blog posts Can pet dogs be infected with coronavirus? Feb 25, 2022 3:30 pm On Feb. 6, a team led by U of I pathobiology professor Ying Fang diagnosed a pet dog in Chicago with the virus that causes COVID-19 in humans. This is the first dog in Illinois to test positive for the coronavirus. Can President Biden pass comprehensive immigration reform? Feb 15, 2021 9:30 am Any legislative action on comprehensive immigration reform will face significant headwinds in the Senate, says Lauren R. Aronson, director of the Immigration Law Clinic at Illinois. Can President Trump pardon himself? Jul 31, 2017 8:30 am No provision of the Constitution prohibits it, but the threat of impeachment should function as a check on the president's clemency powers, said law professor Jason Mazzone Can relationships flourish through technology alone? Mar 31, 2020 9:45 am Technology can be our friend in sustaining close relationships now lacking face time during COVID-19, but it depends on how we use it, says communication professor John Caughlin. Can we talk about the Illinois climate? Dec 3, 2018 8:00 am Illinois state climatologist Jim Angel, who is retiring in December, discusses his career, climate change and the recently released National Climate Assessment Citizenship and the census: What happens now? Jul 1, 2019 8:45 am Professor Julie Dowliing says not having a citizenship question will improve response rates, but more than a year of news coverage about this topic will have an impact. Considering a nation without Roe v. Wade May 24, 2022 9:30 am How other nations deal with abortion reveals what the U.S. might face in the near future, and U of I sociologist Cynthia Buckley says the U.S. is not prepared to deal with a likely increase of unwanted and unplanned births. Consumers across political spectrum share food pricing frustrations Mar 14, 2024 11:30 am 'There aren't many things that the U.S. public agrees on, but this seems to be an exception. Democrats, Republicans, and Independents all feel like they're being overcharged,' says consumer economics professor Maria Kalaitzandonakes. Could a citizenship question alter the 2020 census results? Apr 4, 2018 4:30 am A citizenship question on the 2020 census could add to existing undercounts, says an Illinois professor who serves on a Census Bureau advisory committee Could cannabis be a pain relief alternative to opioids? Oct 25, 2019 1:45 pm Julie Bobitt, director of the Interdisciplinary Health Sciences program at Illinois, talks about the state's Opioid Alternative program and the feasibility of cannabis as a pain management alternative. Could Legionnaires' bacteria lurk in idled buildings? Apr 29, 2020 2:45 pm Many businesses are closed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, and some building managers have shut off water and air conditioning to conserve resources. That could cause a problem. Could social distancing revolutionize online learning and higher education? Mar 25, 2020 10:00 am Education policy experts Mary Kalantzis and Bill Cope talk about how redesigning online courses could reduce costs and broaden access. COVID-19 and the elections: What can we expect? Aug 21, 2020 3:00 pm Illinois political scientist Brian Gaines discusses the impact of the pandemic during a pivotal election year. Did news coverage turn Americans against the Vietnam War? Sep 12, 2017 3:30 pm News coverage of the Vietnam War did not have the effect on popular support that many believe, says a University of Illinois researcher. Did the presidential debates matter? Oct 27, 2020 3:00 pm Two experts in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences say debates are highly effective with undecided voters - if there are any. Does hunting with lead ammunition endanger human, environmental health? Nov 12, 2020 9:15 am Studies have shown that meat harvested from deer killed with lead ammunition can be contaminated with lead particles, endangering human health and harming wildlife. Does lack of paid sick time make US susceptible to global health crisis? Mar 9, 2020 9:15 am Lack of paid sick time makes the U.S. acutely susceptible to a global health crises like COVID-19, and is part of the larger problem of tying health care to employment, says U. of I. labor expert Robert Bruno. Does more rain mean more risk of mosquito-borne diseases in Illinois? Jun 18, 2019 9:15 am The risk of some mosquito-borne diseases can go up with increased rainfall, says Brian Allan, an Illinois professor of entomology. Does new Illinois law allow non-citizens to become law enforcement officers? Aug 18, 2023 9:30 am A new state law that expands the eligibility for law enforcement jobs to non-U.S. citizens such as DACA participants is mostly aspirational since DACA recipients can’t legally possess firearms, says Professor Lauren R. Aronson. Does President Trump’s tax reform plan add up? Sep 28, 2017 5:15 pm President Trump’s much-hyped tax overhaul plan is tantamount to a 'tax-reform wish list,' said Richard L. Kaplan, an internationally recognized expert on U.S. tax policy Does the Supreme Court need to care about public opinion? May 29, 2019 8:30 am The Supreme Court has to consider public opinion and its popularity in deciding politically divisive cases, says political scientist Alicia Uribe-McGuire. Does the U.S. need to pursue transitional justice in the post-Trump era? Nov 18, 2020 10:30 am To promote accountability in government, President-elect Biden ought to pursue 'transitional justice' in the aftermath of the Trump presidency. Do kids need a COVID-19 vaccine? Nov 4, 2021 9:15 am The availability of a COVID-19 vaccine for school-aged children offers protection for children as well as easing challenges faced by their families and their schools, says Rebecca Lee Smith, a U of I epidemiologist. Do labor laws need to be modernized with rise of gig economy? Mar 1, 2021 8:00 am The Protecting the Right to Organize Act would be the most significant revision of U.S. labor law since 1947, says Michael LeRoy, an expert in labor law. Do summer jobs provide lifelong benefits for teens? Jun 11, 2018 9:00 am Employers want employees with communication skills and good work ethics. Teens can get practice those in summer jobs, where the consequences are lower than in a professional job later in life Do we need a new approach to prevent bird window strikes? Oct 23, 2023 11:15 am Illinois Natural History Survey wildlife ecologist Thomas J. Benson describes the factors that lead birds to collide with windows and actions that can reduce bird window-strike fatalities. Economist: The path to economic recovery must address child care Mar 4, 2021 10:45 am With the damage inflicted to the U.S. economy by the COVID-19 pandemic, recovery will require not only restoring jobs and income, according to a professor at Illinois, but revitalizing a key industry that affects millions of families: child care. Examining Trump's First 100 Days in Office Apr 17, 2017 5:45 pm In this symposium, 31 experts analyze the administration’s achievements—as well as its shortcomings and missteps—across a wide range of areas Expanding our understanding of justice Mar 20, 2018 11:30 am What is justice? When is it achieved? And how is the study of philosophy affecting how we prepare for earthquakes? Colleen Murphy brings light to some of our most complex issues Expert advises eclipse watchers to get the best vantage point – are you ready? Mar 26, 2024 8:45 am Only those within the path of totality (about 115 miles in diameter) will be see a total eclipse. 'Partial solar eclipses are interesting, but they pale compared to totality. If you can do it, try to get to the path of totality. It is worth it,' says professor Leslie Looney. Expert: Legal sports gambling will have a destabilizing effect on economy, sports May 18, 2018 9:00 am The Supreme Court's decision in Murphy v. NCAA will likely usher in an era of unregulated, readily available sports gambling on smartphones, says Emeritus Professor John W. Kindt Expert: Secure Act regulations seek to dispel 'illusion of wealth' for older adults May 12, 2022 9:45 am New disclosures on quarterly retirement account statements may alarm some workers who could find their projected monthly retirement income to be 'seriously deficient,' says law professor and tax policy expert Richard L. Kaplan. Five minutes with ... Pasquale Bottalico Dec 19, 2018 4:15 pm The professor of Speech and Hearing Science talks about his study of the effects of ambient noise in restaurants and its relationship to customers' willingness to spend time in them Future Environments: How drones, AI can help farmers grow more food Jan 31, 2019 10:30 am Naira Hovakimyan, a professor of mechanical science and engineering, discusses how technology will help farmers feed a growing population Future Environments with Rohit Bhargava: New tools in cancer microenvironments Jul 31, 2018 1:45 pm Rohit Bhargava, a professor of bioengineering, explains how chemical imaging, machine learning, and 3D printing are changing how we think about and fight cancer Germany transformed under Nazis in 100 days. Do we understand why? Aug 20, 2019 11:45 am With Sept. 1 marking the 80th anniversary of the start of World War II in Europe, a University of Illinois historian describes how Germans came to embrace Nazi rule. Global carbon emissions at a record high in 2018, What's on the horizon? Dec 5, 2018 12:15 pm Illinois atmospheric sciences professor Atul Jain, a contributor, discusses findings of the new Global Carbon Budget report Have we gone too far trashing politics? Sep 8, 2020 11:15 am Illinois communication professor Ned O’Gorman doesn’t want us to give up on politics. His book 'Politics for Everybody' argues for the necessity of politics, but 'authentic politics,' not winner-take-all. Hearing loss expert Fatima Husain 'delighted' by over-the-counter hearing aids Nov 16, 2022 11:15 am Professor Husain explains how access to affordable hearing aids could offer unique opportunities for individuals with tinnitus, turn the tide on social stigma, and contribute to a competitive industry and a collaborative research frontier. How are drones changing warfare, threatening security? Apr 30, 2018 10:30 am Political science professor Nicholas Grossman’s new book looks at the state of drone technology and how it’s changing the nature of warfare and terrorism How are Illinois birds faring? Sep 24, 2019 8:30 am Scientists estimate the continent has lost close to 3 billion birds. Senior wildlife ecologist Thomas J. Benson of the Illinois Natural History Survey discusses the status of birds in Illinois. How are social media changing higher education? Apr 22, 2021 9:30 am The power of social media and unwritten rules about acceptable discourse exert significant influence over teaching, research and the tenure process in higher education, according to sociology professor Ilana Redstone. How can academia help implement lessons from the 2022 climate summit? Nov 28, 2022 2:15 pm Atmospheric sciences professor Ashish Sharma is cautiously optimistic that academia can partner with industry and government on climate and sustainability goals that will benefit their financial statements, their employees and their communities. How can cities help accelerate climate action to meet COP26 goals? Nov 18, 2021 9:00 am Climate change acts as a threat multiplier to a city’s infrastructure, economic development and public health. (And) cities are taking action because they can. Local governments are most responsive to constituents who are demanding action. How can cities use green spaces to mitigate the effects of extreme heat on vulnerable residents? Jul 25, 2023 9:00 am Quality and health of urban green space is impacted by environmental factors such as air temperature and the height of surrounding buildings, making it more challenging, costly to maintain a healthy urban green space, says researcher Fang Fang. How can educators, coaches support student-athletes’ academic success? Aug 9, 2019 8:00 am A new Illinois study finds young athletes need the help of educators and coaches to perceive themselves as scholars and develop realistic educational and career goals. How can Illinois address the problem of PFAS pollution? Feb 10, 2022 8:15 am Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are widespread, long-lasting and extremely difficult to remove from the environment. 'It seems that everywhere we look for PFAS, they turn up,' says U of I chemist John Scott. How can Illinois better preserve its cultural identities? Oct 18, 2023 10:30 am Professor Helaine Silverman, whose work focuses on the ways that communities deploy cultural heritage as a means of building identity and attracting tourism, talks about the importance of Illinois' new 'State Designated Cultural District' initiative. How can parents help children cope with COVID-19 disruptions? Mar 23, 2020 3:45 pm Human development and family studies professor Kelly Tu: 'For some kids, having more information helps them to process and understand the changes and cope, whereas for other kids, less information is better.' How can the 2022 Global Carbon Budget report help inform UN Climate Summit? Nov 11, 2022 11:00 am Atmospheric sciences professor Atul Jain hopes the latest global carbon budget report encourages policies that conserve global ecosystems, limit global warming – and continue to push for low-carbon tech and phasing out fossil fuels.