blog posts How to Be Exceptionally Persuasive Dec 14, 2015 3:15 pm Inc. (Dec. 14) - According to Illinois communication professor Daniel O'Keefe, sharing an opposing viewpoint or two is more persuasive than sticking solely to your argument. Yoga benefits the brain in ways similar to aerobic exercise Dec 18, 2019 1:00 pm CNBC (Dec. 17) Yoga appears to have a positive effect on areas 'responsible for memory and information processing, as well as emotional regulation,' says Illinois professsor Neha Gothe. Millions head to the airport despite CDC recommendations Dec 22, 2020 9:45 am 'Security checkpoints are a small footprint of the large number of people congregating. It becomes a COVID-19 warzone,' says Illinois professor Sheldon Jacobson. Why amputees should consider getting into the game Jan 27, 2021 10:15 am Amplitude (Jan. 20) '[Sports] can help you feel like you belong,' says Illinois adaptive sports researcher Julian Woolf. 'You enter a community, you develop friendships and support structures, people you can lean on.' Fencing could help the aging brain Apr 7, 2015 8:45 am What might set fencing apart from other sports is that it requires learning a variety of complex motor functions, according to Illinois neuroscientist Arthur Kramer, Beckman Institute director. Illinois' Dipanjan Pan and colleagues take different approach to creating artificial blood Apr 13, 2018 1:45 pm KWMU-FM (April 13) The artificial “cells,” called ErthryoMer, have the same flattened disc-like shape as a red blood cell, but they’re about one-fiftieth the size Do college campuses still need COVID-19 surveillance testing? Apr 14, 2021 1:15 pm The Hill (April 13) Professor Sheldon Jacobson: 'Many college students will be vaccinated (by Fall), creating a critical public health layer of protection for everyone on campus. The question then becomes, is COVID-19 surveillance testing still needed?' Illinois' famed statue, Alma Mater, just got a sister and she’s already creating quite a buzz May 2, 2017 11:00 am The new statue “The Quintessential Engineer” is the culmination of four years of work by electrical engineering graduate student Sakshi Srivastava. Supreme Court leak investigation will be led by U of I Law alumna May 4, 2022 10:15 am Bloomberg Law (May 3) Col. Gail A. Curley, who earned a law degree from U of I in 1999, will lead the probe of the leak of a draft opinion that would overturn abortion rights in the U.S. by striking down a 1973 landmark Supreme Court decision. Self-charging battery stretches over skin to power wearables May 19, 2016 10:00 am Gizmag (May 19) - An international team of researchers led by Illinois' John Rogers has created an entirely new kind of battery to power wearable technologies. Estimated 100,000 U.S. small businesses shut down since pandemic declared May 21, 2020 12:00 pm The Guardian (May 21) Illinois, Harvard, University of Chicago researchers say many of the small businesses they surveyed were already 'financially fragile.' With a $500 million boost, South Loop U of I research center gains momentum Jun 7, 2018 2:45 pm Crain's Chicago Business (June 7) Planned engineering, research center developed with the U of I could jolt Illinois’ economy into the 21st century. But uncertainties remain Using coral to track ancient climate patterns Jun 24, 2019 11:00 am Corals can help scientists track ancient climate patterns, but new research suggests that traditional methods for analyzing coral’s ancient growth aren’t as accurate as previously thought. Next-generation robots may have a more human exterior: Electronic skin Jul 5, 2022 9:45 am Inverse (July 1) U of I postdoctoral researcher Kyungseo Park has shown how electrodes and microphones could be built into hydrogel and silicone e-skin to provide more sensitive tactile input. Illinois archaeologists wonder, did ancient people bury a 'pet' bobcat? Jul 10, 2015 2:30 pm “It shocked me to my toes,” says archaeologist Ken Farnsworth. “I’ve never seen anything like it in almost 70 excavated mounds.” Because the mounds were intended for humans, he says, somebody bent the rules to get the cat buried there. Why financial literacy is vital for students of color Aug 30, 2018 11:00 am Chicago Tribune (Aug. 28) Illinois research shows nearly a third of young adults have poor financial literacy, especially if they have less education about financial concepts and money-management Minecraft-based programs inspire young minds to take on environmental challenges Sep 4, 2019 3:45 pm Big Ten Network (Sept. 3) Illinois Professor H. Chad Lane and his team are using the landmark open-world video game to captivate the scientists of tomorrow. How to make the most of online courses to boost your career Sep 7, 2021 1:45 pm Wired (Sept. 7) 'The pandemic has helped popularize...online education globally,' says U of I Professor Aric Rindfleisch. His Coursera course, Marketing in a Digital World, has enrolled more than 500,000 people from 170 countries. U of I announce plans for Discovery Partners Institute for South Loop Sep 26, 2022 1:45 pm WGN-TV (Sept. 23) The University of Illinois announced Friday it is ready to make its mark on Chicago’s South Loop. Ground will be broken on the Discovery Partners Institute in 2024, creating a new hub for technology and innovation in Chicago. Demand for packaged foods, tight labor market give food industry workers bargaining power Sep 30, 2021 10:30 am Crain’s Chicago Business (Sept. 30) 'We’re at a tipping point,' says U of I labor expert Michael LeRoy. 'People are walking off of their job, and they have no concern that the employer’s going to hire a replacement for them.' 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."' 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. Politics aside, market forces mean fossil fuels will get phased out Oct 27, 2020 12:30 pm Washington Post (Oct. 26) 'The Republicans are intentionally ignoring that fact because they want fossil fuel supporters to think it’s the Democrats that are against them, not just impersonal market forces,’ says U. of I. economist Don Fullerton. The U of I System is looking to strike a deal with Illinois legislators Nov 4, 2016 11:15 am Crain's Chicago Business (Nov. 3) President Killeen has proposed the state give the University a five-year funding plan in exchange for annual report cards on graduation rates, financial aid and other metrics. What a Japanese-American artist inherited from the atomic bomb Dec 10, 2018 10:00 am The New Yorker (Dec. 9) In his photo series 'My DNA,' Illinois chemistry professor Michael Koerner confronts the long legacy of the atomic bomb in his family Internet gambling: The fastest growing addiction among high school, college students Dec 11, 2018 11:30 am The Hill (Dec. 8) 'Without new U.S. safeguards, millions of...kids will continue to be targeted by the gambling industry and will become gambling addicts...' says Illinois professor John Kindt Earliest form of Mickey Mouse becomes public domain in 2024 - with caveats Dec 15, 2023 10:30 am Associated Press (Dec. 14) 'There’s actually more pushback now than there was 20-some years ago when the Mickey Mouse Act was passed,' says Paul Heald, a professor of law at the U. of I. At the heart of the Israel-Palestinian conflict, anthropology matters as much as history Jan 3, 2024 10:45 am The Hill (Dec. 27) Illinois professor emerita of anthropology Alma Gottlieb and a co-author discuss the importance of using anthropology to analyze the history of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. Five with University of Illinois ties selected for Forbes 30 Under 30 Jan 7, 2016 2:30 pm Forbes Magazine's list of 30 Under 30 highlights the 30 brightest game changers, movers, and makers under the age of 30 in 20 different fields. There’s a simple reason that demands to 'ban' books like Maus are soaring Feb 1, 2022 12:30 pm 'The main thing that people get wrong is that they think it's irrational. They ask, “How can anyone take this book out of school?” But it’s not an irrational act. It’s symbolic,' says U of I's Emily Knox, author of Book Banning in 21st-Century America. Experts say there's still no evidence you can catch COVID-19 from pets Mar 10, 2020 12:00 pm 'At this time, people should be minimally concerned about this coronavirus affecting their pets. The virus seems well-adapted to spread between people and, therefore, unlikely to jump to dogs or cats,' says U of I's Will Sander. Professor's formula predicts NCAA tourny upsets at double success rate of random picks Mar 13, 2018 5:00 pm The Telegram & Gazette (March 12) This year’s upset picks both come out of the South: No. 13 Buffalo over No. 4 Arizona and No. 14 Wright State over No. 3 Tennessee Chicago real estate: ‘There’s just so few homes and so many buyers’ Mar 23, 2021 11:15 am Chicago Tribune (March 22) Why aren't homeowners putting houses on the market? Pandemic uncertainty. Many families who might ordinarily look to move are unsure if they will have a job in six months, says U of I's Geoffrey Hewings Researchers' AI program capable of creating 'Flintstones' cartoons from text descriptions Apr 12, 2018 3:45 pm The Next Web (April 11) Illinois researchers worked with colleagues at The Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence and the University of Washington to develop the AI People who get COVID-19 news from conservative, social media less informed Apr 28, 2020 11:30 am MinnPost (April 28) The study, study co-written by U. of I. professor Dolores Albarracin, also found those who rely on conservative media and social media were more likely to believe conspiracy theories about the virus. After an early delay, Illinois farmers are catching up on spring planting May 14, 2018 1:00 pm The Pantagraph (May 14) - According to agricultural economists at Illinois, the crop weather model produces an estimate that the average soybean yield is decreased by 0.05 bushels per acre for each percentage of the crop that is planted after May 25. The truth about prebiotic sodas: Are they actually good for your gut health? Jun 7, 2024 12:30 pm The New York Times (June 6) They provide multiple types of fibers. 'It’s these complex mixtures of different fibers that support lots of different microbes' and general gut health, says U of I Professor Hannah Holscher. In fossilized dinosaur poop, scientists find hidden treasure Jul 7, 2021 8:30 am CNN (July 2) 'Insect fossils of this type, preserved in three-dimensions like this, are practically unheard of from the Triassic (period), so this discovery is very important,' says Sam Heads, director of the Center for Paleontology at the U. of I. Pentagon's supply and demand problem: Shortage of tech talent, oversupply of jobs Jul 9, 2019 12:15 pm Roll Call (July 9) 'It’s hard to beat the pay' of the private sector, says Illinois computer science professor Sibin Mohan, whose latest graduates earned an average starting salary of $99,741. Do meal kits reduce food waste? USDA interviews U of I's Brenna Ellison Jul 29, 2021 11:15 am U.S. Department of Agriculture (July 28) Meal kits became more popular during the pandemic, as many households opted for food delivery to help maintain social distancing. Professor Ellison has studied their efficiency. Iron raining down on Antarctica recently comes from explosions of massive stars Aug 12, 2019 12:30 pm Science News (Aug. 9) Illinois astrophysicist Brian Fields says the finding is profound. 'It’s telling us about the recent history of our whole neighborhood in the galaxy and about the lives and deaths of massive stars.' State population trends higher-paid, more foreign-born, but losing older, Black, rural residents Oct 11, 2023 10:00 am Chicago Tribune (Oct. 10) U of I's Robert Bruno, the director of the Project for Middle Class Renewal, says the state trends suggest it is attracting a more educated workforce. 'That’s an optimistic view of where the state is heading.' Migration trends show stability in Illinois population, growth in its tax base Oct 12, 2023 12:15 pm Illinois Business News (Oct. 11) 'Reports of Illinois’ population decline have been greatly exaggerated by a reliance on political narratives and population estimates over hard data and actual census counts,' says Professor Robert Bruno. John Deere production on hold as union workers strike Oct 18, 2021 11:30 am Iowa Public Radio (Oct. 15) 'Unions are relevant again,' says a U of I labor expert. 'It’s a reverse dynamic of what happened in the 80s, where the power dynamic rapidly shifted against unions and workers. Now, it is rapidly shifting in their favor.' Chicago Mayor Johnson to split police union contract into two votes Oct 26, 2023 10:00 am Chicago Tribune (Oct. 24) Johnson’s move to split the bulk of the contract, including salaries and consent decree provisions, from controversial disciplinary measures is 'fascinating and unusual,' says U of I labor expert Bob Bruno. D. C. retailers who sell themselves lottery tickets found to win at 'rediculous' rates Oct 30, 2015 11:00 am WUSA-Channel 9 (CBS, Oct. 30) - “With the computer software available to lotteries, these statistical red flags should have alerted lottery regulators as far back as 2012.” - Illinois professor John Kindt U of I to students: Get two negative COVID tests before heading home for fall break Nov 10, 2020 11:30 am MarketWatch (Nov. 9) 'The last thing we want to do is send students home infected and put their families at risk,' says Rebecca Lee Smith, a professor of pathobiology and one of the architects of Illinois' COVID-19 mitigation strategy. Bee superfood: Exploring honey's chemical complexities Nov 19, 2021 1:45 pm NPR (Nov. 18) - Bernarda Calla, a research scientist in entomology at the U. of I., studies how plants and insects interact. The historic (and ongoing) struggle of Native Americans to survive Dec 3, 2019 4:45 pm Time Magazine (Nov. 28) Illinois professor Frederick Hoxie says 'only the maintenance of extraordinarily high birth rates' saved one nation from 'dropping into oblivion.' Climate change is turning cities into ovens Jan 8, 2021 11:15 am Wired (Jan. 7) Urban areas, make up just 3% of Earth’s land surface. But they have an outsize impact on the effects of climate change. Researcher Lei Zhao's team shows that hotter cities could be catastrophic for urban public health.