Illinois social work professor Rosalba Hernandez found that “positive psychology interventions” such as gratitude exercises, optimism training & mindfulness-based practices can improve heart health. Read the @washingtonpost.com story on this study here: www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/20...

🌊A new study repurposes an old rule called Hack’s law to help manage water flow and reduce flood risk in river deltas, such as the Po River Delta in Italy. Read more here: news.illinois.edu/new-study-pr...

In a study of small towns and rural communities that tracked children from the fifth grade until age 19, social work professor Christopher Fleming found that substantial proportions of youths were gang members or affiliated with gangs to some degree. More here: news.illinois.edu/do-youth-gan...

Daniel Kraus, known for his many horror novels and high-profile collaborations with filmmakers such as Guillermo del Toro, won the 2026 Pulitzer Prize for fiction for “Angel Down.” He earned a master of library and information sciences from Illinois in 2005. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/04/e...

🧠New imaging technology from the U. of I. can simultaneously map more than 20 biomarkers in high resolution, providing a comprehensive view of the brain with a single 15-minute MRI scan. Read more here: news.illinois.edu/new-mri-tech...

🦬Illinois history professor Rosalyn LaPier is an advisor for the Smithsonian's new exhibit "Bison: Standing Strong," which commemorates the 250th anniversary of the nation and the 10th anniversary of the naming of the bison as our national mammal. Read more here: news.illinois.edu/history-prof...

Two new studies led by U. of I. health and kinesiology professor Rachel Hoopsick offer insight into the factors that coincide with adolescent inhalant use in the U.S., a dangerous pastime that can have lifelong — or life-ending — consequences. Read more here: news.illinois.edu/social-media...

🌉Each spring, students gather to watch their peers test model trusses — built with bamboo skewers — as weights are added until they break. Students in Structural Fundamentals learn about forces and the distribution of loads along the truss. More here: news.illinois.edu/designing-bu...

Shaimaa Khanam, a doctoral student in communication & a crisis counselor, interviewed survivors of "stealthing," or nonconsensual condom removal by an intimate partner, to explore how they processed the experience and communicated it to others. More here: news.illinois.edu/stealthing-s...

A new paper co-written by law professor Sara Gerke raises the alarm on a new AI program that auto-renews certain prescriptions, creating several clinical and legal issues. Read more here: news.illinois.edu/autonomous-a...

What do the new changes to marijuana and psychedelic drug policies mean? Illinois health and kinesiology professor and expert on drug policy Rachel Hoopsick discusses the pros and cons of these changes here: news.illinois.edu/who-benefits...

🌿Did someone call for a documentary night? New research led by Illinois graduate student Darcy Lu suggests that watching or creating videography of scenic locations replicates the mental health benefits of outdoor activities. Read more here: news.illinois.edu/nature-video...

🍺New research from @psychillinois.bsky.social shows the repeated use of mobile breathalyzer devices corresponded to changes in drinking behavior and improved accuracy of self-assessments of blood-alcohol levels. Read more here: news.illinois.edu/study-people...

🐕Outer ear infections in dogs are very common, but are becoming resistant to topical treatment. A new study led by Dr. Souza sheds light on why and helps veterinarians know how best to prescribe antifungal drugs to preserve their efficacy. More here: news.illinois.edu/unlocking-ho...

🌎Learning about international affairs just became more accessible. Check out the new interactive dashboard from the Cline Center at the U. of I. that documents governmental instability around the world in an easy-to-use, interactive format. Read more here: news.illinois.edu/coup-project...

🎉Entomologist Gene Robinson, the newly appointed executive director and CEO of the Illinois Discovery Partners Institute, will be inducted into the American Philosophical Society. Dr. Robinson was formerly the Director of the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology at Illinois. Congratulations!

👨‍🦽 Laura Rice and her research team at Illinois are finding ways to help users of mobility devices be more confident in their skills and participate in activities. Read more here: news.illinois.edu/falls-are-pr...

Scientists at the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center have developed and tested a new system for preventing excess nutrient run-off in farm fields. 👉 Read about how it works in the recent @news.illinois.edu story: https://loom.ly/HZlE50U

Interested in the latest findings from Illinois’ world-class researchers and other news about Illinois’ impact on the world? Follow us at @news.illinois.edu to be the first to hear about our groundbreaking studies, announcements and more!