blog posts Will 2024 be the year of the cicada in Illinois? Jan 24, 2024 10:15 am Cicada expert Catherine Dana describes the variety and abundance of cicada species that will make 2024 a very special year. The overlap of Brood XIII and Brood XIX this year only occurs once every 221 years. How vulnerable to inflation are the finances of older adults? Jan 31, 2022 9:15 am Social Security’s annual cost-of-living adjustment takes some of the sting out of inflation for older adults, said University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign elder law and tax policy expert Richard L. Kaplan. Is Russia-Ukraine war heading toward stalemate? Mar 2, 2023 10:15 am One year into the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the most likely outcome is a stalemate, despite the mounting cost in blood and treasure, says political science professor Edward A. Kolodziej, an expert in global politics. Is it safe to fly during the coronavirus pandemic? Apr 1, 2020 10:30 am Professor Sheldon Jacobson discusses the risks of air travel during the pandemic and what preventive measures airports and passengers can take. What's new with the plague? More than you might think Apr 23, 2020 5:00 pm Scholars have made key discoveries in the past decade about the 14th-century plague known as the Black Death – for one thing, finding its source – says history professor Carol Symes. Why has violence erupted now between Israelis and Palestinians? May 20, 2021 10:30 am A leadership vacuum and political maneuvering by both Israel and the Palestinians are fueling the violence, said Rachel S. Harris, a professor in the Programs in World and Comparative Literature and Jewish Culture and Society. U of I audiologist ‘hopeful’ about FDA ruling allowing over-the-counter hearing aid sales Oct 26, 2022 2:00 pm There are several devices that can be used to simply amplify sound. These are not hearing aids and 'are not meant to treat hearing loss,' says audiologist Sadie Braun. Before buying anything, she urges people to get a professional hearing check. What are the geopolitical implications of US nuclear submarine deal with Australia? Nov 11, 2021 10:15 am The U.S.-U.K. sale of nuclear subs to Australia is a response to China’s military ambitions in the South China Sea, said global politics expert Edward Kolodziej. But it effectively cut out France's participation in defining the security architecture of East Asia. The Midwest has a new national park. How did that happen? Mar 8, 2019 10:00 am The newly designated Indiana Dunes National Park has beaches, but it also has the Great Marsh, a variety of habitats and amazing biodiversity, says Illinois professor Robert Pahre. 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. Q and A on NFTs: What they are and their legal, creative, and environment implications Mar 30, 2022 10:15 am Many questions surround NFTs, such as what they are (or could become), why prices are so varied, what makes them special, and why there are now concerns about them. Prof. Lav Varshney and researcher Kyle Soska answer some of those questions. Should educators worry about ChatGPT? Apr 4, 2023 10:15 am Educators need to help students understand and use artificial intelligence language tools in appropriate ways to prepare them for a future in which their use is commonplace, says information sciences professor Ted Underwood. 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. Are we experiencing another unaccompanied child 'crisis' at the southern US border? Jun 15, 2021 9:15 am The issue of unaccompanied migrant children at the southern U.S. border has embroiled the previous three presidential administrations because there’s no easy solution to the problem, says law professor Lauren Aronson. How will public spaces change as result of the COVID-19 pandemic? Jun 17, 2020 8:45 am Pandemics have changed our physical spaces throughout history, but changes made as a result of COVID-19 may not be long-lasting, says Illinois architecture professor Benjamin Bross. What’s the potential of blockchain technology? Jul 13, 2022 9:45 am Blockchain technology has the potential to transform industries ranging from health care to government, says Robert Brunner, the associate dean for innovation and chief disruption officer at the Gies College of Business. 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 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? 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. Will anything ever change for the Kurds? Nov 7, 2019 1:45 pm 'Despite decades of domestic conflict between Turks and Kurds, there is no centuries-old feud. ...The current conflict, including Turkish incursion into northern Syria, is largely a story about political power.' 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. 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. Why do so few community college grads transfer to elite colleges? Mar 18, 2019 2:30 pm Community college transfer students are underrepresented at selective four-year institutions, even though they complete degrees at equal or higher rates than their peers, says researcher Eboni Zamani-Gallaher Is autism a disorder, an identity or both? Apr 22, 2018 8:30 am Speech and hearing science professor Laura DeThorne on the need to broaden public perceptions of autism to take into account individuals’ unique experiences, skills and strengths What effect will COVID-19 have on consumer bankruptcies? Apr 29, 2020 8:00 am Professor Robert Lawless, a leading consumer credit and bankruptcy expert, discusses the potential for a surge in consumer bankruptcy filings due to the coronavirus pandemic. What effect will COVID-19 have on end-of-life and retirement issues? May 14, 2020 8:45 am The continued spread of COVID-19 should prompt adults to start seriously thinking about end-of-life issues such as writing a will, said U of I law professor and elder law expert Richard L. Kaplan. Considering a nation without Roe v. Wade May 24, 2022 9:30 am How other nations deal with abortion reveals what the U.S. might face in the near future, and U of I sociologist Cynthia Buckley says the U.S. is not prepared to deal with a likely increase of unwanted and unplanned births. Is it possible to overcome our biases in the face of conflict? Jun 4, 2020 4:45 pm Travis Dixon is a professor of communication at Illinois whose research deals with the prevalence and impact of racial and other stereotypes in the mass media. 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 Are the ultrawealthy breaking the law in avoiding taxes? Jun 16, 2021 8:00 am The ultrawealthy aren’t breaking the law in avoiding taxes, but public outrage over their financial legerdemain could prompt legislators to consider an annual wealth tax, says tax policy expert Richard L. Kaplan. How might teaching inclusive history affect the educational climate in Illinois' public schools? Jun 26, 2018 10:00 am A bill under consideration in the Illinois Legislature could have a transformative effect on history curricula – and kids – in public schools, according to the U of I's Leslie K. Morrow Why are familiar brands with Black images getting a rethink? Jun 29, 2020 8:00 am Aunt Jemima is retiring. Uncle Ben is changing. Mrs. Butterworth is getting a review. These and other familiar brands are being rethought due to their use of Black images. Advertising professor Jason Chambers explains why. How might 'Medicare for All' reshape health care in the U.S.? Jul 2, 2019 10:30 am A single-payer health care system such as Medicare for All could expand access to care at equivalent costs – or less – to most consumers, according to health policy expert Thomas O’Rourke. Can a state copyright its own laws – and prevent citizens from republishing them? Jul 15, 2019 10:45 am Sara Benson, expert on copyright law, talks about a pending U.S. Supreme Court case that will determine the legality of a state copyrighting its own laws – potentially making it illegal to republish them. What is a neutrino and why do they matter? Jul 18, 2018 9:30 am Illinois physics professor Liang Yang discusses the significance of the recent neutrino detection in Antarctica and what it means for the future of observational astronomy Should the government implement a vaccine passport system? Jul 29, 2021 8:45 am Vaccine passports strike the right balance between letting life go on for those vaccinated against COVID-19 while still being realistic about the ongoing public health crisis in the U.S., said bioethics expert Jacob Sherkow. Are you ready for the solar eclipse? Aug 15, 2017 9:45 am Astronomy professor Leslie Looney on what will it look like on – and off – the 'path of totality.' In person or by mail? What to consider in choosing how to vote Sep 14, 2020 11:15 am Illinois political science professor Brian Gaines has some suggestions for choosing how to cast a ballot this fall – by mail or in person – and what to watch for in the election. What explains 'quiet quitting' in the workplace? Sep 15, 2022 9:15 am 'Quiet quitting' means forgoing the extra mile at work but is different than work withdrawal or employee disengagement, says U of I labor expert YoungAh Park, who studies work stress and recovery. Are President Biden's vaccine mandates lawful? Sep 20, 2021 9:30 am The new vaccination requirements for the federal workforce will likely be upheld by the courts, but the OSHA mandate is on shakier legal ground, says labor relations expert Michael LeRoy. Should the Senate conduct Supreme Court hearing amid pandemic, election season? Oct 12, 2020 9:15 am There is no election-year exception to the process the Constitution creates for the nomination of individuals to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, says law professor Jason Mazzone. What’s behind surge in unaccompanied minors crossing southern U.S. border? Oct 17, 2019 9:15 am Poverty, natural disasters and the rise of gang recruitment in their home countries all contribute, but the biggest factor is that their countries of origin are as violent as war zones, says law professor Lauren Aronson. 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. Can employers legally require employees to vaccinate against COVID-19? Dec 7, 2020 9:30 am In most cases, an employer could require a COVID-19 vaccination. It might seem like a violation of an employee’s personal freedom, but “No one has a legally enforceable right to a specific job,” says Professor Michael LeRoy 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. Brexit clouded by uncertainty, says Gies professor Dec 11, 2018 11:45 am With the scheduled Brexit vote cancelled for Dec. 11, Gies College of Business professor Candace Martinez says, 'Uncertainties are everywhere. This is uncharted waters, to be sure.' 2020 a bad year in many ways, but what about global carbon emissions? Dec 15, 2020 9:00 am The annual Carbon Budget Project report found that the global COVID-19 pandemic restrictions caused a record drop in CO2 emissions for 2020, says Illinois atmospheric sciences professor and report co-author Atul Jain. What are the legal, practical bounds of free speech on college campuses? Dec 18, 2023 9:00 am One of the problems with university 'speech codes' is that they’re selectively enforced, says Lena Shapiro, the inaugural director of the First Amendment Clinic at the U of I College of Law. One year later: Was the capitol attack a coup? Jan 5, 2022 9:30 am A U of I research group’s Coup D’état Project categorized the storming of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, as an 'attempted dissident coup.' That classification could evolve if investigations reveal evidence that other types of actors were involved. Would modifying payment of the earned income tax credit help struggling families? Jan 23, 2020 11:15 am Researchers found that paying the earned income tax credit in quarterly installments reduced financial stress and food insecurity among struggling families in Chicago public housing.