blog posts 100 years after influenza pandemic, why should I get a flu shot? Oct 30, 2018 11:15 am 100 years after the world's worst influenza pandemic, an expert on the flu virus and how it adapts discusses the severity of influenza today and how the flu shot works 2020 a bad year in many ways, but what about global carbon emissions? Dec 15, 2020 9:00 am The annual Carbon Budget Project report found that the global COVID-19 pandemic restrictions caused a record drop in CO2 emissions for 2020, says Illinois atmospheric sciences professor and report co-author Atul Jain. A daily dose of the extreme Sep 28, 2020 4:45 pm Renowned atmospheric sciences professor Don Wuebbles writes about unnatural disasters and the link to climate change. A large asteroid will pass by Earth this weekend. Should we worry? Nov 10, 2021 9:30 am 'Anything over 140 meters in diameter could cause major damage to cities or coasts, so any NEO with orbits that cross Earth’s orbit is classified as a potentially hazardous object.' The one we'll see this weekend is 160 meters. Are bats to blame for the coronavirus crisis? Apr 24, 2020 2:30 pm Illinois wildlife biologist Tara Hohoff says the hypothesis that bats tranfered the novel coronavirus to humans has given them a bad rap, and public fears of exposure to bats are on the rise. Are climate-related calamities erasing Illinois’ cultural history? Dec 16, 2024 10:30 am Climate change is likely to intensify the negative effects of flooding, erosion and development on cultural sites across Illinois, says Illinois State Archaeological Survey research archaeologist Andrew White. 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. Are droughts becoming more extreme and severe? Aug 11, 2017 10:00 am "Because future climate projections exhibit 'more extreme extremes,' drought recovery times will be critical for assessing ecosystem resilience." Are generous unemployment benefits to blame for worker shortages? Jun 23, 2021 9:30 am '...post-pandemic, people don’t want to work at low-quality jobs anymore. With employers everywhere looking to quickly rehire, workers have some leverage and they’re using it to temporarily stay out of the labor market in certain industries.' Are global CO2 emissions rebounding to pre-COVID-19 levels? Nov 9, 2021 12:15 pm The annual Carbon Budget Project report found that global fossil carbon dioxide emissions in 2021 are set to rebound close to their pre-COVID-19 levels, says Illinois atmospheric sciences professor and report co-author Atul Jain. Are global warming, recent Midwest cold snap related? Feb 17, 2019 10:30 pm Last month, the Midwest experienced record-breaking cold. If the climate is experiencing unprecedented warming, how can we still have such frigid cold? Atmospheric sciences professor Don Wuebbles explains 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. Are law enforcement agencies abusing civil asset forfeiture? Apr 19, 2017 9:00 am The controversial practice of civil asset forfeiture gets a well-deserved bad rap, says U. of I. law professor and criminal law expert Kenworthey Bilz. 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. Are President Biden's vaccine mandates lawful? Sep 20, 2021 9:30 am The new vaccination requirements for the federal workforce will likely be upheld by the courts, but the OSHA mandate is on shakier legal ground, says labor relations expert Michael LeRoy. Are there alternatives to declining, disappearing newspapers? Jan 30, 2020 3:00 pm Nonprofit newsrooms are providing a significant new source for news as many newspapers face cuts and closures, says journalism professor Brant Houston, who co-founded of the Institute for Nonprofit News. Are the ultrawealthy breaking the law in avoiding taxes? Jun 16, 2021 8:00 am The ultrawealthy aren’t breaking the law in avoiding taxes, but public outrage over their financial legerdemain could prompt legislators to consider an annual wealth tax, says tax policy expert Richard L. Kaplan. Are we experiencing another unaccompanied child 'crisis' at the southern US border? Jun 15, 2021 9:15 am The issue of unaccompanied migrant children at the southern U.S. border has embroiled the previous three presidential administrations because there’s no easy solution to the problem, says law professor Lauren Aronson. Are you ready for the solar eclipse? Aug 15, 2017 9:45 am Astronomy professor Leslie Looney on what will it look like on – and off – the 'path of totality.' A US drone killed an Iranian general. What might be the consequences? Jan 8, 2020 4:15 pm 'The drone-strike killing of Suleimani was unprecedented... No country has used a drone to try to kill a state political or military leader, and the U.S. has not killed a foreign military leader since World War II.' Bats are essential to the ecosystem. How do we help them? Oct 19, 2023 10:15 am The week leading up to Halloween (October 24 - 31) is Bat Week -- a great time to look at what's causing significant losses of migratory bats and what can be done, even by a single homeowner, to help them thrive. Brexit clouded by uncertainty, says Gies professor Dec 11, 2018 11:45 am With the scheduled Brexit vote cancelled for Dec. 11, Gies College of Business professor Candace Martinez says, 'Uncertainties are everywhere. This is uncharted waters, to be sure.' 'Brexit' is coming – or maybe not. Why is this happening? Mar 26, 2019 10:00 am Illinois political science professor Kostas Kourtikakis explains some of the forces behind 'Brexit' and why it’s so difficult to achieve. Can a state copyright its own laws – and prevent citizens from republishing them? Jul 15, 2019 10:45 am Sara Benson, expert on copyright law, talks about a pending U.S. Supreme Court case that will determine the legality of a state copyrighting its own laws – potentially making it illegal to republish them. Can birthright citizenship be repealed? Dec 5, 2024 10:45 am Birthright citizenship was enacted as part of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and no president has the authority to eliminate or modify a constitutional amendment, says immigration law expert Michael LeRoy. Can birthright citizenship be taken away? Nov 9, 2018 2:00 pm Professor Michael LeRoy, an expert on immigration and employment law, discusses the implications of President Trump’s bid to end birthright citizenship 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? Can employers legally require employees to vaccinate against COVID-19? Dec 7, 2020 9:30 am In most cases, an employer could require a COVID-19 vaccination. It might seem like a violation of an employee’s personal freedom, but “No one has a legally enforceable right to a specific job,” says Professor Michael LeRoy Can genetic genealogy restore family narratives disrupted by the transatlantic slave trade? Mar 28, 2024 10:15 am African Americans descended from enslaved ancestors are working to trace their family histories and are finding a new sense of identity rooted in specific ancestral lineages and homelands, says anthropology professor LaKisha David. Can historical racism in medicine help explain current racial differences in medical care? Mar 21, 2022 9:00 am Acquiring new medical knowledge and assessing health are not as objective as people think, and historical beliefs about racial differences continue to cause problems in medical practice and scientific research, said U of I history professor Rana Hogarth. Can Major League Baseball owners, players avoid another work stoppage? Jul 20, 2020 8:45 am A coronavirus-abbreviated Major League Baseball season will open amid the backdrop of significant labor tension between owners and players, says U. of I. labor historian Daniel A. Gilbert. Can people take a livestock drug to treat a deadly virus? Sep 2, 2021 10:15 am Taking large or multiple doses of the anti-parasitic drug ivermectin can cause a toxic overdose, and humans should not take forms intended for animal use, says Illinois veterinary medicine expert Dr. Jim Lowe. Can pet dogs be infected with coronavirus? Feb 25, 2022 3:30 pm On Feb. 6, a team led by U of I pathobiology professor Ying Fang diagnosed a pet dog in Chicago with the virus that causes COVID-19 in humans. This is the first dog in Illinois to test positive for the coronavirus. Can President Biden pass comprehensive immigration reform? Feb 15, 2021 9:30 am Any legislative action on comprehensive immigration reform will face significant headwinds in the Senate, says Lauren R. Aronson, director of the Immigration Law Clinic at Illinois. Can President Trump pardon himself? Jul 31, 2017 8:30 am No provision of the Constitution prohibits it, but the threat of impeachment should function as a check on the president's clemency powers, said law professor Jason Mazzone Can relationships flourish through technology alone? Mar 31, 2020 9:45 am Technology can be our friend in sustaining close relationships now lacking face time during COVID-19, but it depends on how we use it, says communication professor John Caughlin. Can we talk about the Illinois climate? Dec 3, 2018 8:00 am Illinois state climatologist Jim Angel, who is retiring in December, discusses his career, climate change and the recently released National Climate Assessment Citizenship and the census: What happens now? Jul 1, 2019 8:45 am Professor Julie Dowliing says not having a citizenship question will improve response rates, but more than a year of news coverage about this topic will have an impact. Considering a nation without Roe v. Wade May 24, 2022 9:30 am How other nations deal with abortion reveals what the U.S. might face in the near future, and U of I sociologist Cynthia Buckley says the U.S. is not prepared to deal with a likely increase of unwanted and unplanned births. Consumers across political spectrum share food pricing frustrations Mar 14, 2024 11:30 am 'There aren't many things that the U.S. public agrees on, but this seems to be an exception. Democrats, Republicans, and Independents all feel like they're being overcharged,' says consumer economics professor Maria Kalaitzandonakes. Continuing success: Illinois wheelchair racers ready for the Paralympic Games Aug 13, 2024 9:00 am The 2024 Paralympic Games begin in Paris on August 28. U. of I. head coach of wheelchair track and road racing Adam Bleakney will be coaching for Team USA. All nine of the U.S. wheelchair racing athletes have a connection to Illinois. Could a citizenship question alter the 2020 census results? Apr 4, 2018 4:30 am A citizenship question on the 2020 census could add to existing undercounts, says an Illinois professor who serves on a Census Bureau advisory committee Could cannabis be a pain relief alternative to opioids? Oct 25, 2019 1:45 pm Julie Bobitt, director of the Interdisciplinary Health Sciences program at Illinois, talks about the state's Opioid Alternative program and the feasibility of cannabis as a pain management alternative. Could Legionnaires' bacteria lurk in idled buildings? Apr 29, 2020 2:45 pm Many businesses are closed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, and some building managers have shut off water and air conditioning to conserve resources. That could cause a problem. Could social distancing revolutionize online learning and higher education? Mar 25, 2020 10:00 am Education policy experts Mary Kalantzis and Bill Cope talk about how redesigning online courses could reduce costs and broaden access. COVID-19 and the elections: What can we expect? Aug 21, 2020 3:00 pm Illinois political scientist Brian Gaines discusses the impact of the pandemic during a pivotal election year. Deepfakes are harder to detect than ever before. How are they being used? Jul 31, 2024 11:15 am Social media provides an international platform to share deepfaked content quickly and anonymously, so be especially wary of the content that you’re encountering on social media this political season. Did news coverage turn Americans against the Vietnam War? Sep 12, 2017 3:30 pm News coverage of the Vietnam War did not have the effect on popular support that many believe, says a University of Illinois researcher. Did the presidential debates matter? Oct 27, 2020 3:00 pm Two experts in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences say debates are highly effective with undecided voters - if there are any. Does hunting with lead ammunition endanger human, environmental health? Nov 12, 2020 9:15 am Studies have shown that meat harvested from deer killed with lead ammunition can be contaminated with lead particles, endangering human health and harming wildlife.