blog posts How Trump’s tariffs have - and could again - affect Illinois agriculture Jan 10, 2025 10:45 am WILL-AM (Jan. 8) Trump's first-term tariffs caused Chinese buyers to look elsewhere for soybeans. U. of I. ag economist Joana Colussi says that if China again turns to South America to replace U.S. soybeans, 'South America will be able to match this demand.' Ninety percent of all diseases can be traced back to the gut and the health of the microbiome Jan 9, 2025 12:00 pm The Microbiologist (Jan. 6) That’s why researchers at U. of I.'s National Center for Supercomputing Applications are developing ways to map the microbiome to help create personalized nutrition plans for individuals. America’s oldest Black town is in Illinois — and it’s dying Jan 7, 2025 8:45 am Chicago Tribune (Jan. 5) African American studies professor Sundiata Keita Cha-Jua and archaeologist Alleen Betzenhauser, both at U. of I., are spearheading efforts to uncover Brooklyn's history and revitalize the community. Eugenics isn’t dead—it’s thriving in tech Jan 6, 2025 12:30 pm Mother Jones (Jan. 2) Eugenic researchers 'grew a global disinformation movement...to demonstrate poverty...as the result of inherited deficiencies that directly limited intellectual potential...Our contemporary datafication systems do this today.' Building one of Earth’s first commercially useful quantum computers - despite huge obstacles Jan 3, 2025 2:00 pm Chicago Tribune (Dec. 26) 'The potential for our work in the park to change the world is drawing comparisons to historic tech initiatives like the Manhattan Project or the development of Silicon Valley,' said U. of I. Professor Harley Johnson. Many midwestern grain farmers will lose money this year, despite bumper crop Jan 2, 2025 2:30 pm The Guardian (Dec. 30) Even producers in top ag states such as Illinois, losses could be staggering. U. of I. economists estimate that the average Illinois farm could take a loss of $30,000 for 2024. Most cases of bird flu in humans caused by drinking raw milk Dec 23, 2024 11:15 am WTVO-TV (Dec. 19) 'The risk to humans is incredibly small... from the dairy products that we’ve consumed from stores,' Professor Jim Drackley says. 'I'd always recommend that people don’t consume raw milk ... the virus could still be there.' A student-run caroling hotline Dec 18, 2024 3:15 pm Inside Higher Ed (Dec. 18) Since 1960, the U. of I. has offered a phone-based caroling system that allows people around the country to call and be serenaded by students. Carolers respond to thousands of calls each winter. New microbial risk model could inform better decisions by produce industry Dec 18, 2024 8:15 am Food Safety (Dec. 16) U. of I. researchers developed a flexible model for estimating microbiological food safety risks in produce supplies, which industry can use to choose better risk management strategies for bacteria such as e-coli. Illinois election results show gerrymandering's bad outcome Dec 16, 2024 2:15 pm Chicago Sun-Times (Dec. 14) 'What these results demonstrate is how inconsequential Illinois has become, by drawing a House of Representatives map to guarantee that certain party candidates will win,' writes Professor Sheldon Jacobson. California’s earthquake created a ‘non-destructive’ tsunami. Next time could be different Dec 13, 2024 8:45 am The Independent (Dec. 11) The earthquake was a strike-slip - two tectonic plates slid past each other. ‘Strike slip faults are capable of generating powerful tsunamis, as we have seen only six years ago,’ says U. of I. Professor Ahmed Elbanna. Huge discovery: 'Booster' gene makes plants and trees grow 200 percent taller Dec 11, 2024 4:45 pm Earth.com (Dec. 10) U. of I. scientists have identified a booster gene in a poplar species that can help some plants grow exponentially taller and produce more plant matter. U. of I. scientists made a tiny ‘hand’ to snatch viruses from your body Dec 10, 2024 4:30 pm Vice (Dec. 10) A tiny hand created from DNA in a lab at Illinois may be able to help researchers get a hold of viruses and isolate them. The NanoGripper could grab particles from the virus that causes COVID-19. Crops of the future: Potatoes that thrive in heatwaves Dec 9, 2024 1:45 pm Earth.com (Dec. 7) Researchers at Illinois have engineered a potato that not only withstands extreme weather conditions but also thrives in them, promising greater food security for many. Sweet potato pie, civil rights and the story of Georgia Gilmore Dec 6, 2024 8:45 am The Guardian (Dec. 5) Through the story of 'unsung civil rights heroine' Georgia Gilmore, U of I sociologist Bobby Smith II explores how food was both weaponized and used as a tool of resistance in the struggle for Black equality Why are ‘driverless’ cars still hitting things? Depends on how they ‘see’ Dec 4, 2024 4:30 pm Popular Science (Dec. 4) U. of I. autonomous safety expert Sayan Mitra said AVs use sensors to create a 'digital representation' of its own position, orientation, and speed, as well as for vehicles in surrounding lanes. High school NIL deals signal broader disinterest in employment Dec 4, 2024 9:00 am The News-Gazette (Dec. 3) Illinois labor expert Michael LeRoy discusses name, image and likeness trends for high school athletes. 'The (high school NIL deals) have rapidly careened out of control, stirring deep resentments across the state.' How Trump’s tariff plans could impact consumers and industries in Illinois Dec 3, 2024 4:15 pm WTTW-TV (Dec. 2) “In 2018 when he first initiated tariffs in his first term, China began retaliating against soybeans as one of their targets. Then the question is: Do things escalate into a much broader conflict to something like a trade war?' U. of I. students' startup takes a game-based approach to STEM education for the deaf Dec 2, 2024 2:45 pm TechCrunch (Nov. 29) Working in a lab with deaf scientists, Jawed 'saw that the biggest gap in the language was in STEM. Around 10% of Americans are deaf or hard of hearing, but only around 0.1% are in STEM fields.' Paul Mescal, 'Gladiator II' and how genes affect our fitness Nov 27, 2024 2:45 pm USA Today (Nov. 26) 'There is some evidence for skeletal muscle "memory," or the ability for muscle to grow faster than normal due to prior training exposure,' says U. of I. professor Marni Boppart. At all costs: Caregivers need more awareness of financial risks Nov 26, 2024 4:45 pm Next Avenue (Nov. 26) University of Illinois Spanish and Portuguese professor Annie Abbott talks about how caregivers need to be more aware of financial risks - avoiding scams is another role caregivers may need to manage. Worried about political tensions with family this Thanksgiving? Here’s some expert advice Nov 25, 2024 1:45 pm WILL-AM (Nov. 25) In light of the recent presidential election, politics may be unavoidable at your family Thanksging celebration. Family Studies professor Allen Barton suggests some things you can do to help keep the peace. Personal bankruptcies are on the rise. When does it make sense to file? Nov 22, 2024 9:00 am CBS News (Nov. 20) Professor Robert Lawless says most people struggle with debt for years before seeking help. 'People misunderstand bankruptcy and wait too long to see a bankruptcy lawyer. Most people would benefit by going earlier.' Future proofing photosynthesis Nov 20, 2024 2:00 pm C&EN (Nov. 18) Integrative biology professor Stephen Long admits that success in increasing photosynthetic efficiency is a long shot, but one upon which the future of the planet depends. No banned substances: ‘Enhanced Games’ aim to push physical limits to extremes Nov 14, 2024 3:00 pm Gear Junkie (Nov. 13) 'An assumption of the Enhanced Games is that if athletes have unrestricted drug use, it will lead to world-record performances. It won’t be that simple,' said Illinois professor Julian Woolf. Are AI chatbots safe for children? Experts weigh in after teen's suicide Nov 14, 2024 9:00 am Newsweek (Nov. 13) 'It's important to recognize that chatbots are not mere ... glorified autocompletes but instead are closer to having real minds with beliefs and perhaps even desires about the world,' writes U of I's Ben Levinstein. Quantum computing threatens cybersecurity: Are we prepared? Nov 11, 2024 1:45 pm SciTechDaily (Nov. 10) 'The problem is urgent because practical quantum computers will break classical encryption in the next decade,' says Phuong Cao, a cybersecurity researcher at the U. of I. Can an immigrant workforce save dying factory towns? Nov 7, 2024 10:15 am Reason (Nov. 6) For U of I's Faranak Miraftab, the villification of Haitian immigrants in Springfield, OH, brought to mind Beardstown, IL. 'Towns around (it) are boarded up ghost towns. Beardstown shines thanks to its immigrants.' Skin’s secret strength shields against puncture damage Nov 6, 2024 11:45 am Earth.com (Nov. 1) Researchers at Illinois have discovered that our skin is not just an exterior shell. It plays an active role in lessening the internal damage when punctured - even better than synthetic materials. Romanchuk wins men’s wheelchair race at NYC Marathon, Scaroni wins women’s event Nov 5, 2024 1:15 pm AP (Nov. 3) Illinois alumna Susannah Scaroni, who still trains with the university’s wheelchair track team, won the New York City Marathon. Daniel Romanchuk, who also trains at the U. of I., won the men’s race. If Kamala Harris pulls off a victory, Trump’s efforts to overthrow the election won’t work Nov 4, 2024 1:30 pm MSNBC (Nov. 2) U. of I. political science professor Nicholas Grossman writes about the Jan. 6 attack and why Donald Trump’s efforts to overthrow the election won’t work if Vice President Kamala Harris wins the election. People who research elections look at what to expect on election night Nov 1, 2024 4:30 pm U of I's John Murphy warns: 'Partisans want that beautiful picture of triumph, blue or red seas cascading across screens on election night.' But, that might be a mirage — and realizing it’s a mirage means one thing: 'Wait. … Wait until we know it’s real.' What it will take to restart decommissioned US nuclear plants Oct 30, 2024 10:30 am Bulletin of Atomic Scientists (Nov. 29) Nuclear engineering professor Kathryn Huff and grad student Nathan Ryan write about plans to restart Palisades Nuclear Power Plant in Michigan and Three Mile Island Unit 1 in Pennsylvania. Is AI making Chicago businesses better? Some say yes, the investment is worth it Oct 28, 2024 4:45 pm Chicago Sun-Times (Oct. 25) U. of I. professor Deming Chen says businesses adopting AI can face a few hurdles. It can be pricey to employ, and questions about ethics and a lack of federal regulation can further complicate things. Quantum communication tech to be tested on upcoming SpaceX mission Oct 25, 2024 8:45 am The Quantum Insider (Oct. 24) An experiment, led by U. of I. professor Paul Kwiat, aims to advance quantum-level communication in space through the use of quantum entanglement technology. To keep deepfakes from infiltrating its site, Yahoo News enlists help from McAfee Oct 24, 2024 1:00 pm Los Angeles Times (Oct. 23) Daniel Kang, a U. of I. expert in deepfake detection, warned that no AI detection tools today are good enough to catch a highly motivated and well-resourced attacker. A woman as president? It's happened before - in the movies Oct 23, 2024 12:15 pm BBC (Oct. 23) 'Just imagine,' says U. of I.'s Erika Cornelius Smith. 'Women boxing! Women in government! The only way audiences could cope with this type of thing in popular culture was that they knew it was absurd and it would never happen.' Fixing AI’s energy crisis wiht hardware that consumes less power Oct 22, 2024 2:00 pm Nature (Oct. 17) AI is energy-hungry, and companies that make AI models are trying to make the process more efficient. 'Usually people don’t care about energy efficiency when you’re training the world’s largest model,' says Professor Naresh Shanbhag Illinois’ most complained-about car insurance companies Oct 21, 2024 2:45 pm WBEZ-FM (Oct. 18) U of I Insurance researcher Lynne McChristian says nonstandard insurers, known for covering high-risk drivers, draw more complaints because of the 'churn' of customers seeking lower-cost policies to satisfy legal requirements. U of I professors and students searching for rare comet - and you can, too Oct 18, 2024 12:00 pm WCIA-TV (Oct. 16) 'We'r e just starting to get a good show now because the comet has already passed the sun. As it’s moving away from the sun, it’s becoming visible in our night sky. That’s why everyone’s looking at it this week.' Amazon, Google make dueling nuclear investments to power data centers with clean energy Oct 17, 2024 11:30 am AP (Oct.16) If new, clean power isn’t added as data centers are developed, the U.S. runs the risk of 'browning the grid,' says Kathryn Huff, a former U.S. assistant secretary for nuclear energy, now a U. of I. professor of nuclear engineering. Breaking down who truly started the long-held tradition of homecoming Oct 16, 2024 4:30 pm ESPN (Oct. 16) In early 1910, two Illinois students sat on the steps of what was then the school’s YMCA. It’s there, the story goes, that they first discussed the idea for an event to bring alumni back to campus. Can the next US president lower your grocery costs? Oct 14, 2024 11:00 am WMAQ-TV (Oct. 11) Inflation has cooled, yet grocery bills are still higher than they were prepandemic. 'Can politicians walk into office, flip a switch and lower food prices? No, that’s just not reality,' says U. of I. professor Jonathan Coppess. More Black, Latina women are leading unions - and transforming how they work Oct 9, 2024 10:15 am AP (Oct. 6) While female-dominated fields have made strides in union leadership diversity, 'there is still a long way to go' for unions in male-dominated fields like building and manufacturing trades, said U. of I. labor historian Emily Twarog. Drone deliveries, slow to take flight, arrive in Silicon Valley Oct 8, 2024 12:45 pm NBC News (Oct. 3) U. of I. professor Yanfeng Ouyang hopes some of the potential negative consequences can be curtailed. 'It’s right around the corner, and we will see very rapid development in the next year or two,' he says. Farmers are making less money this year, which could have larger economic consequences Oct 7, 2024 3:00 pm WNIJ-AM (Oct. 7) 'The farm economy is in a downturn relative to what we have experienced in 2022 and 2023, which was kind of a boom in agriculture,' says Joe Janzen, a professor of agricultural and consumer economics at Illinois. Illinois partnering with City Colleges of Chicago engineering program to diversify the industry Oct 4, 2024 4:00 pm Illinois has entered into an agreement that will allow some students who enroll in the engineering program at City Colleges of Chicago to simultaneously enroll at the university and receive additional advising from the university’s staff. Port strikes extend a new era of American labor activism Oct 2, 2024 4:45 pm A database maintained by the School of Labor and Employment Relations at the U. of I. and Cornell recorded 250 strikes and other labor actions in 2024 as of Monday as U.S. dockworkers walked off the job this week. Disaster evacuation in an EV Sep 30, 2024 12:30 pm The Washington Post (Sept. 30) Emergency planners need to build more fast chargers along evacuation routes, says civil and environmental engineering professor Eleftheria Kontou. Ex-Obama adviser warns Trump's promises could force fed to hike rates Sep 27, 2024 2:00 pm Benzinga (Detroit, Sept. 26) Trump would impose a hefty tariff on John Deere for moving production to Mexico. U. of I. professor Jonathan Coppess says relocating jobs has serious consequences, but Trump’s solution may not be effective.