecting civil rights is not a zero-sum game with winners and losers. Civil rights can be like puzzle pieces that can be made to fit together.'

  • AFP Fact Check headline refuting claims that ivermectin should be used to treat COVID-19

    What's the remedy for medical misinformation?

    Feb 28, 2023 8:45 am

    U of I sociology professor Kevin Leicht is co-leading the development of a software app that will alert clinicians to medical misinformation circulating on social media so they can address it with patients if they choose.

  • Robert Brunner, the associate dean for innovation and chief disruption officer at the Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Photo by Fred Zwicky

    What’s the potential of blockchain technology?

    Jul 13, 2022 9:45 am

    Blockchain technology has the potential to transform industries ranging from health care to government, says Robert Brunner, the associate dean for innovation and chief disruption officer at the Gies College of Business.

  • The little St. Mary's cemetery sits next to a busy road on the far corner of Maryville Academy’s campus. Photo by Peter Medlin

    What's the legacy of Federal Indian Boarding Schools in Illinois?

    Aug 1, 2023 12:00 pm

    WNIJ-AM (Aug. 1) Professor Dave Beck describes the legacy of St. Mary’s Training School for Boys in Maryville, Ill., where many Native American children were indoctrinated into white American culture, and where several of them died.

  • Illinois State Water Survey scientists stand in a creek to collect data

    What's the importance of state scientists at U of I?

    Feb 16, 2024 11:30 am

    U of I's Prairie Research Institute provides a home to five state scientific surveys: the state Natural History Survey, Geological Survey, Water Survey, Sustainable Technology Center, and the State Archaeological Survey.

  • Political Science professor Nick Grossman

    What's the future of drones in counterterrorism operations, Ukraine war?

    Aug 8, 2022 12:30 pm

    International relastions expert Nicholas Grossman, author of 'Drones and Terrorism: Asymmetric Warfare and the Threat to Global Security,' talks about the implications of the U.S. killing former al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri by drone.

  • University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign political science professor Damarys Canache. Photo by L. Brian Stauffer (2013)

    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. 

  • Nancy Latham, the executive director of the Council on Teacher Education and an associate dean in the College of Education at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Photo by Jeremiah Cox

    What's behind the teacher shortage in US schools?

    Sep 21, 2022 2:15 pm

    Teacher shortages plaguing primary and secondary schools in the U.S. could be game-changers for people entering the field by boosting salaries and improving benefits and working conditions, said education professor Nancy Latham.

  • At a Central Bucks School Board meeting in Pennsylvania in March, one participant takes a stand against books.

    What's behind the national surge in book bans? A low-tech website tied to Moms for Liberty

    Oct 5, 2023 2:45 pm

    USA Today (Oct. 5) 'The real problem is that people try to say, "I know what's best for the school system, and for the library, and the library should reflect my own values – no matter what the values are of other people in the community."'
     

  • SAG-AFTRA and Writers Guild of America members marching in unison, June 2023. Photo via Flickr by ufcw770

    What’s at stake in Hollywood labor strikes?

    Jul 18, 2023 9:15 am

    'I think this strike will last much longer than three months. In 1988, the writers were on strike for nearly 22 weeks. This time, they're striking over job-killing issues, such as the use of artificial intelligence in generating creative works.' 

  • atmospheric sciences professor Deanne Hence. Photo by L. Brian Stauffer

    What prompted tropical cyclone Hilary’s unusual path?

    Aug 24, 2023 11:00 am

    Hilary was the first tropical storm to hit the California coast in 84 years. The combination of conditions that prompted the storm's path are not unheard of, but their timing and severity are unusual, says atmospheric sciences professor Deanne Hence. 

  • Political science professor Brian Gaines. Photo by Brian Stauffer

    What message did voters send this midterm election?

    Nov 17, 2022 8:00 am

    Professor Brian Gaines talks about the 2022 midterm elections, the message voters sent, what effect gerrymandering had, and what we can expect from a divided Congress, with a republican majority in the House, and a democratic majority in the Senate.

  • Trespassers on the ramp of the Congress Palace in Brasilia. Image via Wikimedia Commons. Credit: Marcelo Camargo/Agência Brasil

    What led to the attempted coup in Brazil, what comes next?

    Jan 19, 2023 8:45 am

    Professor Jerry Dávila, who specializes in the history of Brazil in the 20th century, spoke about civil unrest in Brazil. 'It was a coup attempt, and it was styled after the (Jan. 6, 2021) attack on the U.S. Capitol.'

  • Deep-sea operations pose significant challenges, such as immense pressure, which restrict the availability of suitable technologies for deep-water search missions, said professor Viktor Gruev, who is an expert in underwater geolocation technology. He is shown hear standing oceanside wearing a wet suit

    What is the state of underwater geolocation technology?

    Jun 23, 2023 10:00 am

    Following the loss of OceanGate's Titan submersible this week, U of I professor Viktor Gruev discusses the current state of the science behind underwater geolocation, and some advances his team is working on now.

  • Robert Brunner, the associate dean for innovation and chief disruption officer at the Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Photo by Fred Zwicky

    What is the metaverse - and what's its business potential?

    Nov 16, 2022 10:30 am

    The metaverse’s potential for transformation means it should be on everyone’s radar, says Robert Brunner, the associate dean for innovation and chief disruption officer at the Gies College of Business at Illinois.

  • Illinois scientist Ann-Perry Witmer leads research and an upcoming discussion that takes a fresh approach to climate change adaptation.

    What is place-based adaptation to climate change?

    Oct 10, 2022 2:30 pm

    Place-based knowledge fits a solution to a need, rather than the other way around. 'The impacts of climate change for farmers in Illinois, for example, are dramatically different than the impacts seen by the Navajo Nation in Arizona...'

  • agricultural and biological engineering professor Josie Rudolphi, who co-directs the North Central Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Center,

    What is driving the high suicide rate among farmers?

    Dec 12, 2022 9:30 am

    This year saw good harvests in the Midwest and strong commodity prices, but the future is so uncertain. Commodity prices, input costs, and weather are all beyond the farmers' control - and those worries lead to mental health challenges.

  • thermal insulation being installed in a house under construction. Photo by LG Squared

    What is a 'passive house' in sustainable building design?

    Jan 11, 2024 9:15 am

    Green Building & Design Magazine (Jan. 9) 'Superinsulation' is a staple of passive house construction. The term was coined in 1976 by U of I professor Wayne Schick to describe insulation with a very high R-value.

  • Robert Brunner, the associate dean for innovation and chief disruption officer at the Gies College of Business. Photo by Fred Zwicky

    What impact will the Biden administration’s executive order have on AI development?

    Nov 15, 2023 9:15 am

    The best way to think of the Biden administration’s wide-ranging executive order on artificial intelligence is as a trial balloon to gauge what works, says Robert Brunner, chief disruption officer at U of I's Gies College of Business.

  • What explains the cryptocurrency crash?

    Jul 8, 2022 4:15 pm

    Robert Brunner, the associate dean for innovation and chief disruption officer at the Gies College of Business, explains the cryptocurrency market.