blog posts AI models inch closer to hacking on their own Apr 30, 2024 11:15 am Axios (April 26) Some large language models already have the ability to exploit known security vulnerabilities. Computer scientists at U of I found that GPT-4 can write malicious scripts to exploit known vulnerabilities using publicly available data. Air pollution via wildfire smoke increases suicide risk in rural counties Sep 12, 2023 11:00 am A new paper co-written by Gies College of Business professor David Molitor found that air pollution via drifting wildfire smoke disproportionately elevates the risk of suicide among rural populations in the U.S. Air pollution via wildfire smoke takes toll on labor markets Jun 27, 2023 11:30 am A new paper analyzes how air pollution via the effects of drifting wildfire smoke impacts the U.S. labor market. All-America honors start rolling in for Newton Dec 7, 2023 9:45 am U of I defensive tackle Jer'Zhan Newton was named to five All-America lists on Wednesday. He's also been named named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and a Nagurski Trophy finalist, as one of the nation's top five defensive players. Allegretti wins Illini-record third Super Bowl Feb 12, 2024 8:45 am Allegretti's three Super Bowl wins is the most ever by a former Illini. He passed Jim Grabowski, Ray Nitschke, Preston Pearson, Howard Griffith, Eugene Wilson, Dave Diehl, and Ted Karras, who all have two Super Bowl rings. All five starters score in double figures, Illini cruise to victory over Rutgers Jan 18, 2024 10:45 am The Fighting Illini recorded at least 90 points for the second straight game, their first time hitting that scoring mark in back-to-back Big Ten games since the 1998-99 season. Along for (more than) the ride with U of I Police Jan 9, 2023 12:15 pm 'Our primary focus as crisis workers is in suicide prevention and hospital deferral when clinically appropriate,' says alumna Becky Rowe (MSW, '21). 'We bring evidence-based tools directly to the client, in the field.' Altgeld Hall cleaning brings back its long-forgotten pink color Jun 22, 2023 11:00 am 'When completed, along with the roof replacement work, the Phase 2 work of this project will return the exterior of this iconic U of I building to its former glory,' says Facilities & Services project manager Kevin Price. Although the air is now cleaner in the U.S., air pollution remains a problem for public health Sep 21, 2023 10:30 am "It’s pretty clear that wildfire smoke is affecting a lot more people on a lot more days than it used to,” says Christopher Tessum, a professor of civil and environmental engineering. Altmyer named Fighting Illini starting quarterback Aug 23, 2023 11:45 am Altmyer was 28-for-54 passing (51.9%) for 317 yards and three touchdowns during his time at Ole Miss. 247Sports ranked him as the No. 10 transfer quarterback in the nation heading into 2023. Alumna Ann Thayer Weldy helped readers find comfort—and themselves—in her books Jul 26, 2023 12:15 pm To the world, she became Ann Bannon, the name under which she published six lesbian pulp fiction novels. Over sixty years later, these books remain fundamental to the LGBTQ canon. Alumna Joanne Lee Molinaro, ‘The Korean Vegan,’ to give talk, cooking demo Sep 7, 2023 12:30 pm 'The Korean Vegan' – a lawyer, TikTok star and best-selling cookbook author – will speak and give a cooking demonstration on Sept. 21 at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts as part of the PYGMALION festival. Alumna Lisa Holder White to replace state Supreme Court Justice Rita Garman May 11, 2022 11:30 am Fourth District Appellate Justice Lisa Holder White was named Tuesday to replace retiring Justice Rita Garman on the Illinois Supreme Court, becoming its first Black female justice. Both Garman and White are U of I alumna. Alumna named Brave Heart Fellow for revealing Indigenous culture, influence on campus Oct 11, 2023 11:30 am Cydnee Weber designed an eco-cultural tour to help students appreciate nature and the influence of Indigenous communities. She also saw few opportunities for students to cultivate plants, so she offers ideas on raising greenery on campus. Alumni create MoonArk, a tiny museum bound for the moon Apr 20, 2023 1:15 pm At only eight inches high and two inches in diameter, the metal MoonArk sculpture has four stacked chambers packed with hundreds of images, poems, music, mechanisms, earthly samples, and nano-objects. Alumnus Eli Murray wins Pulitzer Prize with ‘Tampa Bay Times’ team May 10, 2022 4:15 pm Murray, and his colleagues won for their series 'Poisoned,' an exposé of highly toxic hazards inside Florida’s only battery recycling plant that forced the implementation of safety measures to protect workers and nearby residents. Alumnus receives first-ever Shin Humanitarian Award, pays it forward to Crop Sciences Aug 2, 2023 9:15 am Renowned crop breeder B.B. Singh was honored with the inaugural Shin Humanitarian Award by the U of I for his exemplary impact on humanity by addressing global food security. He's giving the $50,000 prize back to the College of ACES. Alumnus Tyrone Phillips returns to campus as director of Theatre's 'The Royale' Feb 23, 2023 8:00 am For Tyrone Phillips, telling this story about a great boxer, based on Jack Johnson in 1905, is as much about shedding light on one of America's greatest athletes as it is an act of antiracism today. 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. Alum's film about his brother's life, death in Vietnam screening on campus Oct 7, 2022 9:30 am When Peter McDowell was growing up in Champaign, the life of his older brother, a Vietnam War veteran, and his untimely death in 1972 at age 24 were a mystery. See the award winning film, 'Jimmy in Saigon', and discuss it with McDowell. Alum Sheila Johnson, co-founder of BET, to keynote Title IX summit May 17, 2022 9:45 am 'Sheila has been a pioneer in every sense of the word, breaking new ground throughout the course of her life in education, media, business, and sports,' said DIA Director Josh Whitman. 'Sheila has always been a proud Illini...' 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 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. 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 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, 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. 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 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. 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.' 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.' 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.