Illinois Featured Content

Matthew Luallen, the Lead Research Scientist for Education Translation at the Information Trust Institute.

Can ChatGPT write malware? Answers from a U of I researcher - and from ChatGPT itself

May 10, 2023 10:30 am

Cybercriminals are already using ChatGPT to create malware and facilitate fraud. While that is concerning, it does beg the question, just how easy would it be for anyone to create malware with ChatGPT?

Robert Brunner, the associate dean for innovation and chief disruption officer at the Gies College of Business

What’s the transformative potential of artificial intelligence?

May 17, 2023 9:00 am

Anxiety about artificial intelligence has been driven by its rapid development as well as knowledge worker concerns about potentially being replaced by it, says Robert Brunner, chief disruption officer at the Gies College of Business.

Illinois Natural History Survey avian ecologist Jeff Hoover. Photo by Fred Zwicky.

How does climate change affect global bird reproduction?

May 1, 2023 2:45 pm

A new study assessed changes in the reproductive output of 104 bird species between 1970 and 2019. U of I avian ecologist Jeff Hoover, a co-author of the paper, talks about how climate change is altering bird ecology and health.

Lena Shapiro, a clinical assistant professor of law and the inaugural director of the College of Law’s First Amendment Clinic.

How do you handle free speech issues in higher education, popular discourse?

Apr 27, 2023 10:15 am

The current state of the First Amendment is an ongoing battle between those who say they want to advance freedom of speech for everyone versus those who want to drown out voices that they don’t agree with, says Professor Lena Shapiro.

to Jennifer Delaney, a professor of higher education in the department of education policy, organization and leadership at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Photo by Fred Zwicky

Are direct college admissions the future of higher education?

Apr 25, 2023 12:15 pm

Direct college admissions can benefit both students and institutions, promoting access for first-generation and underrepresented students and boosting enrollment, according to Professor Jennifer Delaney.

Clarence Thomas. AP photo by J. Scott Applewhite

What can the Supreme Court do to restore public trust?

Apr 18, 2023 10:45 am

The most likely outcome of the Clarence Thomas revelations is that the Supreme Court will announce new or clarified ethical standards for justices on the high court, says U of I law professor Jason Mazzone.

image of a tick on a finger via Wikimedia Commons

Are Illinois farmers aware of the risk of tick-borne diseases?

Apr 11, 2023 3:30 pm

Tick-borne illnesses like ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever are on the rise in Illinois, and outdoor workers like farmers are at higher risk than those who spend more time indoors.

English and Information Sciences professor Ted Underwood

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.

Vladimir Putin arrest warrant seen in press release from the International Criminal Court in The Hague. On 17 March 2023 in Brussels, Belgium. Jonathan Raa | Nurphoto | Getty Images

What will result from the war crimes arrest warrants for Russian President Putin?

Mar 21, 2023 8:45 am

'When the International Criminal Court issues an arrest warrant, it means that the prosecutor has proved to the court that there are grounds to believe that international crimes have been committed and that the people named in the warrant are responsible...'

Anti-terrorist operation in eastern Ukraine (War Ukraine) Фото Юзеф Венскович. Via Flickr with Creative Commons license

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.

AFP Fact Check headline refuting claims that ivermectin should be used to treat COVID-19

What's the remedy for medical misinformation?

Feb 28, 2023 8:45 am

U of I sociology professor Kevin Leicht is co-leading the development of a software app that will alert clinicians to medical misinformation circulating on social media so they can address it with patients if they choose.

Professor Robert Bruno. Photo by L. B. Stauffer

Should the workweek be shortened to four days?

Feb 27, 2023 1:15 pm

There’s nothing sacrosanct about the five-day workweek, which is long overdue for an overhaul, says Robert Bruno, a professor of labor and employment relations at Illinois.

Chicago's St. Regis tower, designed by the architecture firm of U of I alumna Jeanne Gang. Photo by J E Koonce via Flickr

Why are so many tall and supertall buildings being built?

Feb 3, 2023 10:45 am

Very tall buildings are attractive options in cities where land is at a premium, but they come with construction challenges, said University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign architecture professor Abbas Aminmansour.

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign legal scholar Jacob S. Sherkow argues that the state of California’s proposal to manufacture and distribute insulin at cost could be a game-changer for curbing out-of-control price increases and a boon to public health. Photo by L. Brian Stauffer

Paper: California's proposal to manufacture insulin could curb prices, improve public health

Jan 24, 2023 9:30 am

Legal scholar Jacob Sherkow argues that the state of California’s proposal to manufacture and distribute insulin at cost could be a game-changer for curbing out-of-control price increases, but there are hurdles to overcome first.

Trespassers on the ramp of the Congress Palace in Brasilia. Image via Wikimedia Commons. Credit: Marcelo Camargo/Agência Brasil

What led to the attempted coup in Brazil, what comes next?

Jan 19, 2023 8:45 am

Professor Jerry Dávila, who specializes in the history of Brazil in the 20th century, spoke about civil unrest in Brazil. 'It was a coup attempt, and it was styled after the (Jan. 6, 2021) attack on the U.S. Capitol.'

Professor Robin Fretwell Wilson. Photo by L. Brian Stauffer, 2015

What's the significance of the Respect for Marriage Act?

Jan 17, 2023 11:00 am

'Civil rights aren’t like colliding trains, where one civil right has to take precedence over another. Protecting civil rights is not a zero-sum game with winners and losers. Civil rights can be like puzzle pieces that can be made to fit together.'

Scott Althaus, the center’s director and a professor of both political science and communication at Illinois. Photo by L. Brian Stauffer

Why was the Jan. 6 assault on the US Capitol considered an 'auto-coup d’état'?

Jan 4, 2023 8:45 am

An auto-coup occurs when 'the incumbent chief executive uses illegal or extra-legal means to assume extraordinary powers, seize the power of other branches of government, or render powerless other components of the government...'

Kinesiology and community health professor emeritus Thomas O’Rourke weighs in on effective public education and legislative strategies for promoting gun safety in the U.S. Photo by L. Brian Stauffer

How can we tame the gun violence epidemic?

Dec 21, 2022 8:45 am

Community health professor Thomas O’Rourke talks about how previous efforts to institute public health measures succeeded and how the same approaches can be employed to reduce the scourge of gun violence in the U.S.

agricultural and biological engineering professor Josie Rudolphi, who co-directs the North Central Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Center,

What is driving the high suicide rate among farmers?

Dec 12, 2022 9:30 am

This year saw good harvests in the Midwest and strong commodity prices, but the future is so uncertain. Commodity prices, input costs, and weather are all beyond the farmers' control - and those worries lead to mental health challenges.

U of I communication professor Steward Coles

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.

atmospheric sciences professor Ashish Sharma

How can academia help implement lessons from the 2022 climate summit?

Nov 28, 2022 2:15 pm

Atmospheric sciences professor Ashish Sharma is cautiously optimistic that academia can partner with industry and government on climate and sustainability goals that will benefit their financial statements, their employees and their communities.

Fatima Husain is an associate professor of speech and hearing science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and an expert in the physical, social, and emotional aspects of hearing loss. She's also a researcher at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, where she uses magnetic resonance imaging to understand how hearing loss and tinnitus impact the brain.

Hearing loss expert Fatima Husain 'delighted' by over-the-counter hearing aids

Nov 16, 2022 11:15 am

Professor Husain explains how access to affordable hearing aids could offer unique opportunities for individuals with tinnitus, turn the tide on social stigma, and contribute to a competitive industry and a collaborative research frontier.

Political science professor Brian Gaines. Photo by Brian Stauffer

What message did voters send this midterm election?

Nov 17, 2022 8:00 am

Professor Brian Gaines talks about the 2022 midterm elections, the message voters sent, what effect gerrymandering had, and what we can expect from a divided Congress, with a republican majority in the House, and a democratic majority in the Senate.

Robert Brunner, the associate dean for innovation and chief disruption officer at the Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Photo by Fred Zwicky

What is the metaverse - and what's its business potential?

Nov 16, 2022 10:30 am

The metaverse’s potential for transformation means it should be on everyone’s radar, says Robert Brunner, the associate dean for innovation and chief disruption officer at the Gies College of Business at Illinois.

Atmospheric sciences professor Atul Jain. Photo by L. Brian Stauffer

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.

Is the independent state legislature theory constitutionally valid?

Nov 3, 2022 9:00 am

The debate surrounding the independent state legislature theory in a case the U.S. Supreme Court is considering is a lopsided one, says Law dean Vikram Amar. An originalist approach of interpreting the Constitution should lead to its rejection.

sideview of a man wearing a hearing device in his ear

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.

English professor Jim Hansen in his office, surrounded by horror movie posters. Photo by Fred Zwicky

Why do we love horror films?

Oct 25, 2022 9:45 am

Horror films dominate Netflix queues right now. English professor Jim Hansen spoke about why we love horror. He says it’s because horror films let us 'choose the shape of our fears and then to face up to those fears.'

Illinois scientist Ann-Perry Witmer leads research and an upcoming discussion that takes a fresh approach to climate change adaptation.

What is place-based adaptation to climate change?

Oct 10, 2022 2:30 pm

Place-based knowledge fits a solution to a need, rather than the other way around. 'The impacts of climate change for farmers in Illinois, for example, are dramatically different than the impacts seen by the Navajo Nation in Arizona...'

What do we know about political advertising?

Oct 5, 2022 1:45 pm

Advertising professor Michelle Nelson has found that most adults – even those politically engaged – don't fully understand online targeting, sources and funding for political ads, or how political speech is treated differently from commercial speech.

graphic art shows giant hand giving document reading 'debt' to person in cap and gown

Student debt relief plan: A shot in the arm

Sep 28, 2022 11:30 am

'Student loan debt is impacting people’s lives,' says Prof. Jennifer Delaney. 'When you borrow for college, you’re much less likely to buy a house right away, you hold back on retirement savings, don’t start a small business, wait on starting a family.'

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