Water droplets direct self-assembly process in thin-film materials

You can think of it as origami. very high-tech origami. Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a technique for fabricating three-dimensional, single-crystalline silicon structures from thin films by coupling photolithography and a self-folding process driven by capillary interactions.

Published Date: November 23, 2009


Computational microscope peers into the working ribosome

Two new studies reveal in unprecedented detail how the ribosome interacts with other molecules to assemble new proteins and guide them toward their destination in biological cells. The studies used molecular dynamics flexible fitting (MDFF) to examine the interaction of the ribosome with two prominent molecular partners.

Published Date: November 23, 2009


Five-day delivery no sure cure for postal woes, economist says

Scaling back mail delivery from six days a week to five may be the best bet to stem mounting U.S. Postal Service losses, but could still be a gamble, says a University of Illinois economist who has studied the agencys persistent financial decline.

Published Date: November 23, 2009


Supervolcano eruption in Sumatra deforested India 73,000 years ago

A new study provides incontrovertible evidence that the volcanic super-eruption of Toba on the island of Sumatra about 73,000 years ago deforested much of central India, some 3,000 miles from the epicenter, researchers report.

Published Date: November 23, 2009


U. of I. children's book guide offers help to holiday book shoppers

You dont need to be a bibliophile to know that a book is quite possibly the perfect holiday gift for a child. As any lover of literature knows, books are just as immersive and entertaining as video games, they dont require batteries and wont crash while theyre being used.

Published Date: November 20, 2009