New pub from Illinois State Archaeological Survey 📗 "Mounds North of Cahokia: Sixty Years of Archaeology at the Mitchell Site" — the story of a sacred Mississippian mound center, a highway that destroyed most of it, and 60 years of archaeology piecing it back together. 👉 https://loom.ly/676zcg4

Prairie Research Institute researchers propose an aquifer-based cooling and water supply option to help ease environmental stress stemming from AI data centers in the U.S. Read more here: news.illinois.edu/team-looking... @prairieresearch.bsky.social

Illinois breaks the record for most tornadoes in a year, bringing 2026 tally to at least 147

🌉 Did you know the Beardstown bridge helped shape the Cass County region? From its role in early development to the part it still plays in the community today, this bridge has a story worth knowing. Watch the full story from Illinois State Archaeological Survey 👉 youtu.be/6lJOgEh0IgM?...

Coles County just got its first-ever local real-time weather, soil & water monitoring station — the first addition to Illinois Climate Network @warm-isws.bsky.social in 20+ years. Thanks to a grant from The Lumpkin Family Foundation. 👉 https://loom.ly/RVulop8

Found a bat in your house? 🦇 Don't worry — here's a guide on how to remove it safely, written by mammalogist and bat expert Tara Hohoff from the Illinois Natural History Survey.

👷 Visiting Scientific Specialist, Environmental Assessments Researcher – Join Illinois State Geological Survey! Help evaluate potential environmental and geologic hazards and risks for IDOT infrastructure improvement projects! Apps due Jun. 18, 2026. 👉 https://loom.ly/xgQwvTA

There’s a very good chance that you’ll encounter a bat at some point in your life. There are more than 1,500 species of these fascinating flying mammals, found in almost all habitats outside the polar regions, and many of them have adapted to living around humans.

Read the #OpenAccess article by Goodwell et al. [2026] for free on @wiley-stem.bsky.social! 🔗 doi.org/10.1029/2025... @uofilsystem.bsky.social @prairieresearch.bsky.social

Ready to get hooked on fishing? 🎣 Swim over to iFishIllinois, the official source for fishing info, from permits and licenses to guides and locations. Brought to you by @illinoisdnr.bsky.social and Illinois Natural History Survey. 👉 ifishillinois.org

As flooding risks grow across Illinois, scientists at the Illinois State Water Survey help update FEMA flood maps used by communities in the National Flood Insurance Program. @wbez.org explores why many residents still lack flood coverage: https://loom.ly/UqDqu1E

There's still so much to learn about our rivers and lakes!

April in Illinois had a few brief periods of cooler temperatures, heavy precipitation, and severe weather like tornadoes. ⛈️ Get the latest monthly recap and seasonal outlook from @ilclimatologist.bsky.social. 👉 https://loom.ly/fdJl0vs

What will Illinois lose as cities grow and landscapes change? Researchers at the Illinois State Archaeological Survey found that climate-driven migration and urban expansion could destroy tens of thousands of cultural sites across the state by 2100. 👉 Learn more: https://loom.ly/0b4Sk-s

Happy Pub Date to FIELD GUIDE TO ILLINOIS MAMMALS: Second Edition by Joyce E. Hofmann! www.press.uillinois.edu/books/?id=p0... #Illinois #Biology #NaturalHistory cc: @prairieresearch.bsky.social

Exciting news! 🦟 @idph.bsky.social awarded a two-year grant to the Medical Entomology Lab at the Illinois Natural History Survey to support statewide mosquito, tick, and biting midge surveillance. 👉 Read more about the grant 🔗 https://loom.ly/iybBZDc

Thanks to the Spring Bird Count, coordinated by the Illinois Natural History Survey, we know that bald eagles nest in Cook County -- and we love seeing more of them!

Happy 100th birthday to Sir David Attenborough! Did you know scientists at the Illinois Natural History Survey named a pygmy locust after him? 🦗 Learn more at the link in the thread. 🧵Thanks for inspiring wonder and curiosity about life on Earth!

The @pintofscience.us festival is back with a big showing from scientists at the U of I Urbana-Chamapign! 🍻 The event offers talks on subjects ranging from gut microbes and urban gardens to planetary X-rays and digital agriculture applications. 👉 See you May 18-20 at Gallery Art Bar!

Students got hands-on with wetland science at @ilepa.bsky.social Dive In! at William W. Powers State Recreation Area! 🌿💧 From measuring water depth to analyzing samples, participants literally stepped into the role of a PRI wetland scientist.

Researchers at the Illinois Natural History Survey are tracking ticks across Illinois and testing for pathogens like Lyme disease. 🦠 Their work helps map where disease risk is changing and informs public health decisions.🧵

The annual City Nature Challenge has rolled around again, and everyone's invited to join the effort to boost the Chicago region's standing in this friendly global competition. https://to.wttw.com/3OVLTyh

This month's Technology Acceleration Program newsletter covers a new poll on harmful chemicals, chemical manufacturing, plastic upcycling and more! 👉 Read the full issue from Illinois Sustainable Technology Center 📩 https://loom.ly/nM8iigc

Happening today!

👷 Visiting Scientific Specialist, Environmental Assessment Researcher – Join Illinois State Geological Survey! Help evaluate potential environmental and geologic hazards and risks for IDOT infrastructure improvement projects! Apps due Apr. 22, 2026. 👉 https://loom.ly/7Jy3r5E

What were you like in the '90s? Well, scientists with the Illinois Natural History Survey have been collecting environmental data since 1997! Learn how that data helps with invasive species management with TJ Benson from @prairieresearch.bsky.social at https://go.illinois.edu/everydayenvironment

Blamed in part on climate change, the threat of water ponding in your yard or your basement is growing, a Sun-Times/WBEZ investigation has found, putting health, homes at risk.

Meet our panelists for the 8th annual Solving The World's Challenges panel, with the theme Invasive Species! To learn more about the event, each panelist, or to register to attend virtually, visit go.library.illinois.edu/FunkACESLibr...!

🌱 Research Experience for Undergraduates – Join Illinois Natural History Survey! Take part in a 4-week research program focused on the detection and diversity of phytoplasmas! Apps due: May 20, 2026. 👉 https://loom.ly/iD1JS3M

March brought wild temperature swings, shattered records, and much-needed rain across Illinois! 🌧️ Get the latest climate recap and spring outlook from @ilclimatologist.bsky.social at Illinois State Water Survey. 👉 https://loom.ly/0YvRBcs

Listen to a recent episode of @americanmedieval.bsky.social featuring special guest Sarah Baires from the Illinois State Archaeological Survey, exploring archaeology and Cahokia!

🐍 Seasonal Herpetological Technician – Join Illinois Natural History Survey! Assist with reptile and amphibian surveys throughout northern Illinois! Apps due Apr. 10, 2026 👉 Apply now: https://loom.ly/nyKlxKU

Five new #leafhopper species within the #genus Limassolla have recently been described and illustrated based on detailed analysis of male genitalia. Read the full study here: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1273.183175 @prairieresearch.bsky.social #newspecies #taxonomy

🌺 Botany Field/GIS Technician – Join Illinois Natural History Survey! Help survey and classify vegetative communities and assist with a seed dispersal study at Illinois Beach State Park! Apps due Apr. 10, 2026. 👉 Apply now: https://loom.ly/vJelAt4

A few hundred feet off the shoreline of Kenwood and Hyde Park lives an underwater marvel few Chicagoans ever see: the remnants of a 400 million-year-old coral reef scattered with ancient fossils and the wreckage of the Silver Spray, a steamship that sank after striking the shallow bedrock in 1914.

“Parasites can harm their hosts, but they also teach us a great deal about how nature works.” – Arif Ciloglu, visiting parasitologist, Illinois Natural History Survey. 🦟 Get to know Arif 👉 https://loom.ly/xEhCsUM

🌨️ Winter is wrapping up! @ilclimatologist.bsky.social looks back at the season’s mild, dry conditions -- and what it could mean for Illinois’ spring climate outlook. Read the latest report 👉 https://loom.ly/tyyWAGU

🌎 Director of the Illinois 3D Mesonet - Join Illinois State Water Survey! Lead the creation of a first-of-its-kind, statewide, multi-sector environmental observing network. Apps due June 15, 2026. 👉 Apply now: https://loom.ly/56cxSkQ

Christopher Dietrich, Illinois state entomologist at the Illinois Natural History Survey, weighs in!

Powerful storms brought deadly tornadoes to Indiana and Illinois this week, with large hail and severe rain striking south of Chicago. Here’s what you need to know when this kind of weather hits.

This week is National Groundwater Awareness Week! 💧 DYK about half of all Illinoisians rely on groundwater for their drinking water? The Illinois EPA monitors more than 1,000 community water supply wells across the state to help ensure communities have safe drinking water. 🌎

🐟 Stream and River Research Technicians – Join Illinois Natural History Survey! Assist with research projects evaluating stream communities in Illinois. Perfect opportunity for a current or recent undergraduate student. Apps due March 27, 2026. 👉 Apply now: https://loom.ly/P-eONnQ

Big news for sustainability and business! This month's Technology Acceleration Program newsletter covers free assessments for food biz, EV rebates, and more! 👉 Read the full issue from Illinois Sustainable Technology Center in the thread! 🧵

🦇 Bat Survey Field Technician - Join Illinois Natural History Survey! Help sample bats using acoustic surveys and mist-nets. Perfect for a current or recent undergrad in biology or natural resources. Apps due Mar. 20, 2026. 👉 https://loom.ly/mpow574

We’ve surpassed our $3,000 goal for the Traveling Science Center!! 🎉 Thank you to everyone who has supported the campaign so far. There’s still time to keep the momentum going before midnight 🧵

We’re getting closer to our $3,000 goal -- and every gift moves us forward. The Traveling Science Center travels delivers museum-quality science experiences directly to schools and communities across Illinois. Give here: go.illinois.edu/supportTSC

🗓️ Assistant to the Director - Join Illinois Sustainable Technology Center! Serve as the executive assistant to the Director of ISTC and manage meeting logistics. Apps due Mar. 17, 2026. 👉 Learn more and apply today: https://loom.ly/0iFXeiM

When the Traveling Science Center visits a school, curiosity takes over. 💡 Students explore biodiversity, invasive species, and learn how scientists study the environment that shapes our state. Your support helps make these experiences possible. Give today at go.illinois.edu/supportTSC

We’re off to a great start! 🥳 Support the Traveling Science Center so we can roll out to more communities across Illinois. Every $750 raised funds a full day of science programming at one school. 🧵