primary for post 364720296 July was warm, smoky in Illinois Aug 5, 2026 1:00 pm July temperatures swung between familiar heat and cooler than normal, but cold fronts brought with them wildfire smoke and poor air quality, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the Prairie Research Institute. Share this Story Share July was warm, smoky in Illinois on Facebook Share July was warm, smoky in Illinois on X primary for post 941730916 PRI, National Taiwan University partnership advances research on energy, water solutions Aug 5, 2026 12:45 pm The Prairie Research Institute at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign and the Center for Weather and Climate Disaster Research at National Taiwan University recently formalized a long-time research partnership, paving the way for practical solutions to environmental and advanced technology infrastructure challenges. Share this Story Share PRI, National Taiwan University partnership advances research on energy, water solutions on Facebook Share PRI, National Taiwan University partnership advances research on energy, water solutions on X primary for post 82754467 Wells named 2026 Office Professional of the Year Jul 21, 2026 3:15 pm Sarah Wells was selected as the 2026 Office Professional of the Year by the Illinois Administrative Professionals organization at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Share this Story Share Wells named 2026 Office Professional of the Year on Facebook Share Wells named 2026 Office Professional of the Year on X primary for post 1190257435 Researchers call on conservation genomics efforts to better engage with Indigenous communities and knowledge Jul 21, 2026 2:15 pm In two new publications, a team of researchers is calling upon their scientific colleagues and society as a whole to approach the use of genomic innovations with ethical deliberation, in consultation with Indigenous Peoples, and with the goal of holistically supporting ecosystems. Nathan Alexander, postdoctoral scholar with the Illinois Natural History Survey, contributed to one of the publications. Share this Story Share Researchers call on conservation genomics efforts to better engage with Indigenous communities and knowledge on Facebook Share Researchers call on conservation genomics efforts to better engage with Indigenous communities and knowledge on X primary for post 1086549018 Help shape solutions to food waste Jul 14, 2026 11:45 am The University of Illinois is coordinating a statewide survey to learn food waste at home and to guide efforts that support cost savings, stronger communities, and a healthier environment. Share this Story Share Help shape solutions to food waste on Facebook Share Help shape solutions to food waste on X primary for post 1217316487 Stormy June continued a wild weather year Jul 13, 2026 2:00 pm By the end of June, Illinois had 173 tornadoes for 2026 so far, smashing records, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at the Prairie Research Institute. Share this Story Share Stormy June continued a wild weather year on Facebook Share Stormy June continued a wild weather year on X primary for post 2029944398 Drawer by Drawer: Bill & Cindy Ruesink’s Commitment to the INHS Insect Collection Jul 6, 2026 9:00 am When Bill and Cindy Ruesink established an endowment for the Illinois Natural History Survey's Insect Collection, it marked the culmination of nearly two decades of volunteer work. "The collection has a need, and we can help," Bill said. Share this Story Share Drawer by Drawer: Bill & Cindy Ruesink’s Commitment to the INHS Insect Collection on Facebook Share Drawer by Drawer: Bill & Cindy Ruesink’s Commitment to the INHS Insect Collection on X primary for post 1365527503 Team looking to tap underground ‘thermal batteries’ to cool AI Data centers and save water Jul 2, 2026 8:00 am Aquifer-based geothermal systems, known as aquifer thermal energy storage, could help ease the environmental stress stemming from artificial intelligence data centers in the United States. Researchers at the Prairie Research Institute at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign are proposing a new way to keep those facilities cool by using the naturally stable underground temperatures and groundwater as a giant natural “thermal battery.” Share this Story Share Team looking to tap underground ‘thermal batteries’ to cool AI Data centers and save water on Facebook Share Team looking to tap underground ‘thermal batteries’ to cool AI Data centers and save water on X primary for post 1330463528 Citizen scientists wanted: Learn about mosquitoes in your backyard Jul 1, 2026 12:15 pm People across Illinois can help researchers track mosquitoes as part of a new citizen science project at the Prairie Research Institute. Share this Story Share Citizen scientists wanted: Learn about mosquitoes in your backyard on Facebook Share Citizen scientists wanted: Learn about mosquitoes in your backyard on X primary for post 1002122651 New climate monitoring station provides local, real-time data to Coles County Jun 17, 2026 2:45 pm A new monitoring station installed recently in Coles County provides previously unavailable local, real-time weather, soil, and water data used by farmers, weather forecasters, industry, policymakers, and others. Share this Story Share New climate monitoring station provides local, real-time data to Coles County on Facebook Share New climate monitoring station provides local, real-time data to Coles County on X