2019-11-15 - Iridescent appearance is ubiquitous in the insect world, and is used for a variety of functions, such as signaling to a mate or providing camouflage. A new study from the University of Illinois is exploring the link between iridescence and the biomechanical properties of beetles’ cuticle, in an effort to better understand what other functions iridescence might serve.

2019-11-14 - Cowbirds outsource parenting to other species, but an innate password tells their children to copy cowbird songs. Chicago's Sarah London, Illinois' Mark Hauber and Tokyo's Matthew Louder discovered this "password" call, that...

2019-11-12 - With the Researcher Spotlight, the Microbial Systems Initiative aims to introduce its readers to the breadth and diversity of research interests and potential growth opportunities on the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus. Katy Heath, PhD, is an associate professor of Plant Biology in the ...

2019-11-05 - Seven alumni from the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences have named recipients of the college’s 2019 annual alumni awards. The alumni represent a variety of backgrounds and degrees, and their achievements have clear links to their experiences at the University of Illinois. The recipients will be honored during Homecoming weekend on campus.

2019-10-25 - Fire-loving fungi are among the first organisms to appear on the forest floor after a fire, followed closely by mosses and lichens.

2019-10-25 - Research Live! is a fun, fast-paced competition that celebrates the research of graduate students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Thirteen finalists competed in the public round of Research Live! on Tuesday, October 22 at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts.

2019-10-23 - Gene sequences for more than 1100 plant species have been released by an international consortium of nearly 200 plant scientists, the culmination of a nine-year research project.

2019-10-03 - Every solution is created to solve a problem, whether it’s a quick fix or a life-altering change. For professor of entomology Esther Ngumbi, going to school was her solution to feeding her family.

2019-10-01 - A new study reveals genetic differences that influence how corn responds to higher concentrations of ground-level ozone.

2019-09-30 - As their Latin name indicates, pineapples are truly “excellent fruits”—and thanks to a freshly completed genome sequencing project, researchers have gained a new understanding of how human agriculture has shaped the evolution of this and other crops.

2019-09-30 - Many new parents are familiar with terms like “baby brain” or “mommy brain” that hint at an unavoidable decline in cognitive function associated with the hormonal changes of pregnancy, childbirth, and maternal caregiving. A new study of parental care in stickleback fish is a reminder that such parenting-induced changes in the brain and associated shifts in cognition and behavior are not just for...

2019-09-30 - Researchers at the University of Illinois have shown through a multi-year study that cowbirds (Molothrus ater) conform to Bateman’s Principle, which holds that reproductive success is greater in males than in females when they have more mates. Cowbirds are distinct from 99% of other bird species in that they are brood parasites and lay their eggs in nests of birds of other species for...

2019-09-30 - Making important commercial or financial decisions can be a very difficult task, especially with a variety of perspectives and stakeholders to consider. Dr. Marianne Alleyne, assistant professor in entomology, and Molly Sturgis, graduate student researcher in industrial and enterprise systems engineering, have turned to bees to see what kinds of insights could be translated to human decision-...

2019-09-24 - Climate change is already having a negative impact on our food supply.

2019-09-20 - A single protein has been identified to play a role in improving photosynthesis under high concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide, according to a study published in in silico Plants. The protein, known as Gm-GATA2, is predicted to overcome limitations imposed by photosynthetic acclimation under elevated CO2 levels—and is a promising candidate for research into how we can better...