blog posts U.N. resolution, smart city concept, Ohio train derailment twisted into baseless plot Feb 27, 2023 11:45 am PolitiFact (Feb. 24) 'The claim that the U.N., which has no power anyway, wants to force victims of environmental disasters to live in panopticon societies is absurd on its face,' says U of I professor Robert Olshansky. A double emergence of periodical cicadas isn’t cicada-geddon—it’s a marvel Mar 12, 2024 11:00 am Scientific American (March 11) 'I’ve been looking forward to this for years,' says U of I entomologist Catherine Dana. 'We have two different broods emerging in the same state, and that’s a very rare thing.' Makira Cook named to AP All-America honorable mention list Mar 16, 2023 8:45 am Cook is the first Illinois women's basketball player to earn AP All-America accolades since Karisma Penn following the 2012-13 season. In her first season with the Orange and Blue, Cook has put together the best year of her career. Chicago mayor-elect Brandon Johnson joins picket line at Chicago State University Apr 11, 2023 12:15 pm Crain’s Chicago Business (April 10) 'It would certainly be consistent with Johnson’s values to be out there, and this is probably a departure from what we’ve seen, quite frankly, from other mayors,' says U of I labor expert Robert Bruno.. Commencement speaker, architect Jeanne Gang, designs buildings that connect people, nature and communities May 8, 2024 3:00 pm Internationally renowned architect Jeanne Gang believes architecture can connect people to each other, their environment and their communities. She is the U. of I. Commencement speaker and an Illinois alumna. Commencement! May 10, 2023 4:45 pm The university-wide Commencement ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 13, 2023 at 9:30 a.m. in Memorial Stadium. It will be livestreamed at https://go.illinois.edu/live. As the suburbs go, so goes America Jun 7, 2023 3:45 pm The New York Times (June 7) 'Since 1970, the share of Black individuals living in suburbs of large cities has risen from 16 to 36%,' write Alexander W. Bartik and Evan Mast, economists at the U. of I. and Notre Dame. U of I Library: Victorian-era books may have heavy metal-based pigments Jun 15, 2023 1:30 pm The Heavy Metals Project of the University Library will survey the 19th-century books in the Library’s collection and test those with their original cloth-covered bindings to determine if they contain traces of heavy metals in the pigments used for the covers. As teacher shortage worsens, Illinois schools cast wary eye on fall reopening Jul 12, 2022 10:15 am Chicago Tribune (July 12) 'When teachers are saying, "I can go to Amazon and make $22 an hour – I’m out of here," how do we respond?' says Nancy Latham, associate dean for the College of Education at U of I. The short, spectacular life of the viral room-temperature superconductivity claim Aug 9, 2023 11:15 am Science (Washington, D.C., Aug. 8) 'I appreciate that the authors took appropriate data and were clear about their fabrication techniques,' says U. of I. physics professor Nadya Mason. Still, she cautions, 'The data seems a bit sloppy.' Study quantifies satellite brightness, challenges for ground-based astronomy Oct 2, 2023 12:15 pm Although bright satellites won't necessarily damage telescopes, they will still cause data loss from the streaks. Extremely bright satellites could ruin the entire field of view, like trying to stargaze when someone shines a flashlight into your eyes. BTN's Tailgate show airs live from Memorial Stadium on Saturday Oct 13, 2022 9:15 am The set will be located in the southeast corner of Lot 31 (across the street from Grange Grove). Illini fans can make signs onsite or bring their own to show live on B1G Tailgate before Illinois hosts Minnesota in its 112th Homecoming game. 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. Illinois Football travels to Minnesota on Saturday Oct 31, 2023 11:15 am Following its off weekend, the Illinois football team is back in action Saturday against Minnesota in Minneapolis. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network. My Thanksgiving: How testifying for Native Americans made me a witness to history Nov 28, 2022 10:45 am Salon (Nov. 24) 'I’m a scholar of Native American history,' writes Frederick Hoxie, a professor emeritus of history, law and American Indian studies at Illinois. 'But my real education came from working with Native people in the present.' No. 14 Illini host rematch vs. Rutgers Sunday Jan 20, 2024 2:15 pm Illinois hosts its first Big Ten rematch vs. Rutgers, on Sunday at sold-out State Farm Center (noon, BTN). The Illini defeated the Scarlet Knights, 76-58, in the teams' 2023-24 Big Ten opener on Dec. 2 at Jersey Mikes Arena in Piscataway, N.J. Student housing has a new mantra: Bigger is better Feb 14, 2024 9:00 am The New York Times (Feb. 9) Core Space’s Hub opened a block from the U. of I. in 2021, catering to students by offering a rooftop sun deck and pool, a barbecue area and a fitness center with a sauna. Common hair loss, prostate drug may also cut heart disease risk Feb 20, 2024 1:30 pm A new U of I study suggests finasteride (aka, Propecia or Proscar) may also provide a surprising and life-saving benefit: lowering cholesterol and cutting the overall risk of cardiovascular disease. $680M commitment to iFAB will help Illinois become 'the heart of biomanufacturing' Mar 4, 2024 12:45 pm 'With the U.S. Economic Development Authority's support, we can lock in thousands of jobs and secure billions in market potential,' said iFAB principal investigator Beth Conerty. Illinois State Legislature honors Dean James D. Anderson Apr 20, 2022 11:45 am Legislators recognized a giant within the field of education last week ahead of his approaching retirement. College of Education Dean James D. Anderson was presented with a proclamation honoring his invaluable contributions to the state. Announcing the Siebel School of Computing and Data Science Apr 24, 2024 8:45 am The School will pioneer advancements at the intersection of computing and data science, addressing complex challenges and driving innovation across various fields. Illini Baseball hosts Nebraska in final home series this weekend May 13, 2022 2:15 pm Illinois (26-19, 12-6) is currently in fifth place in the Big Ten and is coming off a series sweep of Miami (OH) last weekend. Nebraska is 19-27 (7-11 B1G) and won one of three at Minnesota last weekend. Cicadas and tinnitus: Here's what you need to know May 20, 2024 1:15 pm Professor Fatima Husain explains why individuals with tinnitus may find peace among the audial onslaught and offers suggestions for how people can safely shield their ears from the impending 'wall of sound.' Johnston becomes first freshman All-American pole vaulter in program history Jun 6, 2024 8:15 am The men's track and field squad completed the first day of the NCAA Outdoor Championships on Wednesday (June 5). True freshman Cody Johnston earned All-America honors in the pole vault by taking fifth place. 16 Illinois students, recent graduates offered Fulbright grants Jun 9, 2022 9:30 am Sixteen Illinois students and recent graduates were offered Fulbright grants to pursue international education, research and teaching experiences around the globe. Another six students were named Fulbright alternates. Big universities face admissions dilemma if Supreme Court kills affirmative action Jun 9, 2023 11:00 am Crain’s Chicago Business (June 9) 'The biggest pressure point that we face right now is due to timing because the decision is going to come out this month and we will open admissions in September,' says U of I's Andy Borst. Graduate Student Appreciation Week Oct 24, 2022 10:00 am Check out the list of events for Grad Student Appreciation Week, October 24 - 28, as the campus celebrates their many contributions to the missions of the University. Meat on the menu, not the agenda, at COP27 climate conference Nov 15, 2022 12:45 pm Reuters (Nov. 15) Activists at the climate summit in Egypt will pressure policymakers to acknowledge the role of meat, dairy in global warming. Livestock are responsible for about 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to a U of I led study. Pesticides and adjuvants disrupt honey bee’s sense of smell Dec 15, 2023 1:15 pm It has long been known that pesticide sprays are harmful to honey bees. Now Illinois researchers have uncovered the effect of such sprays on the sense of smell in bees, which could disrupt their social signals. Gies ranked top 10 public business school by Poets&Quants Jan 24, 2024 10:00 am Gies College of Business is once again ranked as a Top 10 public undergrad business program in the nation, according to the latest rankings from Poets&Quants. Notably, Gies ranked #9 overall in academic experience. Illini host Ohio State for Pack the House on Thursday Jan 25, 2024 8:30 am Illinois (8-9, 2-5 B1G) vs. #12 Ohio State (15-3, 6-1 B1G). 6 pm start time at State Farm Center. Illinois trails 20-57 in the all-time record with the Buckeyes, who claimed last season's meeting in Columbus, 87-81. 2023 Commencement Speaker : Jackie Joyner-Kersee Mar 7, 2023 9:30 am Six-time Olympic medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee will serve as U of I's commencement speaker Saturday, May 13. ESPN named her one of the 50 Great Athletes of All Time. Sports Illustrated named her Female Athlete of the 20th Century. Olivia Howell: NCAA National Champion in Indoor Mile Mar 13, 2023 4:30 pm Olivia Howell closed out the 2023 indoor track season on top of the mile podium. She crossed first with a 4:34.00 to earn her first NCAA Indoor Championship Title and claim her second-straight Indoor First Team All-American nod. You don’t have to type anymore: Welcome to the golden age of voice dictation Apr 9, 2024 1:30 pm The Atlantic (April 8) 'For a long time, we were making gradual, incremental progress, and then suddenly things started to get better much faster,' says U of I electrical and computer engineering professor Mark Hasegawa-Johnson. Alum's $50M gift establishes Siebel School of Computing and Data Science Apr 26, 2024 10:30 am Forbes (April 25) 'By supporting cutting-edge research and fostering innovation, we hope to empower future generations of leaders in technology and society, driving positive change in our world,' said benefactor Tom Siebel. Illinois leads nation in tornadoes this year, nearly twice above state average May 9, 2023 2:00 pm WGN-TV (Chicago, May 8) – A study from Illinois suggests that twisters are most frequent in the state between April and June from 3-7 p.m. Beckman professor elected to European Academy of Sciences & Arts May 24, 2022 11:00 am Martin Ostoja-Starzewski was nominated by colleagues in Europe on the basis of his scholarship, editorial activities, and collaboration with European institutions and European centers of scholarship. The Great American Eclipse and all of its magic May 30, 2024 3:30 pm I am one of many students representing the University of Illinois Astronomical Society and the Outdoor Adventure Club. Our Great American Eclipse event has us positioned well within the path of totality... Study examined COVID-19 policies' effects on people with disabilities Jun 20, 2022 1:15 pm COVID-19 safety policies in the U.S. that constrained leisure physical activities negatively affected the health and well-being of some people with disabilities, according to a survey by researchers at Illinois. 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. Study: Holocaust Museum motivates visitors to create social change Aug 15, 2022 10:00 am New research finds that people who visited the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center were inspired to take action for human rights, such as standing up to bullying or joining social justice groups Illinois designated a First-gen Forward institution Aug 30, 2022 9:45 am The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has been designated a First-gen Forward institution by the Center for First-generation Student Success, an initiative of NASPA (Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education) and The Suder Foundation. The (failed?) effort to bring gray squirrels to campus in 1901 Sep 6, 2023 11:00 am It’s hard to know when President Draper and Professor Rolfe realized they were over their heads: Some squirrels died in their shipping containers. Many died of disease or disappeared. And, local residents started shooting them. Amazon taps U. of I. as artificial intelligence race heats up Sep 11, 2023 11:30 am Chicago Sun Times (Sept. 22) “We want the system to have a sort of brain, a knowledge base … so that it can be more knowledgeable than a lot of humans, for example, and the conversation can be more informative,” says AICE director Heng Ji. Veteran TV journalist Brian Williams visits campus October 23 Sep 27, 2023 10:15 am Brian Williams, former anchor of MSNBC's The 11th Hour and NBC Nightly News, will be on the U of I campus to talk about the evolution of broadcast news in America on Monday, October 23, 7-8 p.m. A Zoom option is available. Illinois journal highlights new findings on the Black Death's timeline, origin Oct 24, 2022 10:30 am The bacterial cause of the Black Death existed millennia earlier than previously thought and is now known to have caused the First Plague Pandemic, which devastated the 6th century Roman world, says U of I medieval studies expert Carol Symes. 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. UI School of Art and Design seeking $111 million for expansion Nov 15, 2023 10:00 am News-Gazette (Nov. 14) The $111 million request would cover both this addition and renovations to the original Art and Design building, which has not seen a major overhaul since its construction in the late ’50s. 2022-23 Ebert Fellows will work with Chicago Tribune film critic Nov 18, 2022 12:15 pm Through the Roger Ebert Fellows program, three undergraduate students are selected each fall to gain in-depth learning experiences that focus on critical thinking, arts and entertainment criticism, and interpretative journalism. Solar panels and agriculture can coexist, but a few hurdles remain Dec 1, 2022 11:15 am It can be difficult to find crops that thrive under solar panels, but for grazing animals, particularly sheep, the combination works out well. 'Sheep don't really care about hanging wires or poles,' says undergrad researcher Tyler Swanson.