blog posts Almost half of working mothers in Illinois have lost jobs, hours during COVID May 6, 2021 10:00 am WFLD-TV (May 5) 'While working women – especially working mothers – already faced labor force participation and pay gaps relative to men before COVID-19, survey data makes clear that the pandemic has almost certainly worsened those disparities.' Meet the novelist and alumnus who fans say saved "Star Wars" May 23, 2017 10:15 am Chicago Tribune (May 22) — Zahn grew up in Lombard and studied physics at Illinois, but almost no one mentioned it at C2E2, a massive Chicago comic book convention, or seemed aware this was a homecoming. How electric vehicles are targeted by the Republican policy bill May 28, 2025 3:15 pm The New York Times (May 23) “We will not realize the energy efficiency and health benefits as fast as we could and as fast as other countries are realizing them,” says U. of I. professor Eleftheria Kontou. Next week will be key in determining how much of the corn crop is planted this year Jun 3, 2019 11:00 am New York Times (May 31) Even with changes to federal assistance payments, floods and rain have caused other problems that will effect the economy. Prof. Scott Irwin says you'll see it first in the price of milk, meat and eggs. Scientists at Illinois develop highly sensitive photonic sensor Jun 7, 2016 10:00 am United Press International (Washington, D.C., June 6) -- Scientists at Illinois have developed a highly sensitive photonic sensor -- a device they hope will enable new high-speed diagnostic technologies. Visible damage to oak trees in recent years may be caused by farm chemicals Jun 8, 2017 12:45 pm Illinois research in 2004 found a “strong correlation” between a condition called leaf tatters and exposure to chloroacetanilide herbicides, particularly in white oaks. The real access-to-justice problem and how we might solve it Jun 12, 2019 11:15 am Legal Talk Network (June 12) Rebecca Sandefur, an Illinois professor of sociology and law, on why people rarely turn to lawyers, courts for help. Broccoli poised to become more super, new study finds Jun 23, 2016 1:15 pm Tech Times (June 23) - Researchers at Illinois have identified a huge number of candidate genes that control the amount of phenolic compounds in the superfood broccoli. How to save Major League Baseball from itself Jun 25, 2021 9:00 am South Side Sox (June 25) Illinois professor Alan Nathan, the world’s foremost authority on the physics of baseball, discusses spin and goo gunk, the characteristics of the baseball and his ideas for meaningful, fun metrics. Wettest weather in 124 years has Midwest farmers adapting to 'soggy new normal' Jul 1, 2019 10:00 am Bloomberg (July 1) “On a decadal time scale, yeah, you’re going to see record after record falling,” says Illinois atmospheric scientist Don Wuebbles. ‘Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of Illinois’ opens newer window to old world Jul 6, 2022 11:15 am Chicago Sun-Times (July 3) Three experts, including Illinois Natural History Survey herpetologist Christopher Phillips, have published an illustrated guide to all things herpetology in Illinois, with 177 photographs, 100 maps and an identification key. Scientists test agriculture and solar energy on Illinois farms Jul 19, 2024 3:45 pm WBEZ Chicago (July 18) 'Obviously, this setting is not perfect for the farming system,' says Professor D.K. Lee. But U. of I.'s Solar Farm 2.0 could indicate whether the marriage between agriculture and solar power will be a happy one. Last week, an Illinois Ph.D. student left his 'Jeopardy' appearances with $137,088 in winnings Aug 8, 2016 11:45 am Chicago Tribure (Aug. 5) It took seven shirts, six wins, two days of filming and at least one utterance of “Oh my God, I’m an idiot” Researchers find biomarkers as effective at predicting sepsis as long-term monitoring Sep 8, 2017 2:00 pm United Press International (Sept. 7) –Researchers from Illinois and Carle Foundation Hospital found that five key biomarkers in blood that characterize sepsis can give physicians as much information as hours of monitoring symptoms. Threatened rail strike: Shipments of food, ag, energy products could screech to a halt Sep 14, 2022 10:00 am Dallas Morning News (Sept. 14) It’s been decades since we've had an industrywide shutdown, says U of I labor expert. 'We don’t see national strikes anymore. They tend to be conflicts between one union and one workplace, not against an entire industry.' Ex-Obama adviser warns Trump's promises could force fed to hike rates Sep 27, 2024 2:00 pm Benzinga (Detroit, Sept. 26) Trump would impose a hefty tariff on John Deere for moving production to Mexico. U. of I. professor Jonathan Coppess says relocating jobs has serious consequences, but Trump’s solution may not be effective. State legislatures are struggling to determine how young is too young to marry Oct 15, 2018 12:45 pm Deseret News (Oct. 13) 'The great movement of the law has been to say that kids have more ability to make decisions not less,' says Illinois law professor Robin Fretwell Wilson Study: Expression of a single gene could determine whether bees are solitary or social Oct 18, 2018 2:45 pm Science (Oct. 18) – Behavioral genomicist Gene Robinson says the next step is to figure out how the genes in his study of honey bees affect brain development and function Congress is considering a bill that would allocate $1.275 billion to quantum research from 2019-23 Oct 22, 2018 11:45 am New York Times (Oct. 21) 'I see the country at a crossroads with quantum information systems,' says Illinois' Brian DeMarco. 'I can see things not working out, where the balance is not good, and it derails our ability to compete' Affordable housing among striking Chicago teachers’ demands Oct 22, 2019 11:45 am Associated Press (Oct. 21) Illinois labor expert Robert Bruno knows of no other cities where the issue has pushed its way into contract negotiations. 'Teacher unions around the country are watching this very closely,' Aging brain cells become inflamed, produce chemicals known to impair cognitive function Oct 26, 2018 3:45 pm Creators (Oct. 26) Scientists at Illinois may have a remedy: more dietary fiber. Dietary fiber promotes the growth of good bacteria in the gut, which in turn helps the brain MacArthur ‘genius’ grant spotlights access to justice field Oct 30, 2018 3:15 pm Law 360 (Oct. 28) When U. of I. sociologist Rebecca Sandefur found out she’d been named a MacArthur fellow for research on access to civil justice, she was 'absolutely stunned' War of words between Gov. Rauner and Speaker Madigan is hindering a budget resolution Nov 9, 2015 11:00 am Chicago Tribune (Nov. 9) - Labor law expert Matthew Finkin says the stalemate in Springfield is similar to labor disputes where "the personality, vision and style" of adversaries can play a critical role in resolving or prolonging problems. More Illinois teens using e-cigarettes today than two years ago, according to U of I survey Nov 13, 2018 11:30 am WTTW-TV (Nov. 12) 'Our survey rarely registers increases of this magnitude among any of our measures of illicit youth substance use,' says Scott Hays of the Center for Prevention Research and Development 'Watered-down hope': Experts wanted more from climate pact Nov 15, 2021 11:30 am ABC News (Nov. 14) Some progress was made, says U. of I. climate scientist Donald Wuebbles, “But the probability of getting to 1.5 degrees (C temperature increase limit) is much reduced, even to the point of almost being impossible.' Scientists modify plants for more efficient use of sunlight Nov 18, 2016 12:15 pm New York Times (Nov. 17) Using genetic engineering techniques to alter photosynthesis, Illinois researchers have modified plants and increased the productivity of a test plant – tobacco – by as much as 20 percent. An estimated 65 million people will watch the Marching Illini in the Macy's Parade Nov 25, 2015 12:00 pm Chicago Tribune (Nov. 24) - Nearly three million will line the parade route when the Marching Illini perform in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade for the first time in the band's storied history Experts aren’t buying White House’s spin on climate report Nov 28, 2018 11:45 am “It’s very important that they represent the science properly in their discussions of it, rather than these simplistic statements that are not based on fact at all,” says Don Wuebbles, a professor of atmospheric sciences at Illinois. Toddlers capable of knowing when someone's pretending Dec 6, 2016 11:30 am Mental Floss (Tampa, Fla., Dec. 5) – Psychologists working with young toddlers say the children are capable of recognizing when someone else is pretending, cheating or straight-up lying. Psychology professor Renee Baillargeon of Illinois was a co-author on the study. Blueberries prevent high blood pressure, heart disease and cancer while also combatting aging Dec 6, 2017 12:15 pm Longevity (Dec. 6) Illinois study on prostate cancer showed the anthocyanins found in blueberries may attack cancer-causing free radicals and prevent tumor cells from forming Girls face a staggering amount of sexual harassment and violence Dec 17, 2018 8:45 am Dallas Morning News (Dec. 16) – Nearly 7 in 10 girls experience sexual harassment before they leave high school, according to a 2014 study from Illinois Democrats rush to back union as labor dispute threatens presidential debate Dec 17, 2019 2:15 pm Washington Times (Dec. 16) 'It’s a really bad look to cross a picket line,' says Illinois labor expert Robert Bruno. 'It clearly signals how important organized labor’s support is to all of the candidates.' Under a new deal, China would purchase $40 to $50 billion in U.S. ag products Jan 2, 2020 11:15 am Washington Post (Dec. 30) 'If the trade deal is signed and it’s real, (we'd) be looking at a China-driven miniboom in the ag sector,' says economist Scott Irwin. But, he adds, 'I don’t even know how we’d get to that number.' Study: Famed Domesday Book was completed later than historians thought Jan 3, 2019 4:15 pm Arts Technica (Jan. 2) Carol Symes, a professor of history at Illinois, argues that the famed Domesday book was actually completed years, maybe even decades, later than originally thought. Despite recent tough times for farmers, cutting costs may not be a priority for '20 Jan 3, 2020 12:15 pm Kenosha News (Jan. 3) Illinois ag economist Scott Irwin says making big cuts could hurt farmers in the long term. He sees light at the end of the tunnel, especially in a tentative trade pact between the U.S. and China. Can blue-state lawmakers ban ballot access to presidential candidates who don't release taxes? Jan 4, 2017 2:30 pm Vikram Amar, College of Law dean at Illinois, says that a patchwork of ballot access requirements could violate the constitution. New study says exercise may change our gut health Jan 4, 2018 2:00 pm The New York Times (Jan. 3) Exercise may change the composition and activity of the trillions of microbes in our guts in ways that could improve our health over time, a new Illinois study finds. Police should be trained to consider someone’s mental status when applying force, if possible Jan 8, 2018 11:45 am WBEZ-FM (Jan. 8) By doing so, officers can potentially step back and realize they don’t necessarily need to use force, according to the director of the Police Training Institute at Illinois Does sexual harassment training work? Jan 9, 2018 11:30 am PBS Newshour (Jan. 8) Illinois' Louise Fitzgerald says ignorance of what constitutes harassment is not the problem. 'Do you reallty think grown men need to be taught not to grope their co-workers?' More Americans are getting high school diplomas, but fewer are enrolling in college. Why? Jan 11, 2016 11:45 am The Atlantic (Jan 11) - Illinois economist Jeffrey Brown says students were more likely to enroll and stay in college during the Great Recession, when there were fewer jobs. One simple step to raise pay and solve labor shortages: Prevailing wage law Jan 13, 2022 11:00 am Business Insider (Jan. 13) 'For four decades, we’ve been creating low-wage jobs and we can see, quite frankly, the chickens have come home to roost,” says Robert Bruno, director of the Project for Middle Class Renewal at the U. of I. U of I's Gies among 10 business schools to watch in 2022 Jan 19, 2022 10:30 am Poets&Quants (Jan.17) '54% of (Gies iMBA) students earned a promotion, job offer, or new job during the program, with graduates seeing pay rise by 21% on average. All for just $22,500…and no hidden fees. How could you pass that up?' Microplastic contamination found in underground aquifers Jan 28, 2019 10:00 am Earth.com (Jan. 28) U of I study is first to reveal the discovery of microplastics in fractured limestone aquifers, an underground freshwater source that supplies 25% of drinking water worldwide When more people use public transportation, obesity rates are lower. Jan 31, 2019 11:45 am ConsumerAffairs (Jan. 30) Illinois's Sheldon Jacobson says public transportation creates opportunities for exercise. '...riders walk from their home to a bus stop and from their stop to a destination' Why experts say California is the best-equipped state to deal with wildfires Jan 31, 2025 11:15 am ABC News (Jan. 29) The L.A. wildfires were caused by weather conditions that could become more common. 'Extremes and climate variability contribute to this... All those things are likely to be exacerbated in the future,' said Professor Lei Zhao. Mayor Rahm Emanuel, execs from Chicago tech companies, visit campus to recruit young techies Feb 1, 2017 10:00 am Crain's Chicago Business (Jan. 30) Their itinerary included a visit to the U of I Research Park, where researchers are working on everything from prosthetics to solar cars Trump expansion of land mine use may cause more civilian casualties, alienate allies Feb 12, 2020 1:30 pm Los Angeles Times (Feb. 10) Illinois law professor Lesley Wexler writes about the implications of the Trump administration’s recently announced intent to expand the U.S. armed forces’ use of land mines. To make things easier for plant breeders, Illinois researchers turned to unmanned aerial vehicles Feb 21, 2017 11:15 am AZOrobotics (Feb. 21) “When drones became available, we asked ourselves how we could apply this new technology to breeding." U of I soybean breeder Brian Diers How an Illinois man is trying to change federal union laws Feb 26, 2018 3:00 pm WBEZ-FM (Feb. 26) Illinois professor Bob Bruno explains the importance of a U.S. Supreme Court case that could drastically change labor unions in the U.S. 'Fight for $15' movement relishes minimum wage victory in Illinois, presses on for union rights Feb 26, 2019 8:30 am Chicago Tribune (Feb. 22) Workers haven’t seen such a sweeping benefit since the passage of the Fair Labor Standards Act in the 1930s, says Illinois labor expert Bob Bruno.