Schooley named head of natural resources and environmental sciences department at UIUC
URBANA, Ill - Robert Schooley will serve as the next head of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences (NRES) in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. A full professor, Schooley has served as the NRES interim head since January 2020. He joined NRES as an assistant professor in fall 2005.
New health benefits of red seaweeds unveiled
URBANA, Ill. - Red seaweeds have been prevalent in the diets of Asian communities for thousands of years. In a new study, published in Marine Drugs, researchers have shown how these algae confer health benefits.
Cholesterol metabolite induces production of cancer-promoting vesicles
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Scientists working to understand the cellular processes linking high cholesterol to breast cancer recurrence and metastasis report that a byproduct of cholesterol metabolism causes some cells to send out cancer-promoting signals to other cells. These signals are packaged in membrane-bound compartments called extracellular vesicles.
Reported in the journal Endocrinology, the discovery could lead to the development of new anti-cancer therapies, researchers say.
Blue corn waffles a winner in FSHN Food Challenge contest
URBANA, Ill. – Sammie Golemba is getting a head start on her college experience. As an incoming freshman in food science and human nutrition (FSHN) at the University of Illinois, she participated in this year’s FSHN Food Challenge and won a $500 scholarship for her efforts.
Jamison Watson, ABE doctoral student, receives Schmidt Science Fellowship
URBANA, Ill. – Jamison Watson, doctoral student in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering (ABE) at the University of Illinois, received a Schmidt Science Fellowship. He is one of 28 awardees in the 2021 cohort of fellows, representing 13 nationalities and multiple research fields.
Alumna with a passion for national forests challenges students to seek adventure
With a bachelor’s degree in forestry and a love for adventure, Nora Rasure’s life and career have been nothing short of exciting. Rasure enjoyed a successful 40-year career with the U.S. Forest Service and is now retired and living in Sisters, Oregon. While she was able to create amazing memories during her career, she was also able to make a difference by caring for public land and serving people.
High unemployment rates contribute to rise in anti-democratic extremism
URBANA, Ill. – The United States has experienced a dramatic increase in anti-democratic extremist groups in recent decades, culminating with the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Adverse economic conditions and high unemployment rates fueled the proliferation of extremism, according to a study from University of Illinois.
ACES researcher is new editor-in-chief of Endocrine Society journal
Zeynep Madak-Erdogan, associate professor in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, has been named editor-in-chief of the Journal of the Endocrine Society. Madak-Erdogan leads the Women’s Health and Metabolism lab at University of Illinois.
Male piglets less resilient to stress when moms get sick during pregnancy
URBANA, Ill. – When pigs get hit with significant illnesses during key stages of pregnancy, their immune response may negatively affect developing piglets, making them less productive on the farm. New research from the University of Illinois shows that when those piglets – especially males – experience a second stressor in early life, they are at higher risk of neurodevelopmental and other neurological anomalies, putting them at an even greater disadvantage in production settings.
Cash in on cannabis craze with online course, certificate at Illinois
URBANA, Ill. – With a growing number of states legalizing the sale and personal cultivation of cannabis, including medical and recreational marijuana and hemp, farmers and home growers need to know the ins and outs of the crop. Now, enthusiasts and full-scale producers alike can learn to classify and manage cannabis production in an online course through the University of Illinois.