blog posts 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 are states altering higher education by redefining academic freedom? May 2, 2024 8:00 am State laws that tether faculty tenure and promotions to state politics undermine the academic freedom that is the founding principle of postsecondary education and research in the US, according to Professor Carol Symes. 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. How can the world prevent emerging infectious diseases, protect food security? Jul 20, 2021 10:00 am Postdoctoral researcher Valeria Trivellone describes how climate change, globalization, urbanization and trade in wildlife all contribute to the emergence of new infectious diseases and worsen food insecurity. How can we identify, respond to pandemic-triggered mental health crises? Dec 23, 2021 8:45 am With many adults and children experiencing 'pandemic fatigue' from the continuing disruptions caused by the coronavirus, more people may be at risk of toxic stress and other mental health problems, says social work professor Tara Powell. How can we tame the gun violence epidemic? Dec 21, 2022 8:45 am Community health professor Thomas O’Rourke talks about how previous efforts to institute public health measures succeeded and how the same approaches can be employed to reduce the scourge of gun violence in the U.S. How common are December tornadoes in the US and why are they so dangerous? Dec 14, 2021 8:30 am Even though December tornadoes are rare, they pose a significant threat because of their unexpectedness and tendency to occur after sunset while people are sleeping, unaware of the impending danger, says Professor (Robert) Jeff Trapp. How does a grand jury function in Russia probe? Aug 8, 2017 4:15 pm Special counsel Robert Mueller has empaneled a federal grand jury in relation to his investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. What does that mean? How does bird flu infect so many species? May 1, 2024 10:30 am Reports of the first documented case of the H5N1 virus passing from birds to cows — and then from a cow to a person — have generated a lot of press. However, 'To date, human mortality as a result of bird flu infection is extremely low.' How does climate change affect global bird reproduction? May 1, 2023 2:45 pm A new study assessed changes in the reproductive output of 104 bird species between 1970 and 2019. U of I avian ecologist Jeff Hoover, a co-author of the paper, talks about how climate change is altering bird ecology and health. How does COVID-19 affect the heart? Mar 23, 2021 9:15 am While many think of COVID-19 as primarily a respiratory disease, its effects on the heart contribute to nearly 40% of deaths – and can strike even healthy children and athletes, says Illinois medical scholar Mariam Bonyadi Camacho. How does history suggest work will change following the pandemic? May 6, 2022 8:45 am Following a pandemic, workers historically have recognized the value of their labor and become unwilling to accept poor wages and working conditions, said medieval studies expert Carol Symes. How does racial discrimination impact users of online dating websites? Oct 26, 2018 3:45 pm In the digital landscape – people write these racist things on their profiles, and you might not experience that upfront if you encountered them in a bar, for example How does Russian invasion exacerbate Ukraine's humanitarian crisis? Mar 29, 2022 11:45 am The damage sustained by Ukraine during the ongoing Russian invasion will require years of rebuilding efforts, necessitating broad-based investments by the U.S., the EU and NATO member states, says Illinois professor Cynthia Buckley. How does sexual harassment affect young women in physics? Apr 23, 2019 11:15 am Nearly 75% of undergraduate women in physics who responded to a survey reported having experienced at least one type of sexual harassment – mostly gender harassment – in their field. How does society impact the benefits and challenges of technology? Dec 8, 2021 10:30 am A new book by electrical and computer engineering professor Rakesh Kumar examines how a country’s culture and society influence its adoption of new technologies and vice versa – using India as a case study. How do July 4 celebrations affect wildlife? Jun 30, 2021 8:45 am 'Fireworks can incite flight responses and disorientation in (birds)... In one documented example, birds flew so far out to sea that there was no possibility they would be able to make the return trip,' writes Professor Sam Sander. How do we combat global food insecurity during pandemics? May 26, 2020 8:45 am About 265 million worldwide are estimated to face food shortages because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Entomlogy professor Esther Ngumbi talks about what can be done to reduce the problem. How do we measure community disaster resilience? Aug 12, 2022 8:45 am Illinois State Water Survey engineer Sally McConkey explores the factors that support – and the methods for measuring – county-level community resilience in the face of disaster. How do we solve the problem of agricultural nutrient runoff? Mar 10, 2022 9:15 am Runoff from Midwestern farms is a major contributor to a vast 'dead zone' in the Gulf of Mexico where excess nutrients cause algae to overpopulate, suffocating other aquatic life. U of I researcher Lowell Gentry looks at possible solutions. How do you handle free speech issues in higher education, popular discourse? Apr 27, 2023 10:15 am The current state of the First Amendment is an ongoing battle between those who say they want to advance freedom of speech for everyone versus those who want to drown out voices that they don’t agree with, says Professor Lena Shapiro. How effective have economic sanctions been against Russia? Apr 20, 2022 8:30 am Sanctions imposed against Russia and Belarus as punishment for invading Ukraine have had an effect but may only have meaningful consequences in the longer term, says a U of I expert in securities law and cross-border capital markets.