blog posts A marvelous morning of migratory bird banding Oct 25, 2022 10:15 am Birds throughout the world are in trouble, and habitat loss is one reason for their decline. Understanding their life cycles and habitat requirements during migration is increasingly important – especially as climate change continues to affect the world. Amazon, Google make dueling nuclear investments to power data centers with clean energy Oct 17, 2024 11:30 am AP (Oct.16) If new, clean power isn’t added as data centers are developed, the U.S. runs the risk of 'browning the grid,' says Kathryn Huff, a former U.S. assistant secretary for nuclear energy, now a U. of I. professor of nuclear engineering. 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. American Lung Association: A quarter of Americans live with polluted air Apr 20, 2023 11:30 am There’s a myth that only poor communities live with disproportionate pollution levels, says Chris Tessum, U of I professor of civil and environmental engineering. Tessum says race really is the determining factor. Americans with disabilities need an updated long-term care plan, say advocates Nov 10, 2022 10:30 am NPR (Nov. 9) About half of families that care for a loved one with disabilities have made plans for the future, and an even smaller portion have revisited those plans to ensure they're up to date, says U of I Professor Meghan Burke. America's greatest AI visionary is... an English professor at Illinois Dec 6, 2023 3:45 pm Business Insider (Dec. 6) In a world filled with artificial intelligence skeptics and chatbot alarmists, Illinois English professor Ted Underwood is making one of the strongest, most compelling cases for the value of artificial intelligence. America's insurance crisis: Ballooning premiums for home, car insurance Dec 5, 2023 12:45 pm Daily Mail (Dec. 3) 'There’s been an increase in fatalities and accidents, and data showing that people are driving more recklessly,' says U of I professor of finance Lynne McChristian. America’s oldest Black town is in Illinois — and it’s dying Jan 7, 2025 8:45 am Chicago Tribune (Jan. 5) African American studies professor Sundiata Keita Cha-Jua and archaeologist Alleen Betzenhauser, both at U. of I., are spearheading efforts to uncover Brooklyn's history and revitalize the community. A micro-scale look at how parachute textiles act under stress Oct 21, 2024 11:45 am Beckman Institute researchers used micro-CT scans to understand how stress impacts parachutes on the fiber-scale. This information will be used to develop better models for identifying promising parachute textile candidates. Anaya, Wiles voted Illinois Freshmen of the Year Jun 28, 2022 9:45 am The Division of Intercollegiate Athletics has announced its 2021-22 Freshmen of the Year. Lauren Wiles (softball) and Ashton Anaya (gymnastics) have been named the top female and male freshman competing for the Fighting Illini. Ancient DNA reveals Indigenous dog lineages found at Jamestown, Virginia Aug 20, 2024 12:30 pm 'Previous studies (found) there were a lot of Indigenous dogs in the United States and that they were eradicated. We wanted to understand what that entailed: were they culled, was it the competition with European dogs...' Ancient katydid fossil reveals muscles, digestive tract, glands, testicle Jun 23, 2023 11:45 am “Now we know that about 50 million years ago, this genus had already evolved and already had a morphology that mimics the grass in which it lives and hides from predators,' said Sam Heads, director of the U of I’s Center for Paleontology. A new milestone in the study of octopus arms Nov 13, 2024 9:30 am The new model is a milestone both in biology, where it helps explain the octopus’s impressive capability, and engineering. 'The computational model is a useful testbed for roboticists to test their algorithms,' Professor Prashant Mehta said. A new, more effective way to assess teachers’ competency Feb 15, 2023 2:45 pm Nancy Latham, director of the Council on Teacher Education at Illinois, coauthored a book that makes the credentialing system for teachers simpler and more trustworthy for those hiring them. As a bonus, it can be used in other industries, too. A new ‘SPIN’ on research Jun 21, 2023 10:45 am SPIN gives undergraduates at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign the chance to work with NCSA staff on research and development projects in supercomputing, data analytics, visualization, and more. 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. Another presidential portrait: Trump's mug shot Aug 30, 2023 12:15 pm New York Times (Aug. 30) Communication Professor Cara Finnegan writes that in its effect, and in the way its subject has begun to deploy it, Trump's mug shot is the natural evolution of all the images that came before it. Appealing to our ‘better angels’ with the Braver Angels Nov 1, 2024 11:00 am 'Seated nearby are more than 70 undergraduate students, mostly political science majors, and a handful of facilitators... whose goal is to teach tomorrow’s leaders how to effectively facilitate dialogue across party lines.' Apply now! Early action deadline for admission Nov. 1 Oct 25, 2022 8:45 am Are you ready to apply to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign? Apply Now to Illinois! Aug 30, 2024 10:45 pm Apply to Illinois! First-year admission deadline is January 5 Dec 22, 2022 4:30 pm First-year applicants applying to enter college in fall 2023 can apply to Illinois in one of two ways: through myIllini or the Common App. We don't give preference based on application type. Apps show promise at providing mental health interventions to refugee youths Dec 4, 2024 10:30 am Mental health interventions provided through digital media to 445 displaced youths living in the slums of Kampala, Uganda, showed promise at broadening care to this high-risk, difficult-to-reach population. Are AI chatbots safe for children? Experts weigh in after teen's suicide Nov 14, 2024 9:00 am Newsweek (Nov. 13) 'It's important to recognize that chatbots are not mere ... glorified autocompletes but instead are closer to having real minds with beliefs and perhaps even desires about the world,' writes U of I's Ben Levinstein. Are climate-related calamities erasing Illinois’ cultural history? Dec 16, 2024 10:30 am Climate change is likely to intensify the negative effects of flooding, erosion and development on cultural sites across Illinois, says Illinois State Archaeological Survey research archaeologist Andrew White. Are direct college admissions the future of higher education? Apr 25, 2023 12:15 pm Direct college admissions can benefit both students and institutions, promoting access for first-generation and underrepresented students and boosting enrollment, according to Professor Jennifer Delaney. Are honey bees, wild bees still in trouble? Jun 29, 2023 11:00 am U of I entomology professor Adam Dolezal, who studies how environmental stressors affect honey bees and wild bees, spoke to News Bureau life sciences editor Diana Yates about the current status of bees in the U.S. Are Illinois farmers aware of the risk of tick-borne diseases? Apr 11, 2023 3:30 pm Tick-borne illnesses like ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever are on the rise in Illinois, and outdoor workers like farmers are at higher risk than those who spend more time indoors. Are outspoken social media users more polarized in their views on racial equality? Dec 8, 2022 9:30 am 'As racial resentment increases, support for All Lives Matter increases and support for Black Lives Matter decreases. This relationship persisted even when we controlled for factors such as political conservatism,' says study leader Stewart Coles. Are personality tests actually useful? Mar 26, 2024 10:30 am Time (March 25) Personality tests are a useful way for people to better understand themselves, especially when they’re young. 'Everybody wants to better know who they are – and that’s what a personality test can give you,' says U of I's Brent Roberts. Are political ads more negative this year? Nov 7, 2022 12:00 pm Daily Herald (Nov. 5) While the FEC regulates political advertising on TV, radio, newspapers and billboards, there’s no disclaimer rules for digital media. 'It’s like the Wild West for social media,' says U. of I. advertising professor Michelle Nelson. Are TV sports networks game-changers for financing collegiate athletics? Mar 20, 2023 1:45 pm A new study finds that revenue from college sports TV networks increased spending by universities’ athletic programs while decreasing subsidization by other campus units. Are we seeing more destructive tornadoes in winter months? Dec 14, 2022 10:45 am Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Dec. 13) 'The only months in the U.S. that have experienced a robust positive trend in tornado activity are December and January,' says U of I atmospheric sciences professor Jeff Trapp. 'So yes, this is indeed factual.' ARPA-H project to pioneer rapid manufacturing of tumor models Aug 21, 2024 11:45 am Project leader, Professor Bill King, says that the project 'will create a fundamentally new manufacturing technology that uses artificial intelligence, robotics, and vision systems to monitor and control the growth of tumor models.' Art about Black experiences headlines faculty exhibition at Krannert Art Museum Sep 22, 2022 11:00 am The 'Black on Black on Black on Black' exhibition showcases the work by Black art and design faculty. The Sept. 24 opening celebration will be a daylong event with music, food, conversation and all-ages activities. Artificial intelligence and molecule machine join forces to generalize automated chemistry Oct 28, 2022 12:45 pm By combining powerful artificial intelligence and a molecule-making machine created at Illinois, researchers are finding the best conditions for automated complex chemistry. Artificial intelligence produces a recipe for lower-carbon concrete May 4, 2022 10:30 am 'We designed new formulations that nearly halve the carbon requirements of concrete yet are just as strong or stronger than traditional formulations. Given the popularity of concrete, there is a global scale of potential applications.' Artist Francine Tint, whose work is displayed at Krannert Art Museum, is having a moment May 2, 2025 12:00 pm The New York Times (April 21) At 82, abstract expressionist painter Francine Tint is finally receiving the recognition she craved as a youngster. Her paintings have been housed in permanent collections, including the Krannert Art Museum. Art professor's work examines human impulses, culture, the environment Feb 9, 2023 4:00 pm The exhibition, 'Deep Well,' features art professor Laurie Hogin’s work, which represents political allegories and social commentaries on human impulses, consumer culture and environmental degradation. A safer place for Scholars at Risk Mar 4, 2024 10:15 am Elena Koptieva came to U of I through the Scholars at Risk program in fall 2022 as a faculty member in the Department of Physics. Now she lives in Champaign with her children while her husband remains in Ukraine fighting in the war. As historians gather, battle continues over how to write about the past Jan 9, 2023 10:15 am The New York Times (Jan. 8) U of I professor Carol Symes says since its inception in the 19th century, the historical profession had often done 'the work of injustice,' bolstering empire, colonization, subjugation with 'apologetics for those movements.' Ashley Yeah named ITA Midwest Region Senior Player of the Year Jun 7, 2023 8:30 am Yeah joins Cynthya Goulet (2004-05) as the only Illini in program history to be named the ITA Midwest Region Senior Player of the Year. Asian crops face El Nino threat, deepens food inflation worries Mar 16, 2023 12:00 pm Reuters (March 15) U.S. wheat production could benefit. 'In the southern Plains – parts of Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas n particular – those areas do tend to do a lot better, when it comes to rainfall, in an El Nino year,” U of I climatologist Trent Ford said. As labor costs rise, AI is learning to farm Jun 12, 2025 10:30 am Chicago Tribune (June 11) The labor demands of fruits and vegetables deter farmers from growing anything but corn and soybeans. U of I ag specialist Elizabeth Wahle says farming is increasingly dependent on foreign labor. As rising temperatures threaten urban wildlife, experts advise protecting green spaces Oct 2, 2023 2:00 pm Chicago Tribune (Oct. 2) Evidence shows fox populations have been decreasing in Illinois for at least a few decades, concerning wildlife managers, according to Eric Schauber, director of the Illinois Natural History Survey at the U of I. Association of American Universities elects Chancellor Jones as chair Oct 30, 2023 10:30 am AAU (Oct. 24) 'I'm excited to take on this role as the nation and the world are looking to the leading-edge education, research, and innovation of AAU and our member institutions to shape a better future for our global society,' said Chancellor Jones. 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. A step forward on quest to easily turn ocean water into clean drinking water Feb 20, 2025 9:45 am The Cool Down (Feb. 20) The U. of I. engineers' design has improved fluid flow two to three times over conventional reverse osmosis methods and could pave the way to a cheaper and less energy-intensive desalinization process. As the chip race heats up, a new multipolar world is taking shape Jun 13, 2024 3:15 pm Fortune (June 12) — Illinois electrical and computer engineering professor Rakesh Kumar discusses the chip manufacturing boom. 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. Astronomers image the star-birthing web of a cosmic Tarantula Nebula Aug 1, 2022 11:15 am Space.com (Aug. 1) U of I astronomy professor Tony Wong talks about what we are already learning about star formation from a newly released image of 30 Doradus, also known as the Tarantula Nebula.