A new model developed by the University of Illinois predicts how ground shipping will affect future human health and the environment. The study found that a carbon tax could lead to a 24% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, while enforcing truck fleet maintenance could cut particulate emissions by one-third by 2050.
A study found that phthalates, particularly DiNP and DEHP, can disrupt reproductive cycles and reduce fertility in female mice. The research suggests that these chemicals may impair fertility long after exposure has stopped.
Researchers have identified microplastic fibers and various contaminants in two groundwater systems in Illinois, revealing the widespread presence of microplastics in the world's drinking water supply. The study highlights the need for further research into the impact of microplastics on human health.
A new study found that conservation programs in Illinois have helped some rare birds increase their populations to historic levels. The Bell's vireo, one of four species studied, has bounced back from historic declines and is now more than double its last estimated abundance. In contrast, other bird species with wider geographic ranges...
Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a method to engineer muscle tissue that integrates with neurons, enabling functional and responsive muscle. The approach uses grooved platforms to promote ordered muscle fiber growth and neuronal integration.
The book offers a comprehensive picture of the decade-long archaeological research on Greater Cahokia, uncovering new discoveries about the city's history, culture, and religion. Key findings include evidence of immigrant populations, diverse food sources, and the use of holly tea as a stimulant.
Researchers at the University of Illinois gained control over soft-molecule synthesis, enabling them to probe how shape, size, and composition influence function in soft materials. This breakthrough could lead to advances in virology, drug delivery development, and new material creation.
Researchers discovered that cilia in the efferent ductules of male reproductive tract agitate sperm to prevent aggregation and promote transport. The study's findings have significant translational potential for developing new methods to help patients with infertility.
A University of Illinois team has created a synthetic manganese catalyst that can oxidize aliphatic scaffolds in the presence of aromatics, enabling chemists to produce new drugs from old ones. The discovery could expedite the drug discovery process and identify metabolites without requiring new syntheses.
Scientists at the University of Illinois have developed a technique to activate large silent gene clusters in Streptomyces bacteria, yielding new natural products and potential anti-microbial drugs. By using transcription factor decoys, researchers successfully expressed genes that had previously remained dormant.
A study by Max Allen and colleagues found several mammalian predators, including gray wolves and American martens, living on islands with varying sizes and proximity to the mainland. The research offers new insights into island biogeography and highlights the importance of preserving carnivore habitats.
A new study found a robust link between higher levels of several nutrient biomarkers in the blood and enhanced performance on specific cognitive tests. The analysis revealed that omega-3 fatty acids, carotenoids, lycopene, and vitamins B and D worked synergistically to improve brain health and cognition in older adults.
A new drug candidate targeting a receptor in sarcoma cancer cells was found to be more than three times more effective than currently available drugs. The compound shrank tumors and hindered their ability to spread in mice and pigs, offering hope for a new treatment option.
The Dracula ant has the fastest animal movement on record, with its mandibles snapping shut at incredible speeds. This unique mechanism allows the ants to capture prey and defend their nests, making them a fascinating subject for study.
A new study tested an emotional coping skills program, Journey of Hope, with over 100 children attending high-poverty elementary schools in Tennessee. The program showed positive impacts on children's behavior, including reduced conduct problems and increased prosocial behaviors.
A new study from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign suggests that early career choices can influence personality development. Researchers found that 16-year-olds who pursued vocational training and employment reported increased conscientiousness and decreased interest in scientific activities compared to their peers in acad...
A new case study examines the planning processes behind Chicago's 606 Trail and concludes that nonprofit coordination multiplied gentrification risks due to fragmentation. The trail's $95 million project converted an abandoned rail line into a multi-use path, but ignored displacement concerns and accelerated environmental gentrification
Researchers at the University of Illinois successfully converted wet biowaste into a diesel-compatible fuel using hydrothermal liquification. The new process meets current standards for diesel fuel and produces similar pollutant emissions to regular diesel.
A new study found that boys with social skills problems, anxiety, learning and conduct issues are at the greatest risk of developing aggressive behavior and using tobacco, alcohol and marijuana by the end of eighth grade. The study identified four distinct patterns of co-occurring social-emotional learning and behavioral problems among...
Research finds that mobile payment adoption leads to increased total transaction amounts and frequencies, affecting traditional channels. The study also reveals that the mobile channel substitutes for offline payments and complements online transactions.
A new checklist of North American fungi reveals 44,488 known species, with hundreds of thousands more awaiting discovery. The comprehensive list includes both large macrofungi and tiny microorganisms, highlighting their crucial roles in ecosystem balance and human well-being.
A recent study has analyzed nearly 2,400 protein-coding genes to understand the family relationships and evolutionary history of Hemiptera insects. The findings reveal that piercing and sucking mouthparts likely evolved over 350 million years ago, providing insight into the group's diverse feeding strategies.
A recent study led by University of Illinois social work professor Rachel Garthe found that parents' conflict-handling views play a significant role in shaping their children's behavior. The study surveyed over 1,000 sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students about their parents' views on handling conflicts. Results show that students ...
A historian challenges the traditional view of the Domesday Book, a famous document created by William the Conqueror in 11th-century England. New research suggests that the final version of the book was compiled years after its initial publication, and that it was not the top-down, orderly bureaucratic enterprise previously thought to ...
A new study found that single mothers, those with less education, and mothers enrolled in the WIC Program may receive fewer resources and information to help them breastfeed. Despite receiving support from professionals, demographic differences and stress levels may affect their ability to engage in breastfeeding practices.
Scientists have discovered that a fungus and a caterpillar are in a symbiotic relationship, allowing the caterpillar to thrive in orchards while also helping the fungus spread. The navel orangeworm caterpillar can metabolize aflatoxins produced by the Aspergillus flavus fungus, making it immune to its toxic effects.
A new study found that cultural differences play a significant role in how young people cope with natural disasters. The research used a new method to assess coping among disaster-affected youths and found that middle-class teen girls in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, used different coping strategies than low-income, predominantly Afri...
Researchers have identified a cellular target that may improve vaccine efficacy in immunocompromised individuals, who are highly susceptible to fungal infections. The study found that targeting CBLB, a protein important in regulating immune response, can elicit immunity through a unique T cell pathway.
Researchers found that integrating livestock and wildlife on the same lands can reduce tick abundance, enhance biodiversity, and increase revenue for local farmers. The practice of regularly spraying cattle with acaricides also played a key role in reducing ticks and associated diseases.
Researchers found altered patterns of neuron activity in the brain controlling reproductive endocrine systems in mice with epilepsy. The differences in activity in female mice fluctuated across their reproductive cycles, suggesting a dynamic connection between epilepsy and reproductive health.
A new study found that technology-based positive psychology exercises can significantly improve the quality of life and reduce depressive symptoms in hemodialysis patients. Patients who completed the five-week pilot study reported improved coping skills and emotional well-being.
Researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have developed a new, porous electrocatalyst that can split water molecules at a higher rate than current industry standards. The material, made from a mixture of metal compounds and perchloric acid, has shown improved stability in acidic environments.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have discovered how damaged liver cells repair themselves by reprogramming into an early stage of postnatal organ development. The findings reveal that injured liver cells undergo partial reprogramming, which is regulated by a specific RNA-binding protein called ESRP2.
A team of researchers at the University of Illinois has developed a system that harnesses the power of bubbles to destroy microbial biofilms. The system uses diatoms loaded with an oxygen-generating chemical, which creates microbubbles that propel tiny particles through the surfaces of tough films and deliver an antiseptic deathblow to...
A new study reveals that kidney stones are built up in calcium-rich layers resembling mineralizations in nature. The research found that the stones partially dissolve and regrow again and again as they form, contradicting the widely held notion that they never dissolve.
Researchers have developed a synthetic enzyme that reduces sulfite to sulfide, a notoriously complex multistep chemical reaction. The new enzyme's design focused on functionality rather than structure, accounting for previously thought secondary interactions that proved crucial to its activity.
A new climate-modeling study finds that large wind and solar farms in the Sahara Desert and neighboring Sahel would increase local temperature, precipitation and vegetation. The effects are likely to benefit the region, with increased rainfall leading to a positive feedback loop of vegetation growth.
A new study reveals that the mechanical properties of viral DNA govern the direction of infection, with synchronous and random infections differing in their DNA's stiffness. Temperature and stress levels influence this process, with heat making DNA more flexible and potentially leading to lytic events.
A new study found that 21-month-old infants can recognize power differences between characters and expect those differences to endure over time. Infants understand that with leaders, they must obey even when the leader is not present, but with bullies, they only obey when the bully is around.
A comprehensive case study found that Denver's parks don't adequately serve all city residents due to historical zoning codes and funding policies. The study suggests that improving park access for low-income people of color requires working with equity-oriented nonprofits and utilizing publicly owned land.
A new study found that ancient animal herders in Africa added to the ecological richness and diversity of the savanna thousands of years ago. Their practice of penning cattle, goats, and sheep at night created nutrient-rich grassy glades, or hotspots, that still attract wildlife and have increased habitat diversity in the region.
A new study found that obesity blunts post-workout muscle building and repair in young adults. The research showed that obese individuals had reduced rates of myofibrillar protein synthesis after a weightlifting session compared to normal-weight peers.
Researchers used information theory techniques to track changes in rainfall, heat, soil moisture and carbon flow in two ecosystems before, during and after rainfall and drought events. The study found that stronger connectivity alters how rainfall affects moisture, heat and carbon flux in the system.
A new study suggests that college tours for Chinese teens are a rapidly growing market for the US tourist industry. The number of Chinese students participating in these tours has increased from 300,000 in 2013 to over 500,000 annually by summer 2015.
A recent study by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign found that nearly a third of young adults are financially precarious due to poor financial literacy and income instability. These individuals often rely on alternative financial services, which can lead to high interest rates and fees.
A new study by University of Illinois researchers found that the conical shape of murre eggs makes them more stable on cliffside ledges. Increasing the egg's conicality reduced its tendency to roll off the surface, providing experimental support for natural selection shaping the unique form of murre eggs.
A new study finds that while the link between union decline and wage inequality is weaker when accounting for individual worker characteristics, its effects remain significant. The study tracked individuals over a 42-year period and found that union decline led to lower wages and greater volatility in paychecks.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a model to identify cities that can benefit from re-circulating human-waste-derived nutrients into farm fields. This approach could promote agricultural sustainability and economic independence in developing countries.
Researchers have developed a new CRISPR technique that allows them to skip over specific parts of genes that can cause disease. This approach could potentially treat genetic diseases such as Duchenne's muscular dystrophy and Huntington's disease by eliminating mutated gene sequences and influencing their expression.
Researchers studied the skin microbiome of eastern massasauga snakes to understand how environmental microbial communities promote disease resistance. Infection with snake fungal disease alters the bacterial and fungal diversity of infected snakes, making them more susceptible to the pathogen.