A team of University of Illinois engineers has developed a model to understand how bacteria multiply in plumbing systems. The model uses samples collected from taps before and after stagnation and combines them with city biofilm data and building blueprints, allowing for the assessment of drinking-water quality.
Scientists have built a computational microscope that can simulate atomic and subatomic forces driving molecular interactions. The tool streamlines efforts to understand chemistry, model large systems, and develop new pharmaceutical agents.
A new study found that individual differences in brain connectivity are associated with variation in decision-making processes. Functional MRI and a comprehensive test of decision-making were used to investigate the link between brain networks and executive, social, and perceptual processes.
A new study has developed a method to recover high-quality polymers from mixed-plastic electronics waste, providing an environmentally friendly solution for recycling. The process uses a solvent called NMP, which releases vapors only when heated above 180 degrees Celsius, and can be reused multiple times.
Quadrupole topological insulators are a new phase of electronic matter with unusual properties. The researchers created a workable-scale analogue of QTI using printed circuit boards and measured how much microwave radiation was absorbed by each resonator.
A study published in Neuropsychologia found that both conscious and unconscious emotional suppression reduce participants' memory of negative images. However, explicit emotional suppression has a greater impact on reducing negative emotions associated with the images.
Scientists have generated a vast library of unique cyclic compounds that can bind to their targets with stability and effectiveness. The new compounds have the capacity to interrupt specific protein-protein interactions that play a role in disease, offering potential therapeutic agents for various conditions.
The TerraSentia crop phenotyping robot, developed by the University of Illinois, measures plant traits using various sensors and transmits data in real-time to operators' phones or laptops. This allows for more objective and efficient data collection, enabling better breeding pipeline outcomes.
Scientists at University of Illinois create artificially intelligent ocean predator called Cyberslug, which reacts to food and responds to its own kind like the actual sea slug Pleurobranchaea californica does. The virtual creature has simple self-awareness, relating motivation and memories to external world perception.
A new imaging technique uses a super sharp needle to nudge individual nanoparticles into different orientations, capturing 2D images to reconstruct 3D pictures. This method allows for the observation of defects in nanostructures like semiconductors and proteins, which can lead to better characterization and control of their production.
Researchers at the University of Illinois used a combination of traditional kick-seining and environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques to study the rare Faxonius eupunctus crayfish. They found the species most abundant in the middle part of its 30-mile range, with up to 35,000 cubic feet of water flowing by each second.
A new study by University of Illinois researchers found that students who behaved responsibly in high school, showed interest, and had good writing skills tend to earn higher incomes and have higher occupational prestige 50 years later. Education was the factor mediating this relationship.
A study found that iron-deficient piglets exhibit reduced iron content and structural deficiencies in key brain regions, including the hippocampus. After iron supplementation, these deficits persisted, highlighting the long-lasting impact of early-life iron deficiency on brain development.
Researchers found that analyzing Twitter conversations about Zika and other public health crises can provide accurate insights into community attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors. This method offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional phone-based polling, which can be slow and expensive.
A new study found that sleep problems in menopausal women are consistently correlated with hot flashes and depression. However, the study suggests that addressing these risk factors may also address sleep disruptions, offering hope that women's sleep symptoms may not last past the menopausal transition.
Researchers identified unexpected geophysical signals beneath stable continental interiors of South America and Africa, suggesting recent geologic activity. Cratons, ancient rocks on Earth's surface, may have experienced delamination, a process where the denser lower mantle layer peels away from the buoyant upper layer.
Researchers found changes in gene activity in the pituitary gland of foxes selectively bred for tameness, which may explain why tame foxes are less stressed. The study suggests that domestication alters animals' reactivity to stress by modifying the way their brain centers communicate about hormone release.
Researchers have developed tiny capsules that can sustain transplanted insulin-producing cells, increasing their viability and function. The capsules contain a drug that improves cell survival in low-oxygen conditions.
A recent study suggests that fewer than half of parents of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities have made long-term care plans. This leaves family members facing a crisis when the parent or primary caregiver is no longer able to provide care, potentially leading to institutionalization.
The discovery of a shape-memory mechanism in synthetic organic materials could lead to advancements in low-power electronics and medical devices. The researchers found that the transformation process is driven by concerted movement of molecules, enabling reversible and ultrafast shape changes.
The researchers have developed a new device that uses sound waves to produce ultraminiature optical diodes, enabling nonreciprocal devices for photonic integrated circuits. These devices protect laser sources from back reflections and are necessary for routing light signals around optical networks.
A new study suggests that people who perceive their willpower as limited are more likely to feel exhausted and need breaks between mentally taxing activities. In contrast, those who view their willpower as limitless tend to feel energized and ready to tackle the next challenge.
A study by University of Illinois researchers found that third-graders who spend a class session in a natural outdoor setting are more engaged and less distracted in their regular classroom afterward. The effect was large and occurred week after week, regardless of teacher expectations.
A new study found that preterm babies experience delays in auditory brain development, which are associated with speech and language impairments at age 2. The researchers used diffusion neuroimaging to track the development of the primary and nonprimary auditory cortex in the brains of preterm infants.
Honey bee researchers found that foragers prefer sugar syrup laced with the fungicide chlorothalonil over a control at low concentrations, but avoid it at higher doses. The unexpected finding highlights the complex relationship between honey bees and environmental toxins.
Many Midwestern retailers are selling oriental bittersweet, an invasive species, as native American bittersweet. Researchers found that 54% of plants labeled 'American bittersweet' were actually oriental bittersweet, which can outcompete and harm the native plant.
Researchers discovered that a hormone therapy combination of conjugated estrogens and bazedoxifene improves metabolism, prevents weight gain, and reduces inflammation in the liver. The treatment also showed no increased risk of reproductive cancer.
Researchers found that whole eggs stimulate greater post-workout muscle protein synthesis compared to egg whites. The study suggests that consuming protein in its natural matrix is more beneficial for muscles.
A new study suggests that heat from a deep-seated oceanic mantle source, rather than a traditional mantle plume, drives crustal melting and surface volcanism in the western US. The research uses seismic tomography to peer into the subsurface and develop a hybrid geodynamic model that better matches observed geologic histories.
High-resolution climate models project significant changes in US temperature patterns, including extreme heat events and altered growing seasons. The southeastern US will experience maximum summer temperatures every other day by late-century.
University of Illinois researchers create an oxygen-sensitive molecular beacon that emits ultrasound signals in response to light, enabling real-time imaging of hypoxic tumors and constricted arteries. This non-invasive method has the potential to guide surgical procedures and treatment plans.
Researchers found hundreds of protein folds present across all superkingdoms of life and in various viruses, suggesting an ancient origin. The study also revealed exclusive gene transfers between specific groups of viruses and their hosts, pointing to unknown mechanisms for viral genetic material exchange.
Two studies in mice and human subjects reveal exercise can alter gut microbiota, promoting healthy intestinal cells and reducing inflammation. Exercise-induced changes persisted even after returning to a sedentary lifestyle, with lean participants showing more significant improvements.
A study by University of Illinois researchers found that individuals with higher news media literacy are less likely to endorse conspiracy theories. The study surveyed nearly 400 participants and found that those who know more about the news media are less susceptible to conspiracy theories, regardless of their political affiliation.
PAC-1, a cancer drug that targets procaspase-3, has been approved for use in a phase Ib trial of patients with anaplastic astrocytoma and glioblastoma multiforme. The drug has shown promise in pet dogs with brain cancers and is being tested in combination with temozolomide.
University of Illinois researchers designed nanoparticles that specifically bind to breast cancer stem cells, delivering a drug that turns off key gene pathways. The treatment significantly decreased cancer cell growth and made cancer stem cells less able to cause recurrence.
According to University of Illinois psychology professor Aron Barbey, the brain's ability to flexibly transition between network states is crucial for general intelligence. This flexibility involves forming and reforming connections in response to changing needs, supporting both crystallized and fluid intelligence.
A new study demonstrates the use of carefully crafted, ultrafast light pulses to control neuron activity in mice. This technique, called coherent control, could one day help patients with light-sensitive circadian or mood problems by regulating chemical reactions and ion flow.
Africanized honey bees, which are more docile than other so-called 'killer bees', retain most of their African heritage but have shifted genetic traits towards European honey bees. This rapid evolution likely occurred due to living on a densely populated island where humans eradicated aggressive bees, favoring the gentler counterparts.
Chronic preconception exposure to genistein affected pregnancy rates in mice, resulting in prolonged labor, smaller litters, and higher pup mortality. The study found that high doses of genistein may boost fertility rates but also have adverse effects on reproductive outcomes.
A new shape-shifting polymer can target and kill Helicobacter pylori bacteria in the stomach, improving digestive health for billions worldwide. The agent morphs into a bacterial hole-puncher at acidic pH, killing H. pylori while sparing helpful gut bacteria.
A team of University of Illinois bioengineers has developed a new technique to characterize metal organic frameworks (MOFs) using infrared chemical imaging. This method allows for non-destructive analysis and provides detailed information on the structure and chemistry of MOFs, enabling better detection and utilization of these materials.
A team of researchers discovered a female alligator snapping turtle in Clear Creek, Union County, Illinois, after 30 years of absence. The 22-pound, 15-inch long turtle is believed to be at least 18 years old and not one of the released turtles.
A new study suggests that encouraging children to drink plain water with their school lunches could prevent over half a million youths from becoming overweight or obese. The intervention was associated with small but significant declines in risks of being overweight, with estimated long-term savings of $13 billion.
Researchers found that stem cell injections improved circulation, induced gene expression changes, and reduced inflammation in diabetic mice with peripheral artery disease. The study suggests that stem cell treatment could help alleviate symptoms in severe PAD patients.
The study introduces a method for controlling polymer structure and function by utilizing electrostatic charge, allowing for the creation of smart materials with diverse applications. By tuning the sequence of charges along polymer chains, researchers can engineer desired properties and expand the diversity of polymers used.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have created a new way to conceptualize electronic devices by utilizing atomic-scale interference patterns. This approach, known as moire engineering, enables the creation of single-atom thick wires capable of transmitting electricity rapidly.
Scientists propose expanding sugarcane production in Brazil to reduce global carbon dioxide emissions. The idea involves converting hundreds of thousands of square miles into sugarcane fields while allowing for expansion of other agricultural crops and human needs.
A new study by University of Illinois researchers found that mass killings in the US have remained steady over the past decade, with no significant increase in frequency or clustering. The study's authors suggest that a robust response system and resiliency in infrastructure are key to minimizing the impact of such events.
The Illinois River's dramatic recovery is attributed to the Clean Water Act, which reduced sewage effluent and improved water quality. As a result, populations of largemouth bass, bluegill, and other sportfish have increased dramatically, with catches now exceeding 100-300 fish per hour.