Illinois Featured Content

professor of education policy, organization and leadership Paul Bruno. Photo by L. Brian Stauffer

Study: Schools should boost entry-level salaries to better compete for novice teachers

Jan 16, 2025 12:30 pm

Despite concerns about teacher shortages in certain school districts and subject areas, a recent study found that schools are not adjusting their salary scales strategically so they can better attract novice teachers.

Gies College of Business faculty members Clara Xiaoling Chen and David Godsell. Uncredited photos.

Board gender diversity improves investment efficiency for companies

Jan 13, 2025 9:30 am

The study finds that mandatory and strongly enforced gender diversity interventions trigger larger enhancements in investment efficiency compared to voluntary or weakly enforced policies.

American Redstart in flight. Photo courtesy of Andrew Dreelin.

Songbirds socialize on the wing during migration, new study says

Jan 15, 2025 12:00 pm

Birds' flight paths may not be entirely innate, according to U. of I. research. Evidence from recorded flight calls suggests songbirds may 'talk' to other species as they migrate, forming social connections and, perhaps, sharing information about the journey.

Gies College of Business professor Alex Vandenberg

Gies researcher uses novel approach to uncover prevalence of earnings manipulation

Jan 6, 2025 11:00 am

'Because executives are often the only people who know that earnings have been manipulated, we thought it would be worthwhile to at least try asking executives directly about whether they have manipulated earnings,' said researcher Alex Vandenberg.

Communication professor Matea Mustafaj sits in front of a screen showing some of the films used in the study, including, “Hidden Figures,” “The Queen’s Gambit,” “Pawn Sacrifice” and “The Martian.” Photo by Fred Zwicky

Study: Brilliant white male characters more believable, some viewers say

Nov 22, 2024 8:45 am

Brilliant characters often play key roles in movies and TV shows. However, when they are played by women and people of color, some audience members dismiss them as unrealistic, even if they portray real people.

Study reveals advantages of informative brand names

Nov 15, 2024 11:45 am

By clearly communicating a product's purpose, informative names can significantly boost a product's visibility and success, suggesting that businesses can benefit from adopting descriptive names to gain a competitive edge.

A Doctor in a Consultation with a Mother and Her Daughter. Photo via Pexels by Pavel Danilyuk

Communication with doctor during first visit affects pain patients’ outcomes

Oct 30, 2024 9:15 am

U. of I. researchers found that shared decision-making and the quality of the health care provider’s history-taking and physical exam were the main drivers of spinal pain patients’ satisfaction with, trust in and agreement with their doctors.

In muscular dystrophy, mutated DNA begets toxic RNA that alter liver function, including susceptibility to fatty liver disease and hypersensitivity to drugs. Understanding these effects is crucial for developing treatments, as many have proven toxic in patients. Illustration by Haneni Bae

Mouse model reveals liver involvement in muscular dystrophy

Oct 24, 2024 12:00 pm

A new mouse model mimicking the liver symptoms of the most prevalent form of adult-onset muscular dystrophy provides insight into why patients develop fatty liver disease and display hypersensitivity to medications.

A genomic study of the maneless Tsavo lions confirmed that they were likely siblings. Pictured: a pair of maneless lions living today in the Tsavo region. Photo by Michael Jeffords and Susan Post

WILD: Genomic study identifies human, animal hair in ‘man-eater’ lions’ teeth

Oct 11, 2024 10:30 am

In 1898, two male, maneless lions crept into a camp near the Tsavo River in Kenya, raided tents and dragged off their victims. The infamous 'man-eaters' killed at least 28 people before the civil engineer on the project shot them dead.

toddler eating broccoli. Stock image via Shutterstock

Raising happy eaters: Unlocking the secrets of childhood appetite

Oct 18, 2024 11:45 am

Children are born with a capacity to regulate appetite based on hunger and satiety signals, but with increased exposure to environmental factors, their eating is increasingly guided by psychological reasoning and motivations.

Brittney Goodrich holding a bee hive frame.

Honey bees in demand: New contract strategies to support pollination services

Oct 15, 2024 11:15 am

Beekeepers 'move colonies to the places where there are flowers blooming so the bees can find food. I’m interested in how beekeepers deal with risk in their operation and how that affects pollination contracts,' Professor Brittney Goodrich said.

New book explores the history of the phony cancer drug Krebiozen

Oct 1, 2024 11:15 am

Journalism professor emeritus Matthew C. Ehrlich examines the dramatic story of a controversial medicine once touted as a miracle cure for cancer in his new book.

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign business administration professor Rosanna K. Smith. Photo by Fred Zwicky

Ads featuring interracial couples produce mixed results for brands

Sep 16, 2024 8:30 am

'The prevalence of interracial couples in advertising suggests that firms assume this is an effective strategy. But there’s no clear evidence that brands benefit from this inclusion,' said business professor Rosanna K. Smith.

U. of I. psychology professor Brent Roberts. Photo by Fred Zwicky

Report: Conscientiousness, not willpower, is a reliable predictor of success

Sep 10, 2024 8:45 am

Two psychology professors argue that psychological science sometimes overemphasizes the role of willpower in human success and well-being. The personality trait 'conscientiousness' is a better predictor of success, they write.

University of Illinois sociology professor Ilana Redstone. Photo by Fred Zwicky

Book: Healing America’s divisiveness requires changing how we think

Aug 26, 2024 1:45 pm

Healing America’s political discord — and saving democracy — demands that we abandon our certainty we are right and snap judgments about those who disagree, says sociology professor Ilana Redstone in a new book.

Professor Rabin Bhattarai. Photo by Fred Zwicky

Study tracks decades of extreme heat, cold in Upper Midwest

Aug 20, 2024 11:30 am

U. of I. researchers found significant increases in the frequency of daytime extreme heat stress across the Upper Midwest. Urban areas often saw the biggest increases over time, likely as a result of the 'heat island' effect.

stock image of a bowl of yogurt with berries and granola being drizzled with honey

Honey added to yogurt supports probiotic cultures for digestive health

Aug 8, 2024 1:45 pm

'Our findings showed that pairing honey with yogurt supported the survival of the yogurt’s probiotic bacteria in the gut, so the lab study results did translate to real-world application in humans,' said food sciences professor Hannah Holscher.

Professor Antoinette Burton. Photo Courtesy Antoinette Burton

U. of I. historian’s book provides introduction to gender history

Aug 7, 2024 12:00 pm

'Gender makes a huge difference in how political movements unfold and how capitalism works, in the workplace but also in the household. There’s no aspect of public, private, civic or political life that is untouched by gender.'

A channel catfish. Channel catfish had the highest accumulation of PFAS in its tissues, the researchers found.

PFAS found in nearly all fish tested from four northern Illinois rivers

Jul 31, 2024 8:15 am

ound PFAS-contaminated fish in every one of the 15 sites they tested along four northern Illinois rivers, with channel catfish having the highest accumulation of PFAS in its tissues.

rainbow over rural highway. Photo by Courtney Cuthbertson

First of its kind study shines light on LGBTQ+ farmer mental health

Jul 1, 2024 1:45 pm

LGBTQ+ people involved in farm work are more than three times more likely to experience depression and suicidal intent and about two and a half times more likely to experience anxiety than the general population.

graduate student Sehyun Ju, human development and family studies professor Kelly Bost, and graduate student Samantha Iwinski. Photo by Fred Zwicky

Emotional overeating fed by temperament, caregivers’ reactions to children’s emotions

Jul 2, 2024 11:45 am

New research on the origins of emotional overeating in 3-year-olds suggests that caregivers' responses to infants’ and toddlers’ negative emotions (disappointment, fear, anger) influences a child’s development of emotional overeating.

Adobe stock image of migratory birds flying over water in sunset lighting

Specialist and migratory birds at greater risk under climate change

Jun 11, 2024 4:30 pm

Following decades of decline, even fewer birds will darken North American skies by the end of the century, according to a new analysis by scientists at the U. of I. College of ACES.

stock image: a mother drives while looking at her adolescent child in the back seat through the rearview mirror

When mothers and children talk about problems, environment matters

Jun 4, 2024 10:45 am

Talking to their parents about daily stressors can help adolescents deal with their problems. This is particularly important during the transition to middle school. But does it matter where these conversations take place?

Urban and regional planning professor Rebecca Walker. Photo by Fred Zwicky

Researchers: Green infrastructure plans need to consider historical racial inequalities

May 21, 2024 9:45 am

'For the environmental and ecological questions, we have a pretty good handle on what we need to do. The questions that are the hardest... are how to work well with communities, particularly marginalized communities.'

Book details how feds used bribery to end relationships with Native American tribes

May 28, 2024 12:15 pm

A new book by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign history professor David Beck examines how the federal government used bribery schemes to end its relationships with Native American tribal nations in the early 20th century.

Cicadas and tinnitus: Here's what you need to know

May 20, 2024 1:15 pm

Professor Fatima Husain explains why individuals with tinnitus may find peace among the audial onslaught and offers suggestions for how people can safely shield their ears from the impending 'wall of sound.'

U. of I. professor of agricultural and consumer economics Yilan Xu, left, and U. of I. graduate student Sébastien Box-Couillard. Photo by Fred Zwicky

Study: Social networks can influence perception of climate-change risk

May 22, 2024 9:45 am

A U of I study found that social networks can play a significant role in influencing the financial behaviors and perception of catastrophic risks brought about by climate change.

Using excavated artifacts, Ambrose (pictured) and his team discovered that there was a long-distance cultural exchange between the Tibetan plateau and northern China.

Tibetan plateau had broader social dimensions than previously thought

Apr 29, 2024 11:30 am

Using excavated artifacts, Profewssor Stanley Ambrose and his team discovered that there was a long-distance cultural exchange between the Tibetan plateau and northern China.

More organizational learning was associated with design-related product recalls than with process-related recalls, says new research co-written by Gopesh Anand, left, and Ujjal Kumar Mukherjee, both professors of business administration at Illinois.

Paper: Firms learn more from ‘knowledge-gap’ failures than mere ‘slip-ups’

Apr 22, 2024 8:30 am

More organizational learning was associated with design-related product recalls than with process-related recalls. Researchers also learned that a firm’s accumulated patents and investment in R&D enhanced learning from design-related recalls.

Illinois professors Richard Sowers, left, and Manuel Hernandez used machine learning techniques to improve data analysis from wearable sensors to detect symptoms and monitor the progression of Parkinson’s disease. Photo by Fred Zwicky

Wearable sensors for Parkinson’s can improve with machine learning, data from healthy adults

Apr 12, 2024 10:00 am

The study shows that 'the expansion of datasets with healthy older adult motion data and integration with deep learning approaches can help improve the accuracy of detecting differences in motor impairment in persons with Parkinson's...'

Professor Tiffany Barnett-White. Photo provided by Gies College of Business

The downside of 'branded access offers': Perceived lack of consumer commitment

Apr 11, 2024 12:30 pm

'Brands are constantly pursuing new customers, and the leading trend is a focus on branded access offers... moving away from ownership to more of a short-term rental mode,' said U of I business professor Tiffany Barnett White .

students in a classroom. Stock image from iStock

Illinois schools sought to participate in 2024 Illinois Youth Survey

Mar 18, 2024 9:30 am

The Illinois Youth Survey is a biennial survey of eighth, 10th and 12th grade students that provides important assessments of school climate issues and substance use across Illinois’ middle and high schools.

Anton Ivanov and Ujjal Kumar Mukherjee, both professors of business administration at Illinois. Photo by Fred Zwicky and L. Brian Stauffer

Study: Default testing for COVID-19 in K-12 schools more effective than voluntary testing

Mar 13, 2024 9:00 am

A new paper co-written by U of I business professors found that default testing of K-12 students for COVID-19 during the pandemic could have saved up to one out of every five school days lost to the coronavirus during the fall 2021 semester.

U. of I. political scientist Jeffery J. Mondak, left, and graduate student Matthew Mettler. Photo by Fred Zwicky

Study: Americans struggle to distinguish factual claims from opinions amid partisan bias

Mar 12, 2024 11:30 am

Americans struggle to tell the difference between statements of fact and statements of opinion – a troubling trend that has grave implications for civic discourse in the U.S., say U of I political science researchers.

Rebecca Walker, a professor of urban and regional planning. Photo by Fred Zwicky

Historic racial covenants in property deeds linked to disparities in exposure to dangerous heat

Mar 6, 2024 8:00 am

A study by urban and regional planning professor Rebecca Walker is the first to examine the environmental impact of racial covenants, using the first database to map the presence of the covenants in a U.S. metropolitan area.

Researchers included molecular and integrative physiology professor Erik R. Nelson; Kelly Swanson, the director of the Division of Nutritional Sciences and the Kraft Heinz Endowed Professor in Human Nutrition; and animal sciences professor Brett R. Loman. Photo by Fred Zwicky

Study: Metabolic diseases may be driven by gut microbiome, loss of ovarian hormones

Feb 22, 2024 8:00 am

Mice that received fecal biome transplants from donors that had their ovaries removed expressed higher levels of genes associated with metabolic diseases, including fatty liver disease, atherosclerosis and Type 2 diabetes.

Communication professor Stewart Coles. Photo by Fred Zwicky

White people more likely to confront authors of racist online posts to set discussion rules

Feb 12, 2024 9:45 am

'If the objective is reframed from trying to change a transgressor’s deep-seated attitudes to a potentially more achievable goal (defining social norms)...participants’ willingness to confront others about racist content increases.'

Oliver Tapaha, an Illinois Distinguished Postdoctoral Scholar in the Education Policy, Organization & Leadership (EPOL) Department in the College of Education, is a citizen of the Diné (Navajo) tribe from northeastern Arizona.

Navajo scholar’s Indigenous leadership research aids educators of Native students

Feb 8, 2024 10:30 am

Sometimes researchers discover something they weren’t looking for—something as valuable, perhaps even more so, than the original treasure they sought. Such is the case with Oliver Tapaha.

Education professor Jennifer Nelson. Photo by Fred Zwicky

Whether a racial minority or majority at work, white teachers struggle with race relations

Jan 31, 2024 8:30 am

White teachers were often ill-equipped for discussions about racial issues because they had little prior experience thinking about or confronting race in their family, educational and previous work environments.

Active Seniors Having Walk With Bike In Autumn Nature They Having Romantic Time Outdoor. Stock photo via Storyblocks

Ageism, mistaken beliefs complicate acceptance of older adults’ sexuality

Jan 23, 2024 12:30 pm

More than 25% of the young adults surveyed in a recent study mistakenly believed that sexual activity increases older adults’ risk of heart attack and that disinterest in sex is a normal and inevitable part of aging.

communication professor Emily Van Duyn found in a recent study. Photo by L. Brian Stauffer

News media trigger conflict for romantic couples with differing political views

Jan 16, 2024 2:30 pm

Couples with differing political views and identities face unique challenges in their consumption of news, which can create significant stress on their relationship, communication professor Emily Van Duyn found in a recent study.

Illinois Kids Development Study principal investigator Susan Schantz, a U. of I. professor emerita of comparative biosciences. Photo by Fred Zwicky

Study: Acetaminophen use during pregnancy linked to language delays in children

Jan 3, 2024 8:00 am

A new study links acetaminophen use in pregnancy to modest but significant delays in the language development of offspring, says Illinois Kids Development Study principal investigator Susan Schantz.

Professor Robert Bruno. Photo by L. B. Stauffer

New book explores complicated relationship between workers and their work

Jan 8, 2024 9:15 am

A new book by U. of I. labor expert Robert Bruno explores how workers characterize their relationship to their jobs using personal six-word mini-narratives, serving as a broader exploration of how middle-class workers view work in the U.S.

stock image of teen girl helping her young sister

Parentification: The impact of children taking on parental roles in their family

Dec 13, 2023 12:00 pm

We expect parents to always take care of their children’s physical and emotional needs. But sometimes the roles are reversed, and the child assumes responsibilities beyond what is appropriate for their age.

Professor Masooda Bashir. Photo courtesy of Masooda Bashir

Study shows challenges to protecting privacy of library users

Dec 8, 2023 12:30 pm

The biggest challenges libraries face in protecting the privacy of patrons are a lack of training and technical knowledge, particularly with increased use of digital services, according to a study by information sciences professor Masooda Bashir.

Production analyst and U. of I. student worker Josh Weiner enters information into the SPOTLITE database. Photo by Fred Zwicky

Database expands to document police uses of lethal force across US

Dec 5, 2023 12:00 pm

'SPOTLITE,' identified more than 23,000 incidents of police uses of lethal force in the U.S. during 2014-2021. It includes incidents in which police used a firearm - including those with nonfatal outcomes - and other uses of force that result in a death.

Graduate student Amir Maghsoodi was the first author of the study. Photo provided.

Cultural capital is key to a sense of belonging for college students of color

Nov 20, 2023 11:15 am

Researchers found that college students derive belongingness from four broad factors – their identification with the university overall; feelings of being a social match with others; their sense of being accepted and welcome; and their cultural capital.

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