blog posts 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 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.' 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. 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 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. 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 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: 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 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 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. 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. 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: Acetaminophen use during pregnancy linked to language delays in children Jan 3, 2024 8:00 am A new study links acetaminophen use in pregnancy to modest but significant delays in the language development of offspring, says Illinois Kids Development Study principal investigator Susan Schantz. 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. 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. Layered limestone deposits give unique insight to Roman aqueducts Aug 8, 2022 12:00 pm In studies combining geology, biology, engineering and history, U. of I. researchers are the first to document geologic ripple marks formed by mineral growth and use them to reconstruct the hydraulic history of the Roman aqueducts. 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. Men's experiences of sexual racism differ in two online dating communities Sep 29, 2022 10:45 am While sexual minority men report that racialized sexual discrimination is rampant on dating apps and websites, Black men reported differing experiences on Grindr and Jack’d, according to a study led by social work professor Ryan Wade. 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. Camera-trap study provides photographic evidence of pumas' ecological impact Jan 23, 2023 9:15 am A camera-trap study of two ecosystems – one with pumas and one without – adds to scientists’ understanding of the many ways apex predators influence the abundance, diversity and habits of other animals, including smaller carnivores. $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. New climate change model finds nuanced relationship between temperature, conflict Feb 17, 2023 8:45 am A new framework for studying the intersection of climate anomalies and social conflicts finds a strong link between temperature fluctuations and aggregated global conflicts, says Gies College of Business professor Ujjal Kumar Mukherjee. Study: Metabolic diseases may be driven by gut microbiome, loss of ovarian hormones Feb 22, 2024 8:00 am Mice that received fecal biome transplants from donors that had their ovaries removed expressed higher levels of genes associated with metabolic diseases, including fatty liver disease, atherosclerosis and Type 2 diabetes. 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. Researchers: Green infrastructure plans need to consider historical racial inequalities May 21, 2024 9:45 am 'For the environmental and ecological questions, we have a pretty good handle on what we need to do. The questions that are the hardest... are how to work well with communities, particularly marginalized communities.' Regional public universities increase access, social mobility for nearby residents Oct 20, 2022 9:00 am 'When legislators are thinking about allocating funding for regional public universities, it’s important for them to know just how many benefits they provide to students in the surrounding community,' said economics professor Russell Weinstein. Paper: Social justice storytelling helps librarians advocate for patrons, themselves Nov 2, 2022 12:00 pm Library schools should teach social justice storytelling skills to students so they can advocate for the needs of underserved patrons, says information sciences professor Kate McDowell. Teenage girls' self-esteem is a product of past experience Jan 9, 2023 11:30 am 'We all feel the need to fit in socially, but teenagers feel this need more strongly than most. What we don’t understand is why some teenagers feel it more strongly than others,' says doctoral student Haley Skymba. 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. Royal Fever: Will the brand play on for King Charles? May 3, 2023 10:00 am Professor Cele Otnes says the British Royal Family brand consists of at least five types of brands - all likely to be on display during coronation weekend: Family, Global, Heritage, Human, and Luxury. Each aspect offers challenges to the new King. Urban gardens' tomatoes safe from soil lead. Gardeners, unfortunately, are not Jul 22, 2022 9:30 am Scientists don’t know much about how crops take up and accumulate lead, but new U of I research in Chicago backyard gardens shows tomatoes are likely safe to eat, even when grown in highly lead-contaminated soils. Nanoscale observations simplify how scientists describe earthquake movement Aug 4, 2022 10:30 am Researchers used microscopic-scale observations to simplify how scientists describe macroscale earthquake movement. They hope their work will lead to better earthquake prediction. Job-quality indicator points to mixed bag for Illinois workers Sep 19, 2022 2:00 pm A team of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign labor experts has developed a metric for measuring the quality of jobs throughout the state of Illinois. The findings are a mix of positive and negative news for Illinois workers. Study shows the power of 'thank you' for couples Nov 14, 2022 11:15 am Study by a professor of human development and community health finds greater levels of perceived gratitude protect couples from common stressors such as ineffective arguing and financial problems, and promote relationship stability.
