Skip to main content

News Archive

Theory: Flexibility is at the heart of human intelligence

Diana Yates

Centuries of study have yielded many theories about how the brain gives rise to human intelligence.

Expanding the potential of metabolic engineering

Emily Scott

For decades, scientists have used the natural processes in cells to create useful products such as chemicals and biofuels. 

Five Illinois researchers rank among world’s most influential


Five faculty members at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have been named to the 2017 Clarivate Analytics Highly Cited Researchers list (previously known as the…

Genomic study explores evolution of gentle 'killer bees' in Puerto Rico

Diana Yates

A genomic study of Puerto Rico's Africanized honey bees - which are more docile than other so-called "killer bees" - reveals that they retain most of the genetic traits of…

Cell phone software creates new possibilities for precision medicine

Claudia Lutz

Embedded in our society is a cultural memory of the old-time family doctor, a medical practitioner who knows of your family, your history, and your daily life, and uses that…

Hacking evolution, screening technique may improve most widespread enzyme

Claire Benjamin

Plants evolved over millions of years into an environment that has dramatically changed in the last 150 years since the Industrial Revolution began: carbon dioxide levels have…

Study reveals how bacteria steal nutrients from human hosts

Steph Adams, with contributions from Serina Tajula

A new study, published in mBio, exposes a zinc-import system in bacteria that could contribute to their ability to cause infection.

Expanding Brazilian sugarcane could dent global CO2 emissions

Diana Yates

Vastly expanding sugarcane production in Brazil for conversion to ethanol could reduce current global carbon dioxide emissions by as much as 5.6 percent, researchers report in…

Nutrition scientist Sharon Donovan elected to National Academy of Medicine

Sharita Forrest

Sharon M. Donovan, a professor of nutrition and the Melissa M.

Cholesterol byproduct hijacks immune cells, lets breast cancer spread

Liz Ahlberg Touchstone

High cholesterol levels have been associated with breast cancer spreading to other sites in the body, but doctors and researchers don't know the cause for the link.

U.S. Department of Energy grant to fund sorghum research at Illinois

Donald Danforth Plant Science Center and Dave Evensen

An Illinois professor is part of a multi-institutional research project that has received a 5-year, $16 million grant from the U.S.