blog posts 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. 150,000-year-old human tooth rare evidence of Denisovans May 20, 2022 11:45 am If confirmed, this discovery would be the first fossil evidence that Denisovans — an extinct hominin species that co-existed with Neanderthals and modern humans — lived in southeast Asia. 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. New analytics-driven framework aims to improve care of chronic disease Apr 21, 2025 9:30 am New U. of I. research finds that a data-informed approach to scheduling patient appointments can reduce risks associated with diabetes management by up to 19.4%, especially for underserved populations. Research explores Champaign Park District’s relationship with users who are homeless Mar 20, 2025 12:15 pm 'That was something that the Champaign Park District really wanted to understand ― how do the various constituent groups in the community see this issue and what do they want them to do about it?' said Professor Nick Pitas. Bats protect young trees from insect damage, with three times fewer bugs Nov 1, 2022 1:45 pm Bats help keep forests growing. Without bats to hold their populations in check, insects that munch on tree do three to nine times more damage than when bats are on the scene, according to a groundbreaking new study from the U of I. Ice-capped volcanoes slower to erupt, study finds May 9, 2022 8:45 am Undergraduate researcher Lilian Lucas and geology professor Patricia Gregg found that additional pressure from thick overlying glacial ice can make volcanic systems more stable and slower to erupt than volcanoes without ice. Illinois journal highlights new findings on the Black Death's timeline, origin Oct 24, 2022 10:30 am The bacterial cause of the Black Death existed millennia earlier than previously thought and is now known to have caused the First Plague Pandemic, which devastated the 6th century Roman world, says U of I medieval studies expert Carol Symes. 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.' Paper: Neurotic personality trait a key risk factor for stress perception Nov 29, 2022 11:15 am While all of the 'Big Five' personality traits – agreeableness, conscientiousness, extraversion, neuroticism and openness – are related to experiencing stress, neuroticism showed the strongest link 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. 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. Study: People expect others to mirror their own selfishness, generosity Aug 7, 2023 8:45 am Generous people tend to reward generous behavior and selfish individuals often punish generosity and reward selfishness – even when it costs them personally. New study finds link between green spaces and police violence Apr 24, 2025 3:00 pm Higher levels of greenness may reduce violence in four ways: reduced crime, improved short-term and long-term mental health, sending a signal that a place is well-cared for and increasing the use of outdoor spaces by nearby neighbors. Study examined COVID-19 policies' effects on people with disabilities Jun 20, 2022 1:15 pm COVID-19 safety policies in the U.S. that constrained leisure physical activities negatively affected the health and well-being of some people with disabilities, according to a survey by researchers at Illinois. Conflict in marriage less harmful for kids when dad keeps it constructive Jun 21, 2023 9:30 am 'Fathers using constructive conflict resolution led to more parental involvement, which led to more positive child development. Destructive conflict has the opposite effect on kids,' says family development professor Karen Kramer. People who viewed sex as a leisure activity enjoyed more, better sex during the pandemic Oct 13, 2022 10:45 am People who strongly viewed sex as a leisure activity before and during the pandemic used their downtime to engage in more frequent, satisfying and creative sexual activity, according to a study by professor Liza Berdychevsky. How much nitrogen does corn get from fertilizer? Less than farmers think Jun 5, 2023 9:00 am Recent studies by U of I researchers show that corn takes up the majority of its nitrogen – about 67% on average – from sources occurring naturally in soil, not from fertilizer. Study: Holocaust Museum motivates visitors to create social change Aug 15, 2022 10:00 am New research finds that people who visited the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center were inspired to take action for human rights, such as standing up to bullying or joining social justice groups Higher pay consistently trumps meaningful work as strongly valued job attribute Oct 12, 2023 12:30 pm Although meaningful work is a strongly valued attribute when seeking a job, it may be less influential than salary when prospective employees evaluate career opportunities, according to new U of I research. 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. Sense of purpose may have significant impact on teens' emotional well-being Feb 13, 2023 11:15 am In a study of more than 200 adolescents, researchers found that those who scored high on purposefulness were more satisfied with their lives and experienced more positive emotions in general. Study looks at food-buying behavior during different stages of COVID pandemic Aug 9, 2022 8:45 am In-person grocery shopping remained common throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, while restaurant dining was more vulnerable to surges in case rates, according to a new study. New study evaluates public policy preferences for limiting children’s access to energy drinks Feb 17, 2025 9:45 am The U.S. is the leading energy drink market and relies heavily on voluntary industry standards, says professor Maria Kalaitzandonakes. A new study gauged the public’s preferences for energy drink policies and marketing. 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. 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. Implicit bias prevents women from obtaining prompt treatment for health problems Dec 20, 2022 10:00 am For some women who experience serious and chronic physical or mental health conditions, one of their most daunting challenges is obtaining the belief and validation of health care providers, family members and friends. Study finds producers, consumers must share burden of global plastic pollution May 26, 2022 11:15 am A new study by an international team of researchers explores the global patterns of plastic packaging waste. The study finds three countries – the U.S., Brazil, and China – are the top suppliers of waste. Geography, language dictate social media and popular website usage, study finds Feb 9, 2023 9:15 am Many of the same social media platforms and websites are popular around the world, but how people use them remains vastly different based on their languages and geography. Researchers illuminate gaps in public transportation access, equity Feb 16, 2023 10:30 am Reserachers found that public transit systems offering broad coverage of stops and routes may still underserve the communities that rely on them the most. The study uses the Champaign-Urbana MTD as a case study. Healthy sex life during pandemic tied to an array of sexual coping strategies Jun 15, 2023 10:45 am People who found ways to explore their sexuality and use it as a coping mechanism during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic had more active and fulfilling sex lives, according to U of I studies. Are honey bees, wild bees still in trouble? Jun 29, 2023 11:00 am U of I entomology professor Adam Dolezal, who studies how environmental stressors affect honey bees and wild bees, spoke to News Bureau life sciences editor Diana Yates about the current status of bees in the U.S. 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. Peer adversity may cause girls to feel their self-worth is constantly at risk Oct 10, 2022 10:30 am A history of peer adversity sensitizes teen girls to situational threats to their self-esteem and interpersonal needs, cultivating feelings that their self-worth is constantly in jeopardy, a new study found. 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. 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. 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. Study tracks COVID-19 infection dynamics in adults Apr 28, 2022 10:30 am 'We capture the most complete, high-resolution, quantitative picture of how SARS-CoV-2 replicates and sheds in people during natural infection. There are no other data like this,' said U. of I. microbiology professor Christopher B. Brooke Study reveals how social networks shape health in later life May 12, 2025 11:15 am Older adults with broader, more diverse social networks may feel less lonely and enjoy better health than those whose social circles are smaller, according to recent research led by social work professor Lissette Piedra. 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. Study: Tipped restaurant workers in Chicago compensated at rates below minimum wage Oct 5, 2023 1:30 pm Researchers also found several violations of municipal, county, state and federal work-related laws, including wage theft, hours and work schedule violations, discrimination and harassment, and occupational health and safety violations. 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. 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. Bursting bubbles: Tiny yet hazardous Mar 31, 2023 9:15 am Aerosols produced by bubble bursting can impact air pollution, global climate and even the transmission of infectious diseases, and smaller aerosol drops are more easily lifted by winds and can travel much further. U of I astronomers help capture first image of Milky Way's black hole May 12, 2022 8:45 am Illinois researchers are part of a large international collaboration that unveiled the first image of the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way. Green stormwater infrastructure: A solution for mosquito-borne disease? Aug 9, 2023 1:30 pm The microbial growth from blackberry leaves in aquatic habitats is detrimental to mosquito larval survival. 'It looked to be an organic form of mosquito control,' said professor Brian Allan. They appear to be just as effective as larvicides. New database catalogs police shootings in Illinois to improve accountability Oct 7, 2022 10:45 am An interdisciplinary team of U of I experts has developed a statewide registry on the use of lethal force by police officers in Illinois. It identified more than twice as many police-involved shooting incidents than previously reported. Study: COVID-19 policies harmed minority women's perinatal experiences, magnified inequities Nov 15, 2022 12:00 pm Social Work professors Karen Tabb Dina and Tuyet-Mai Ha Hoang led a study that explored the experiences of women of color who - like them - were pregnant or gave birth during the pandemic. 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. $9.5M funding will help U of I researchers decode influenza-antibody interactions Jan 26, 2023 1:00 pm 'We're optimistic this initiative will help scientists develop new, untested approaches that can reveal how pathogens work and how the human immune system responds to pathogen infection,” said Leslie Vosshall of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.