blog posts Five Illinois engineering projects secure inaugural Siebel Energy Institute grants Aug 6, 2015 1:45 pm The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is one of only eight research institutions chosen to be part of this worldwide consortium. Climate change may confuse plant dormancy cycles Aug 7, 2017 11:45 am “We think of climate change as being a slow and steady process; it’s possible that evolution could keep up with a pace like that. But we’re seeing extreme and sudden temperature fluctuations.” One step closer in explaining MS relapse during upper respiratory infection Aug 8, 2017 1:15 pm 'We know that when MS patients get upper respiratory infections, they’re at risk for relapse, but...why (do) immune cells all of a sudden want to go to the brain?' asks professor Andrew Steelman Study identifies molecule that stimulates muscle-building Aug 9, 2021 8:45 am Researchers found that dileucine – a peptide consisting of two leucines chemically bonded to one another – boosts the metabolic processes that promote muscle-building more than free leucine does. Study shows link between hunger and health care costs Aug 10, 2015 1:45 pm According to the recent study, households that have a tough time putting food on the table also have higher health care costs. Study: Domestic control of COVID takes priority over international travel bans Aug 11, 2021 9:00 am A new paper co-written by ag econcomics professor Yilan Xu shows that taming domestic transmission of COVID-19 ought to be prioritized over international travel bans or restrictions aimed at limiting the threat of the virus from abroad. Cancer Center biochemist explores RNA splicing’s role in liver cancer Aug 11, 2021 9:30 am 'In most diseases, RNA splicing is not regulated correctly...and of course, in cancer, it is well-established that aberrant splicing is a major contributor to cell transformation and metastasis,' Kalsotra said. Study links fitness, thinner gray matter and better math skills in kids Aug 12, 2015 2:00 pm A new study reveals that 9- and 10-year-old children who are aerobically fit tend to have significantly thinner gray matter than their 'lower-fit' peers. Thinning of the outermost layer of brain cells in the cerebrum is associated with better mathematics performance. Industry concentration contributes to job quality erosion, wage stagnation Aug 12, 2020 10:45 am This study reveals that workers in more buyer-constrained industries – that is, industries at the mercy of the financial decisions of powerful buyers – experience lower wages and benefits. Paper examines links between parents’ earnings, gender roles, mental health Aug 14, 2017 9:15 am Some mothers’ and fathers’ psychological well-being may suffer when their work and family identities – and the amount of financial support they provide – conflict with conventional gender roles. Study: Human wastewater valuable to global agriculture, economics Aug 15, 2018 1:45 pm 'In some cases, wastewater that has been treated for safety can be used to simultaneously irrigate and fertilize crops,' said Illinois grad student and lead author John Trimmer Genome-editing proteins ride a DNA zip line Aug 16, 2016 12:30 pm University of Illinois researchers have found that one class of genome-editing proteins rapidly travels along a strand of DNA like a rider on a zip line – a unique behavior among documented DNA-binding proteins. New CRISPR technique skips over portions of genes that can cause disease Aug 16, 2018 12:00 pm Illinois researchers' new gene editing technology gives researchers a way not only to eliminate a mutated gene sequence, but to influence how the gene is expressed and regulated For sensation-seekers, the color red can elicit rebelliousness, study finds Aug 17, 2016 11:30 am The widespread use of the color red to signal danger can actually be counterproductive for certain people, says soon-to-be published research co-written by Ravi Mehta, a professor of business administration Harnessing rich satellite data to estimate crop yield Aug 17, 2017 9:00 am Satellite data is being harnessed by Illinois researchers for a more complete picture of cropland and to estimate crop yield in the U.S. Corn Belt Light can trigger key signaling pathway for embryonic development, cancer Aug 17, 2021 1:00 pm Illinois researchers developed a method that makes membrane-bound receptors reactive to light, triggering the Wnt pathway, important in embryonic development and cancer. Paper: Clinical signs best predictors of mortality in critically ill calves Aug 18, 2017 10:45 am Clinical signs such as gastrointestinal problems or septic arthritis may be better predictors of mortality in neonatal calves with diarrhea than blood pH levels and other laboratory findings Latinos' beliefs about social status may affect their cardiovascular health, study finds Aug 19, 2021 12:45 pm For Hispanics and Latinos living in the U.S., their beliefs about their social status have a greater influence on their cardiovascular health than metrics such as levels of income and education, according to a study by social work professor Lissette Piedra. Study shows diminished but ‘robust’ link between union decline, rise of inequality Aug 21, 2018 9:30 am 'The bottom line is that paychecks would probably be bigger, and paychecks would probably be more secure and reliable, if unions hadn’t declined over time' Force triggers gene expression by stretching chromatin Aug 22, 2016 11:15 am A new study by University of Illinois researchers and collaborators in China has demonstrated that external mechanical force can directly regulate gene expression. Expert: Abolish partisan elections for Illinois judges Aug 22, 2016 11:30 am With popularly elected judges, Illinois courts are similarly mired in legalized influence peddling and partisanship. Cicada wings may inspire new surface technologies Aug 22, 2017 10:00 am Mechanical science and engineering and entomology researchers teamed up to look at cicadas for insight into the design of artificial surfaces with de-icing, self-cleaning, anti-fogging abilities Study links fish stress hormones to whether they take the bait Aug 22, 2017 10:45 am Largemouth bass whose cortisol levels rise most after a brief bout of stress are inherently harder to catch by angling Merit-based employment practices contribute to gender pay gap, study says Aug 23, 2021 8:45 am Rather than reducing gender-based pay inequality by limiting managers’ reliance on factors such as gender bias and favoritism, a shift to meritocratic employment practices may actually widen the gap by preserving the status quo. New imaging, machine-learning methods speed effort to reduce crops’ need for water Aug 24, 2021 8:45 am 'Drought stress limits agricultural production more than anything else,' Professor Andrew Leakey said. Scientists are working to find ways to minimize water loss...without decreasing the amount of carbon dioxide the leaves take in.' Chemists, biologists work together to find atomic structure of new abiological molecule Aug 25, 2015 10:00 am "The disciplines joined, the teams joined, and the computational programs joined. When you are open-minded and look to see what others can do, you are really better off." Guaranteed-tuition laws inflating college costs, study finds Aug 25, 2016 11:00 am While guaranteed-tuition laws may provide predictability for incoming in-state students for their first four years, these mandates inadvertently trigger substantial tuition and fee increases, Researchers identify cheaper, greener biofuels processing catalyst Aug 25, 2017 11:00 am Nonpetroleum-based biological fuels may get greener, more affordable, thanks to research that examines the use of a processing catalyst made from palladium metal and bacteria Families with a team mindset strengthened their bonds during COVID-19 pandemic Aug 25, 2023 3:00 pm Families that perceived themselves as members of a team working for their collective benefit were more likely to improve their family's well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic, U. of I. professor Allen W. Barton found in a new study. Connectivity explains ecosystem responses to rainfall, drought Aug 27, 2018 12:15 pm 'This type of analysis...lets us determine how well different aspects of an ecosystem are connected and whether responses to changes in climate are site-specific or common across different ecosystems' The call of the cicada Aug 28, 2020 4:30 pm Illinois entomologist Marianne Alleyne works with chemists and engineers to understand the many lessons of the quirky, cyclical bug Illinois campus explores legacy of the Russian Revolution in its centennial year Aug 29, 2017 9:45 am One hundred years ago, the Russian Revolution “shook the world,” in the words of a famous book Scientists discover spring-loaded mechanism in unusual species of trap-jaw ant Aug 30, 2017 2:15 pm Researchers reveal how a group of trap-jaw ants can snap their jaws shut at speeds of up to 50 miles per hour – just fast enough to capture their elusive prey. Color-changing sensor detects signs of eye damage in tears Aug 31, 2018 9:30 am Carle-Illinois researchers have developed a rapid sensing gel to measure a molecular marker of eye injury in a teardrop Serengeti leopard population densities healthy but vary seasonally, study finds Aug 31, 2020 8:45 am The fluctuations appear to be driven by the abundance of prey and how this affects interactions with other large carnivores like lions, researchers report. Avocados change belly fat distribution in women, controlled study finds Sep 3, 2021 9:00 am A diet that included an avocado a day reduced visceral belly fat in women in a randomized controlled study of adults with overweight and obesity. Discovery: Properties of viral DNA determine course of infection Sep 4, 2018 8:45 am Viruses may inject their DNA into a host cell synchronously or randomly, a new study finds. The difference appears to influence the course of infection Infants can distinguish between leaders and bullies, study finds Sep 4, 2018 9:15 am A new study finds that 21-month-old infants can distinguish between respect-based power asserted by a leader and fear-based power wielded by a bully Book of essays considers how religions view other faiths Sep 5, 2017 12:30 pm A new book edited by University of Illinois religion professor Robert McKim examines how followers of a religious faith view those outside of their religion. Financial education programs, income-based repayment plans promote prosperity Sep 5, 2019 1:30 pm Research finds that young adults with student loans who participate in financial education programs become better financial managers who are able to build their personal wealth after college. Paper shows retirees' decision to claim Social Security benefits influenced by ‘framing’ Sep 6, 2017 9:45 am A new paper co-written by business professor Jeffrey R. Brown says retirees are more likely to delay claiming Social Security benefits due to how the decision is “framed” to them. Scientists identify genes that disrupt response to breast cancer treatment Sep 7, 2016 11:15 am Scientists may have unlocked the genetic code that determines why many patients with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer fail to respond to the widely used drug tamoxifen. Engineering researchers lead $2.5M effort to create faster, more energy efficient chips Sep 7, 2016 9:30 am The researchers will use the transistor laser as the building block for high-speed optical links and electronic-photonic digital logic circuits, enabling faster and more energy efficient chip-to-chip communications. Study: Large-scale wind and solar farms in the Sahara would increase heat, rain, vegetation Sep 7, 2018 2:30 pm Using a new climate-modeling approach, U. of I. postdoctoral researcher Yan Li and his colleagues found that a massive wind and solar installation in the Sahara Desert could have beneficial climatic and ecological effects. Illinois researcher looks at how software design controls our interactions with technology Sep 8, 2016 9:00 am “Look at how delicate these movements really are. There’s a lot of soft touching, almost caressing." Ben Grosser, a professor of new media in the School of Art and Design and a researcher with NCSA What would it be like if the rain from Hurricane Harvey fell in Illinois? Sep 8, 2017 12:30 pm To help Illinoisans understand Hurricane Harvey, state climatologist Jim Angel shows what it would be like if 40 inches of rain fell in the state. Researchers unveil new volcanic eruption forecasting technique Sep 10, 2019 10:00 am Volcanic eruptions are especially hazardous when they show few to no signs of unrest beforehand. Geologists are now using a technique traditionally used in climate forecasting to develop new eruption forecasting models. Research tracks narcissism from young adulthood to middle age Sep 11, 2019 8:45 am Narcissism tends to wane as a person matures, a new study confirms. But not for everyone, and not to the same extent. Lessons in green schoolyards benefit kindergarteners, especially girls Sep 11, 2020 2:30 pm An Illinois study suggests daily outdoor lessons in green spaces could boost self-regulation in young children, setting them up for greater academic and social-emotional success. Professor reflects on death row experience in post-revolutionary Iran Sep 12, 2016 1:45 pm Behrooz Ghamari-Tabrizi has written plenty about the Iranian Revolution, but tIllinois professor also lived that history as an activist and then political prisoner. Now, he'stelling his own evocative.