blog posts Model tackles key obstacle to efficient plastic recycling Jun 24, 2025 8:00 am Researchers developed a better model for the catalytic depolymerization of plastics, addressing a key obstacle to widespread plastic recycling. Stoichiometric crystal could solve quantum memory issue Jul 9, 2025 9:30 am Although classical memory—like the type used to store text messages between users—is relatively simple to facilitate, quantum information can't be stored, copied, or retained in this way. How are veterinarians advancing cancer research in dogs, people? Jun 23, 2025 1:00 pm A professor of veterinary clinical medicine at Illinois is among those developing new treatments for cancer in dogs and studying their translation to human medicine. Machine-learning model reliably predicts cognitive performance Jun 16, 2025 8:45 am A machine-learning algorithm developed byIllinois researchers determined that age, blood pressure and BMI were the best predictors of cognitive performance. Study links influenza A viral infection to microbiome, brain gene expression changes Jun 18, 2025 10:00 am In a study of neonatal piglets, Illinois researchers linked influenza A viral infection to alterations of the nasal microbiome and potentially detrimental changes in brain gene expression. Fermenting legume pulses boosts their antidiabetic, antioxidant properties Jun 6, 2025 2:45 pm U. of I. researchers identified the optimal fermentation conditions for pulses ― the dried edible seeds of legumes ― that increased their antioxidant and antidiabetic properties and their soluble protein content. Study: Erasing medical debt has little impact on financial health, credit access Jun 2, 2025 9:00 am Major credit bureaus will eliminate medical debt from credit reports in hopes of making it easier for debtors to get other loans. U. of I. researchers found no evidence the change would effect consumers’ credit scores or borrowing behavior. Eating craved foods with meals lessens cravings, boosts weight loss May 19, 2025 1:30 pm Eating small amounts of craved foods as desserts with well-balanced meals helped dieters lose weight and manage cravings, researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign found in a new study. Paper: AI-human task-sharing could cut mammography screening costs by up to 30% May 7, 2025 8:45 am A study by Professor Mehmet Eren Ahsen finds the most effective way to use artificial intelligence when screening for breast cancer may be through collaboration with human radiologists — not by wholesale replacing them. DNA origami guides new possibilities in the fight against pancreatic cancer Apr 22, 2025 3:00 pm 'This research highlights not only the potential for more accurate cancer imaging, but also selective chemotherapy delivery, a significant advancement over current...treatments,' said U. of I. Professor Bumsoo Han. Omnivorous? Vegan? Makes no difference to muscle building after weightlifting, study finds Apr 21, 2025 9:15 am A new clinical trial tested a vegan diet against an omnivorous diet and found no difference in the rate of muscle-protein synthesis after weight training. Federal privacy law needed for sensitive consumer data when companies go bankrupt Apr 16, 2025 11:30 am What happens to your personal information when a genetic testing company goes belly up? It would most likely be sold to a successor company that customers might not want to entrust with their genetic data, says law expert Sara Gerke. Wearable technology continuously monitors heart-rate recovery to predict risk Apr 9, 2025 11:00 am U. of I. researchers used a 'smart shirt' to track participants’ heart-rate recovery after exercise and developed a tool for analyzing the data to predict those at higher risk of heart-related ailments. Study finds global downturn in bias against stigmatized groups Apr 7, 2025 10:45 am A study in 33 countries between 2009 and 2019 found substantial reductions in explicit, self-reported bias against all categories of stigma they examined: age, race, body weight, skin tone and sexual orientation. Drug-delivering aptamers target leukemia stem cells for one-two knockout punch Apr 3, 2025 9:45 am The aptamers - short single-strand snippets of DNA that can target molecules like larger antibodies do - not only deliver cancer-fighting drugs, but also are themselves toxic to the cancer stem cells, the researchers said. Study: Microalgae and bacteria team up to convert CO2 into useful products Apr 1, 2025 12:15 pm The successful production of these compounds is a proof-of-concept that the system works, said study lead Yong-Su Jin. 'We can also imagine that we can use this approach to make other valuable proteins such as insulin.' New IVF method mimics fallopian tube environment, increasing sperm viability Mar 25, 2025 1:15 pm “There are companies, especially related to dairy cattle, that use IVF to produce and sell high-genetic-merit embryos that... will produce milk more efficiently,' said professor David Miller. 'This technology could help produce meat and milk more efficiently.' To overcome antibiotic resistance, new research says to let it flow Mar 18, 2025 8:00 am Some notoriously difficult to treat infections may not be as resistant to antibiotics as has been thought, according to research using a microfluidic device that more closely duplicates the fluid flow found in the body than standard cultures. Study: 'Sustainable intensification' on the farm reduces nitrate losses, maintains yields Mar 13, 2025 8:30 am U. of I. researcher Lowell Gentry and his colleagues found that an intensive three-year crop-rotation system reduced nitrate pollution runoff by 50% without compromising crop yields. Safer infrastructure through AI Feb 26, 2025 9:30 am 'My research aims to automate, enhance corrosion detection, segmentation and measurement using (AI), which can improve accuracy, efficiency and consistency in corrosion analysis,' said doctoral student Shengyi Wang. Solving the hidden cost of constant connectivity at work Mar 3, 2025 8:45 am New research from Gies Business on the hidden cost of constant connectivity in modern workplaces, which leads to relational overload as employees struggle to balance multiple requests and expectations. Mutation increases enzyme in mouse brains linked to schizophrenia behaviors Feb 18, 2025 1:30 pm Professor Uwe Rudolph and researcher Maltesh Kambali led an international group who found a key role for an enzyme regulating glycine in the brain while investigating a rare genetic mutation found in two patients with schizophrenia. Dating is not broken, but the trajectories of relationships have changed Feb 12, 2025 8:45 am Despite societal changes such as dating apps and young adults waiting longer to marry, college students’ expectations about romantic relationships remained much the same over the last decade, according to U. of I. research. Study: Civil organizing persisted during Syrian civil war Jan 30, 2025 8:45 am Civil organizing persisted during Syria’s civil war but also shifted to 'translocal organizations' operating in rebel-held territory inside Syria and in neighboring countries, according to research by Professor Rana Khoury. Book: Maya wisdom should guide humanity’s future Jan 21, 2025 9:15 am Anthropology professor Lisa Lucero’s book explores how the Maya survived for thousands of years by building their societies on a respect for, and integration into, the natural world. Students' research points to concussion risks, symptoms in high school athletes Jan 15, 2025 9:00 am New research from a Carle Illinois College of Medicine team reveals certain high school athletes may be more likely to sustain a concussion while playing school-sponsored sports than others. Physical neglect as damaging to children’s social development as abuse Jan 9, 2025 12:45 pm 'Maltreated children often feel shame and may have lower self-esteem and sense of belonging... Experiencing abuse or neglect may also cause children to anticipate rejection or victimization by their peers, making them less likely to reach out to others.' Targeting cancer solutions with Grainger Engineering Jan 10, 2025 8:45 am Two Grainger Engineering-led teams received $54 million from ARPA-H to deliver solutions to cancer-related problems. 'We're one of a few institutions to receive two separate awards. This speaks to the power of (our) engineering-driven science.' Gene editing tool reduces Alzheimer’s plaque precursor in mice Dec 23, 2024 1:30 pm A new gene editing tool that helps cellular machinery skip parts of genes responsible for diseases has been applied to reduce the formation of amyloid-beta plaque precursors in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. U. of I. historian: Midwest played a crucial role in Black freedom movements worldwide Dec 12, 2024 8:00 am The Midwest played a key role in incubating and expanding the ideas of political activist Marcus Garvey, not only in the U.S., but globally, Professor Erik McDuffie writes in his new book. Illinois researchers examine teens’ use of generative AI, safety concerns Dec 2, 2024 8:00 am Professor Yang Wang and doctoral student Yaman Yu examined teens’ use of generative AI and found parents had little understanding of how their children used it and that GAI platforms offer insufficient safety protections. Separating home life from work: Maybe there’s a 'Vegas rule' for that Dec 9, 2024 12:00 pm Professor Oscar Ybarra explores how well individuals can separate their work and home life, suggesting that people with stronger working memory are better able to keep home stressors from affecting their work. CI MED research offers updated snapshots of AFib, anti-stroke treatment across U.S. Nov 21, 2024 9:30 am A study reveals more Americans than previously estimated have developed an irregular heartbeat that puts them at higher risk for stroke and death. It also shows important gaps in how atrial fibrillation is treated in the U.S. Study: Community Notes on X could be key to curbing misinformation Nov 21, 2024 11:15 am A crowdsourced fact-checking tool on X encourages users to voluntarily retract misinformation, which could balance the need to curb false information while respecting free speech, and as a transparent alternative to traditional fact-checking. Thinking hands: How gesturing can help us understand difficult concepts Nov 6, 2024 9:30 am Hand gestures are a common, natural part of human communication. And if you’ve ever seen someone gesturing when on a cell phone or when trying to solve a geometry problem, you know that gestures also help us think. New book examines the impact of colonialism on Puerto Rico Nov 7, 2024 8:45 am Professor Jose Atiles' book suggests the Puerto Rican and U.S. governments exacerbated crises such as hurricanes, COVID-19, and spiraling public debt through socioeconomic, legal and racialized conditions they created. A new milestone in the study of octopus arms Nov 13, 2024 9:30 am The new model is a milestone both in biology, where it helps explain the octopus’s impressive capability, and engineering. 'The computational model is a useful testbed for roboticists to test their algorithms,' Professor Prashant Mehta said. Earthquake prediction techniques lend quick insight into strength, reliability of materials Nov 6, 2024 8:45 am 'The results of this work allow researchers to test material failure more quickly than high-powered, detailed simulation models,' said graduate student Jordan Sickle, a leader of the study. Professor’s book explores the relationship between beauty and crisis Nov 4, 2024 10:15 am Mimi Thi Nguyen explores the relationship between beauty and crisis, and how examining beauty can point to the social and political conditions necessary for a good life. Her new book is 'The Promise of Beauty.' Thin skin significantly blunts injury from puncture, study finds Oct 28, 2024 11:00 am Researchers found that thin animal skin significantly dissipates the energy of a puncturing projectile. In their experiments, skin worked better than a thicker synthetic gel designed to mimic skin. Study: Youth action research projects need thoughtful design, youths’ input Oct 24, 2024 11:15 am Called the Youth Researcher Empowerment Framework, this proposed framework ensures that youth have an equal voice in these projects and connects their projects with the development of 11 specific social and emotional competencies. A micro-scale look at how parachute textiles act under stress Oct 21, 2024 11:45 am Beckman Institute researchers used micro-CT scans to understand how stress impacts parachutes on the fiber-scale. This information will be used to develop better models for identifying promising parachute textile candidates. Waste plastic can improve sustainable aviation fuel, researchers find Sep 20, 2024 11:15 am 'To reduce carbon emissions associated with aviation fuel, sustainable aviation fuel is the only option. Landfill-bound waste plastic can be a source for sustainable aviation fuel,' said Hong Lu, a U of I research scientist. Study: Good nutrition boosts honey bee resilience against pesticides, viruses Sep 24, 2024 9:45 am U. of I. researchers wondered, how do nutritional stress, viral infections and exposure to pesticides together influence honey bee survival? By looking at all three stressors together, the scientists found that good nutrition enhances honey bee resilience against the other threats. Urban heating, cooling to play substantial role in future energy demand under climate change Sep 13, 2024 11:15 am Global energy projections underestimate the impact of climate change on urban heating and cooling systems by roughly 50% by 2099 if greenhouse gas emissions remain high, researchers report. New book reveals Electoral College strategies in modern political era Sep 9, 2024 10:00 am 'Battleground: Electoral College Strategies, Execution, and Impact in the Modern Era' draws on seven decades of data from public, private sources to explore Electoral College strategies of every major presidential campaign from 1952-2020. More than maps: New atlas captures the state of global river systems through human context Sep 10, 2024 8:30 am The new book 'The World Atlas of Rivers, Estuaries, and Deltas' tells the story of these waterways long before human intervention and how they continue to evolve in the presence of - and often at odds with - human civilization. Study: Educators say Iowa’s divisive concepts law complicates teaching Sep 10, 2024 9:15 am Study finds Iowa’s ban on teaching divisive topics negatively affected educators’ relationships with colleagues in their schools, thwarted progress on equity and inclusivity, and hampered students’ learning about injustice. New relationship project strengthens couples’, individual partners’ well-being Sep 4, 2024 10:30 pm Illinois residents who took part in a new couples’ relationship strengthening program reported many improvements in their connections with their spouses or partners and in their individual well-being too, research suggests. Study: Creative idea generation at work leads to indulgent behaviors afterwards Sep 4, 2024 11:15 pm New research written by a University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign expert in work behaviors shows that engaging in brief creative ideation tasks can have detrimental consequences for one’s short-term health choices.