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  • Hunter Heck celebrates a point in an Illini Men's Tennis match

    Heck earns second B1G Athlete of the Week honor

    Hunter Heck extended his singles win streak to eight and moved to 14-4 on the season including 5-0 in Big Ten Play on Saturday.

  • Big Ten Baseball Tournament bracket

    Illini Baseball kicks off Big Ten Tournament against Michigan Thursday

    The  Illinois travel to Omaha, Nebraska, for the 2022 Big Ten Baseball Tournament at Charles Schwab Field. Illinois is making its 24th Big Ten Tournament appearance and looks for its fifth tournament title (1989, 1990, 2000, 2011).

  • A jacana, sometimes called a lily trotter, navigating among white lilies in Guatemala. Credit: iLantis/Getty Images

    Cleaning water naturally the ancient Maya way

    Scientific American (Jan. 26) U of I anthropology professor Lisa Lucero discusses the way ancient Mayans cleaned their water naturally, and the lessons we can learn from them. 

  • College of Law building at Illinois. Photo by L. Brian Stauffer

    U of I gets grant to start First Amendment clinic

    Crain’s Chicago Business (Aug. 1) U of I's College of Law is establishing a First Amendment clinic to take on freedom-of-expression cases and train lawyers in the subject. Dean Vik Amar says the college already has about a half dozen clinics on other themes.

  • freshman class poses in a 'Block I' pattern on the football field at Memorial Stadium. Photo by Fred Zwicky

    Illinois welcomes second-largest freshman class

    U of I's incoming class of 7,957 first-year students brings greater representation by gender, nationality and students who are the first in their family to go to college, while a change in the application process resulted in greater academic competition.

  • Jer'Zhan Newton in motion running forward

    Newton named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year

    Illinois defensive tackle Jer'Zhan Newton was named the Big Ten's Defensive Player of the Year and the Defensive Lineman of the Year. He's just the fourth Illini in history to earn the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year award. 


  • Sophomore guard Luke Goode featured on graphic advertising the game against Northwestern on Feb. 23, 2023

    Illini face Northwestern tonight at State Farm Center

    Fighting Illini Men's Basketball plays its penultimate game at State Farm Center on Thursday night, facing No. 21 Northwestern. Illinois is 13-2 at home this season and carries a four-game winning streak at State Farm Center.

  • Illini guard Justin Harmon featured on promotional graphic for the Men's Basketball game on March 5, 2024

    No. 12 Illini Host Senior Night vs. No. 3 Purdue Tuesday

    The Illini close out the home schedule with Senior Night at State Farm Center, honoring seven players and three managers in a pregame ceremony.  

  • Orio Autonomous Tool Carrier for vegetables and industrial crops from the French company Naio Technologies. Photo by Elizabeth Weiss

    Robot farmers? Machines are crawling through America's fields. Some have lasers.

    USA Today (June 4) Robots developed at Illinois can scoot under the canopy of crops to plant cover crop seed before the main crop is harvested. 'This will expand the ability to do cover cropping and take less time.' says professor Shadi Atallah.

  • Homecoming Week at Illinois

    Events throughout the week include a student dinner on the Quad, the Global Talent Show, Saturday Night Live: Homecoming Edition in downtown Champaign,  two concerts at State Farm Center and - of course - football on Saturday.

  • graphic shows profile image of Chase Brown with text, 'Chase Brown: Chasing History

    Chase Brown: Chasing History

    The nation's leading rusher is Illini Chase Brown. He's the first Illini to rush for 100+ yards in the first seven games of a season, leads the nation in all-purpose yards, yards gained after contact, and rushes of 10+ yards. This website is all about him.

  • Brochure image for Freedom Conference. The corridor is a connected network of sites in west-central Illinois and eastern Missouri linked to the Underground Railroad, such as New Philadelphia National Historic Site in Pike County.

    Freedom Corridor aims to create narrative of region's Black history

    Journal Courier (Feb. 5) "So our story — small 'o' — is now Our story — capital 'O'," says U of I professor Gerald McWorter, the great-great-grandson of he first African Americans to found a town in the U.S.

  • graduate student harvests wild rice from a canoe in September 2022. Photo by Joe Graveen

    Ojibwe Tribe joins scientists to save Midwest's sacred wild rice plant

    The Nation (Feb. 15) 'If we can scaffold (Western science and ‘traditional ecological knowledge’), we'll strengthen our knowledge about these places and what’s happening to them,' says U of I historian Rosalyn LaPier, a member of the Blackfeet Tribe.

  • A worker removes a small metal box from the cornerstone, dated 1907, of Illini Hall

    Illini Hall demolition uncovers a time capsule

    WCIA-TV (Feb. 15) U of I officials didn't know there was a time capsule in a cornerstone of Illini Hall, but they'll be excited to see what it contains when it's opened this fall as part of the campus YMCA's 150th anniversary celebration.

  • The moss-covered stems of decaying fronds, where roots have sprouted anew, anchor in the soil and provide nutrients. Photo by James Dalling

    A fern’s ‘zombie’ fronds sprout unusual roots

    New York Times (Feb. 25) 'This is completely unknown in any other plant in the world'” says Jim Dalling, a professor and forest ecologist at the U. of I.,  who discovered the fern while searching for a completely unrelated plant.

  • Sarah Graham in overalls on the U of I's South Farms

    Illinois program turns cowgirl dreams into livestock research reality

    The moment 4-year-old Sarah Graham sat in a saddle for the first time, she announced she wanted to be a cowgirl. For the suburban Chicago preschooler, it was an unlikely dream. But it stuck.

  • Dr. Ehab Kamarah. Photo provided by subject.

    Executive Director of Facilities & Services announced

    Ehab Kamarah has been selected to serve as the new Associate Vice Chancellor and Executive Director of Facilities and Services, pending approval by the Board of Trustees.

  • Design rendering of the JJK FAN campus in East St. Louis, Illinois. (Courtesy Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects)

    U of I, Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation creating East St. Louis ag & nutrition center

    The space will include indoor, outdoor ag demonstration sites along with space for engagement with hands-on training and certification programs related to growing food, ag innovation, as well as space for athletics and physical training.

  • five Illini players look weary as they walk up the floor during overtime at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night

    Illini take down No. 2 Texas in overtime

    Illinois fought back from a double-digit second-half deficit to force overtime and take down No. 2 Texas, 85-78. Freshman guard Jayden Epps scored the Illini's final five points of the second half to send the game to overtime.

  • promotional graphic for Saturday's game against Rutgers

    Illini face No. 24 Rutgers in Saturday showdown at State Farm Center

    Following an unexpected idle week with Tuesday's home game against Minnesota postponed due to COVID concerns, U of I returns to action Saturday at home against  Rutgers (1 p.m. CT, FS1).  Illinois has won seven of its last nine games.

  • The fossilized molar, seen here from several angles, is thought to have belonged to a young Denisovan girl that died between 164,000 and 131,000 years ago. Photo by F. Demeter

    150,000-year-old human tooth rare evidence of Denisovans

    If confirmed, this discovery would be the first fossil evidence that Denisovans — an extinct hominin species that co-existed with Neanderthals and modern humans — lived in southeast Asia.

  • graphic promoting the game vs. Nebraska features junior defensive end Jer'Zhan Newton

    Friday night football: Illinois hosts Nebraska

    Illinois and Nebraska meet on Friday night at Memorial Stadium with the Illini looking to extend their three-game winning streak in the series. Both teams enter the game at 2-3 overall, and both seek their first Big Ten wins of the season.  

  • sophomore forward Dane Dainja drives against a defender

    Men's Basketball: Illini face UCLA Friday in Las Vegas

    No. 19 Illinois faces No. 8 UCLA on Friday night, marking the 21st game against a top-10 team under head coach Brad Underwood. The Illini set a single-season school record in 2020-21 with six wins over top-10 opponents. 

  • Shuk Han Ng, a visiting research data manager; Giavanna McCall, a graduate student in educational psychology; Ilber Manavbasi, a research staff member; and Liz Stine-Morrow, a Professor Emerita in educational psychology on a visit to the Champaign Public Library

    U of I research: Reading for pleasure can strengthen memory in older adults

    Reading is simultaneously engaging and relaxing, and it’s fun to do alone or with friends. Now researchers say reading may help preserve memory skills as people — and their brains — grow older. 

  • Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills was hurt on Jan. 2 in a collision with Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins.Credit...Joshua A. Bickel/Associated Press

    Hamlin’s injury highlights precarious position of many young NFL players

    The New York Times (Jan. 29) 'The world’s collective heart is pouring itself out for Hamlin, but the main point is there are a lot of journeymen players who leave the league with serious problems,' says U of I labor law expert Michael LeRoy.

  • Shozo Sato, Fury of the Pacific, 1994. Blue tone ink, standard in, and silver pigment on sized, pre-mounted paper. Courtesy of the artist.

    Exhibition explores black ink, watercolor paintings by Shozo Sato

    The black ink and watercolor paintings by Shozo Sato, including landscapes of the American West, are featured at Krannert Art Museum. Contemporary work by artists using traditional Japanese  aesthetics has not been well-studied by art historians, says curator Maureen Warren.

  • Fans tailgate before an Illini Softball game

    World's largest softball tailgate returns Saturday

    With a goal of filling every seat at Eichelberger Field, tailgating begins at 11:00 a.m. with inflatables, balloon artists, face painting, food trucks, and more. Fans are encouraged to stay to watch their Fighting Illini take on Penn State.

  • side-by-side images of Pulitzer medal and alumnus Eli Murray. Composite image by Holly Rushakoff

    Alumnus Eli Murray wins Pulitzer Prize with ‘Tampa Bay Times’ team

    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.

  • promotional photo of Kayla Burbage wearing an Illini uniform

    Kayla Burbage joins Illini Volleyball for Fall 2022

    A 6-4 opposite/outside hitter from Clayton, N.C., Burbage transferred to Illinois following a year at the University of Missouri, where she started 24 of their 28 matches as a Freshman and led the team in blocks.

  • illustration by Karlotta Freier for the New York Times

    Cycle syncing is trendy. Does it work?

    The New York Times (June 1)  Much of the advice about timing training regimens around menstrual cycles is impractical, given that cycles vary, says Kathryn Clancy, a biological anthropology professor at the U. of I. 

  • Corn field stock image via Pixabay. Photo by Skitterphoto

    Can you hear corn grow at this time of year? In fact...

    KKRC-FM (June 12) 'On very still nights you can hear a popping or cracking noise,' says U of I crop physiologist Fred Below. 'What you hear is the cell walls of the stalk expanding. Mostly I believe it is the tracheids expanding.'

  • shiny, happy people in orange 'welcome Illini' tee shirts

    Welcome, Class of 2027

    LInk to Welcome Week events page

  • Why businesses are still furiously hiring even as a downturn looms

    Yahoo Finance (Sept. 5) The demand side of the jobs market has not changed much by the pandemic, but the supply side was more radically altered according to a recent study by U of I professor Eliza Forsythe and three co-authors. 

  • 100th anniversary logo over orange-tinted photo of playing field at Memorial Stadium

    U of I celebrates Memorial Stadium 100th Anniversary in 2024

    Illinois is set to host Michigan on Saturday, Oct. 19 - 100 years and one day from Red Grange's historic six-touchdown game at the stadium's opening. 100th anniversary celebrations are planned throughout the year.

  • graphic image of a mink. Daniel Zender / The Atlantic; source: Getty

    We have a mink problem: Birds aren’t humanity’s only bird-flu worry

    The Atlantic (Feb. 28) –A bird-flu outbreak at a mink farm killed thousands of the animals. The good news, says U of I professor James Lowe, is that, 'we’re just not very susceptible' to bird flu, even when other mammals are infected.

  • two students in caps and gowns pose in front of the Alma Mater statue, which is also wearing cap and gown

    Report shows U of I grads' success in job placement, starting salaries

    “No matter where they are from or where they land, a degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is one of the best decisions and best investments a student can make for their education, career and life,” Chancellor Robert J. Jones said. “We are thrilled to see our graduates succeeding at such high rates.” 

  • Diagram of ChatRepair conversation flow

    ChatGPT becomes ChatRepair to automate bug fixing for less

    The Register (April 5) – U. of I. researchers have enlisted ChatGPT to repair software bugs without breaking the bank. The title of their recent preprint paper: 'Fixing 162 out of 337 bugs for $0.42 each using ChatGPT.'

  • John Coleman, photo provided. Graphics by Michael Vincent

    Coleman named vice chancellor for academic affairs and provost

    John Coleman will be the next vice chancellor for academic affairs and provost at Illinois, pending approval by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees.  

  • Toby Beauchamp is a professor of gender and women’s studies at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

    Why are so many states trying to limit transgender rights?

    An increasing number of states are proposing anti-transgender bills aimed at issues affecting children. They will lead to more legislation limiting the rights of transgender adults as well, says Professor Toby Beauchamp.

  • The little St. Mary's cemetery sits next to a busy road on the far corner of Maryville Academy’s campus. Photo by Peter Medlin

    What's the legacy of Federal Indian Boarding Schools in Illinois?

    WNIJ-AM (Aug. 1) Professor Dave Beck describes the legacy of St. Mary’s Training School for Boys in Maryville, Ill., where many Native American children were indoctrinated into white American culture, and where several of them died.

  • civil rights leader Thurgood Marshall speaking into a microphone in 1956. Associated Press photo

    Reflecting on Thurgood Marshall's speech at U of I in 1956

    On March 8, 1956, future U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall visited the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to talk about his work, the many cases of segregation in Illinois, and the murder of Emmett Till.

  • Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos. (Photos by Al Drago/Bloomberg; Mark Lenin/AP; Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

    How a billionaires boys’ club came to dominate the public square

    Washington Post (May 1) 'Even if Elon Musk was the smartest person on earth, had the best heart, had been touched by God, I wouldn’t want him to have that much power,' said U of I professor Robert McChesney. 'It's antithetical to democratic political theory.'

  • Chicago Tribune photo of the Chicago skyline

    New census figures: Illinois’ population actually gained. Experts say warning signs remain

    Chicago Tribune (May 23) Follow-up survey shows Illinois’ population was likely undercounted in 2020 census that cost it a congressional seat. 'Our problem is we are not growing as fast as places like Florida and Texas,' says U of I's Cynthia Buckley.

  • two Illini players celebrate

    Illini Football handles Virginia, 24-3

    The Illini scored 24 unanswered points, while the defense held the Cavaliers to 1-for-16 on third down, 1-for-4 on fourth down, and racked up five sacks on the day.

  • Bo Zhang, a professor of labor and employment relations and of psychology at Illinois.  Photo by Fred Zwicky

    Paper: Neurotic personality trait a key risk factor for stress perception

    While all of the 'Big Five' personality traits – agreeableness, conscientiousness, extraversion, neuroticism and openness – are related to experiencing stress, neuroticism showed the strongest link

  • Coleman Hawkins elevates for a three-point jump shot in the Illini victory over Syracuse on November 29, 2022

    Hawkins' triple-double leads Fighting Illini past Syracuse

    Coleman Hawkins registered the first Illinois triple-double in two seasons, recording 15 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in the Fighting Illini's 73-44 win over Syracuse. Terrence Shannon Jr. led all scorers with 17 points.

  • graphic shows young worker speaking from her cubicle. Credited to Getty Images; Alyssa Powell/BI

    20 somethings who speak their minds at work are changing the office forever

    'I think you still want work to matter in your life, but you’re thinking about how it fits into your identity, into your consciousness in a more critical way than I think the previous generations likely did,' says U of I labor expert Robert Bruno

  • Illinois Neurodiversity Initiative to help students with autism, dyslexia, ADHD

    Awareness is growing of the array of talents and skills that neurodivergent individuals can bring to the workplace. INI aims to see that students are successfully employed within six months of graduation, said program creator Jeanne Kramer.

  • Greenhouse assistant student worker Alexandra (Lexi) Gomez cuts back dead foliage from a Ischnosiphon pruinosus plant. Photos by Fred Zwicky

    Nurturing a tropical paradise in the heart of the Midwest

    The U of I Plant Biology Greenhouse and Conservatory houses more than 200 species and 60 families of tropical and subtropical plants selected for their botanical interest or economic importance.

  • Illinois Athletics announces 2023 Hall of Fame inductees

    The University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics named 12 new members to the UI Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2023, including athletes and coaches from nine different teams.