blog posts New photonic chip for isolating light may be key to miniaturizing quantum devices Oct 22, 2021 3:30 pm Research have designed a simple, compact photonic circuit that uses sound waves to rein in light. Their study, published in Nature Photonics, demonstrates a powerful way to isolate, or control the directionality of light. Scientists look beyond the individual brain to study the collective mind Oct 21, 2021 11:30 am U. of I. psychology professor Aron Barbey and his colleagues maintain that human cognition is a collective endeavor. The 232-year history of prairie fire in Midwestern US Oct 19, 2021 10:00 am A study of first-person accounts of fires occurring between 1673 and 1905 in the Midwest has given us the first systematic analysis of the timing, causes and consequences of prairie fires in this part of the world. Co-worker interventions can moderate customer sexual harassment in service industry Oct 19, 2021 8:30 am There’s been a lot of focus on sexual harassment that comes from within an organization, but much less on sexual harassment that comes from outside - from people who aren’t subject to the company’s rules and regulations. Longstanding magnetic materials classification problem solved Oct 14, 2021 10:00 am Humans have been aware of of magnetism for over 2,000 years, and researchers have steadily improved upon humanity’s fundamental understanding of magnets. Now, new classifications have implications for quantum applications. Satellite launch brings global quantum internet one step closer Oct 14, 2021 9:30 am Nanosatellite CAPSat, deployed into orbit yesterday from the International Space Station, will test built-in maintenance of quantum communication detectors in space. Patients view perinatal depression screenings as ineffective, study finds Oct 13, 2021 3:00 pm Interviews with pregnant and postpartum women in central Illinois suggest that health care providers may conduct perinatal depression screenings in ways that hamper their efficacy and overlook patients’ symptoms. Illinois team advances research to turn trash into treasure Oct 12, 2021 11:00 am 'What we are proposing is that you can turn a waste that owners pay to dispose into a by-product resource that you can make new construction products from and sell,' said Civil and Environmental Engineering professor Nishant Garg. The history, legacy of the Newbery Medal for children's books Oct 8, 2021 10:00 am The Newbery Medal, the most prestigious children’s literature award, is celebrating its centennial. The director of the Center for Children’s Books at U of I, has co-edited a book of essays to examine the award’s history, influence and future. Team discovers invasive-native crayfish hybrids in Missouri Oct 8, 2021 9:45 am A study of the Current River in southeastern Missouri, revealed – almost by chance – that the virile crayfish, Faxonius virilis, was interbreeding with a native crayfish, potentially altering the native’s genetics, life history and ecology. Book explores political secrecy among ordinary Americans in today's divisive culture Oct 6, 2021 11:30 am Professor's book looks at how much people feel they need to hide their views from others and the consequences of growing polarization – including the rising trend of clustering in communities with neighbors whose views mirror our own. Light in, sound out: small-molecule probe is safe biopsy alternative Oct 6, 2021 10:45 am U of I researchers developed a small-molecule probe that allows for rapid and non-invasive visualization of disease progression in Wilson’s disease and some metastatic cancers. 'Autonomous help-seeking' on the job pays dividends for workers Oct 6, 2021 8:45 am 'Metaphorically, what distinguishes (autonomous vs. dependent) help-seeking is the difference between asking someone to teach you how to fish versus just asking them for fish,' said Professor Yihao Liu. New analytical technique spots subtle differences in subcellular chemistry Sep 30, 2021 11:15 am This automated targeting and chemical analysis approach is faster and more accurate, andallows researchers to determine the chemical makeup of a single organelle – not the average composition of a larger sample containing many organelles. Smartphone motion sensors could be used to listen to your phone conversations Sep 29, 2021 9:30 am A relatively simple device in your smartphone that counts steps, among other things, also has the capacity to be used as a listening device, according to researchers at Illinois' Coordinated Sciences Lab. Birds' eye size offers clues to contest between brood parasites, hosts Sep 29, 2021 8:45 am Birds with larger eyes relative to their body mass were less likely to have their nests parasitized. Eye size in host birds also was associated with their likelihood of recognizing foreign eggs – unless the eggs looked a lot like their own, researchers found. U of I leads new $15M institute to understand climate change, disasters Sep 28, 2021 11:45 am 'This is a wonderful example of the many ways that LAS leads research and interdisciplinary collaboration that brings together talented colleagues from across campus,' said Venetria Patton, dean of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. DNA sensor quickly determines whether viruses are infectious Sep 22, 2021 11:00 am A new sensor can detect not only whether a virus is present, but whether it’s infectious – an important distinction for containing viral spread. Tiny porous crystals change the shape of water to speed up chemical reactions Sep 20, 2021 10:00 am Illinois researchers now understand how water molecules assemble and change shape in some settings, revealing a new strategy to speed up chemical reactions critical to industry and environmental sustainability. Antibodies from original strain COVID-19 infection don't bind to variants, study finds Sep 19, 2021 7:30 pm People infected with the original strain of the virus that causes COVID-19 produced a consistent antibody response. However, those antibodies don’t bind well to new variants, according to a new Illinois study. Ultrathin self-healing polymers create new, sustainable water-resistant coatings Sep 17, 2021 7:45 pm Illinois researchers have developed a new ultrathin waterproof coating with self-healing abilities that may help steam power plants run more efficiently in the future. Study provides basis to evaluate food subsectors' emissions of three greenhouse gases Sep 13, 2021 1:30 pm A new, location-specific agricultural greenhouse gas emission study is the first to account for net carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide emissions from all subsectors related to food production and consumption. Earthlike planets in other solar systems? Look for moons Sep 9, 2021 10:30 am 'If we can use this method to show there are other moons out there, then there are probably other systems similar to ours,' says researcher Siegfried Eggl. 'Other studies have shown the relationship between moons and the possibility of complex life.' New tool maps future climate costs for airlines, passengers Sep 8, 2021 8:15 am Because hot air is less dense than cool air, extremely hot temperatures – typically above 118 F – can affect an airplane’s ability to generate enough lift to get off the ground. And every option for compensating adds cost. Avocados change belly fat distribution in women, controlled study finds Sep 3, 2021 9:00 am A diet that included an avocado a day reduced visceral belly fat in women in a randomized controlled study of adults with overweight and obesity. Unified theory explains how materials transform from solids to liquids Sep 2, 2021 10:15 am 'Now, we have shown that these physical states, solid and liquid, can exist together in the same material, and we can explain it using one mathematical expression,' said Krutarth Kamani, a chemical and biomolecular engineering grad student at Illinois. Researchers address dairy processing's environmental, sustainability issues Sep 1, 2021 12:15 pm A team of Illinois researchers found an economical and sustainable method to process excess dairy whey – one of the food manufacturing industry’s largest polluters. Illinois entomologists identify new family of stoneflies Aug 26, 2021 12:00 pm Scientists study stoneflies because they are the most sensitive indicators of water quality among all animals. Stoneflies won’t survive if there is runoff into streams from crop fields or sewage treatment plants. Illinois artist Ben Grosser's solo show imagines 'Software for Less' Aug 24, 2021 1:45 pm A solo exhibition of work by artist Ben Grosser at arebyte Gallery in London considers what software might look like if its underlying philosophy was not the creation of more, but less. New imaging, machine-learning methods speed effort to reduce crops’ need for water Aug 24, 2021 8:45 am 'Drought stress limits agricultural production more than anything else,' Professor Andrew Leakey said. Scientists are working to find ways to minimize water loss...without decreasing the amount of carbon dioxide the leaves take in.' Merit-based employment practices contribute to gender pay gap, study says Aug 23, 2021 8:45 am Rather than reducing gender-based pay inequality by limiting managers’ reliance on factors such as gender bias and favoritism, a shift to meritocratic employment practices may actually widen the gap by preserving the status quo. Nutrient-rich human waste poised to sustain agriculture, improve economies Aug 20, 2021 1:30 pm 'Whatever comes in through food and drink must come out in our urine, feces and sweat. Knowing that, we can estimate how much (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) is in a population’s bodily waste if we know their diet,' says professor Jeremy Guest. Latinos' beliefs about social status may affect their cardiovascular health, study finds Aug 19, 2021 12:45 pm For Hispanics and Latinos living in the U.S., their beliefs about their social status have a greater influence on their cardiovascular health than metrics such as levels of income and education, according to a study by social work professor Lissette Piedra. Light can trigger key signaling pathway for embryonic development, cancer Aug 17, 2021 1:00 pm Illinois researchers developed a method that makes membrane-bound receptors reactive to light, triggering the Wnt pathway, important in embryonic development and cancer. Team develops bioprocess for converting plant materials into valuable chemicals Aug 17, 2021 11:15 am 'We figured out that we can use what’s been considered a toxic, useless substance as a supplementary carbon source with xylose to economically produce fine chemicals' such as triacetic acid lactone, or TAL, and vitamin A, Jin said. Black hole size revealed by its eating pattern Aug 12, 2021 10:45 am A new study revealed that the flickering in the brightness observed in actively feeding supermassive black holes is related to their mass. Cancer Center biochemist explores RNA splicing’s role in liver cancer Aug 11, 2021 9:30 am 'In most diseases, RNA splicing is not regulated correctly...and of course, in cancer, it is well-established that aberrant splicing is a major contributor to cell transformation and metastasis,' Kalsotra said. Study: Domestic control of COVID takes priority over international travel bans Aug 11, 2021 9:00 am A new paper co-written by ag econcomics professor Yilan Xu shows that taming domestic transmission of COVID-19 ought to be prioritized over international travel bans or restrictions aimed at limiting the threat of the virus from abroad. Study identifies molecule that stimulates muscle-building Aug 9, 2021 8:45 am Researchers found that dileucine – a peptide consisting of two leucines chemically bonded to one another – boosts the metabolic processes that promote muscle-building more than free leucine does. Sampling sewer water for COVID-19 in the community Aug 4, 2021 12:00 pm Previous work on sewage monitoring has shown that high-resolution sampling can provide an indication of infection a few days before other types of COVID tests return positive results, which could provide an important early warning tool. Study offers insight into underlying causes of seizure disorder in babies Aug 3, 2021 8:00 am Researchers discovered that genetic mutations associated with the disease impair a pathway that is involved in building new synapses in the hippocampus, a brain region essential to learning and memory. Some birds steal hair from living mammals Jul 29, 2021 6:45 pm 'We know that birds use a variety of materials to line their nests, but why are these birds risking their lives to approach these mammals?' asks Mark Hauber, an Illinois professor of evolution, ecology and behavior. Study tests microplasma against middle-ear infections Jul 29, 2021 8:45 am 'Many more studies must be conducted before we can explore the use of this technology in the human ear, but early indications are that this approach could be a viable alternative to surgery in cases where antibiotics alone are not effective.' Report: Many Illinois students not receiving critical computer science education Jul 27, 2021 8:45 am Researchers at U of I found that many elementary, secondary school students in Illinois lack access to computer science education and qualified teachers. Over wo-thirds of states have learning standards for computer science - but not Illinois. Researchers develop self-healing materials for testing on International Space Station Jul 26, 2021 1:30 pm Some materials used in aerospace applications such as polymers can degrade and erodein that atmosphere. These self-healing materials with specially designed nanoparticles and microparticles could prove more durable in space. New approach eradicates breast cancer in mice Jul 21, 2021 10:30 am A new approach to treating breast cancer kills 95-100% of cancer cells in mouse models of human estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancers and their metastases in bone, brain, liver and lungs; shrinks even large tumors to undetectable levels. The physiological consequences of workplace incivility Jul 20, 2021 10:45 am Study explores how workplace dynamics can affect an individual’s ability to respond to an uncivil act in a way that de-escalates conflict and downregulates stress responses. 2020 deadlier than previous five years, even with COVID-19 numbers removed Jul 19, 2021 4:15 pm Compared with the previous five years, March through November 2020 saw an increase of more than 450,000 deaths – and more than 176,000 of those were not from COVID-19, according to an analysis of data from the CDC. The environmental lessons of COVID-19 Jul 19, 2021 10:15 am The Global Carbon Project estimated that, due to worldwide COVID-19 restrictions, carbon dioxide emissions dropped by 2.4 billion tons, or 7 percent, in 2020 - an unprecedented decline. Chemical reactions break free from energy barriers using flyby trajectories Jul 15, 2021 10:00 am Researchers are first to use mechanical force to access new chemical reaction pathways along energy surfaces. The technique could help researchers produce fuels, fertilizers, pharmacueticals and other materials more efficiently.