Rob Mitchum

Oak Park

I write about science for @UICnews and music for various places. Co-host of @36ftv. Avatar is Poster Children's RTFM.

Articles

UIC researchers, scholars make strides in their fields, ranging from music to muscular dystrophy

4 days ago | today.uic.edu | Rob Mitchum

The excellence of UIC research is built on its community, which has expertise across all fields of science and humanities. The UIC Research and Scholarship Annual Awards, presented by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, honor the exceptional members of that ecosystem, from promising early-career faculty to nationally recognized scholars.
Michael Trenary: Observing and controlling chemical reactions on metal surfaces

4 days ago | today.uic.edu | Rob Mitchum

How chemicals behave on metal surfaces is what drives many of today’s most important technologies, from catalytic converters in cars to semiconductors in electronics. For over four decades at UIC, Michael Trenary has studied these critical phenomena at the atomic scale. By designing and using new scientific instruments to observe and control these reactions, he has significantly advanced the fields of surface science and physical chemistry.
Lijun Rong: Developing therapies to fight the next pandemic

4 days ago | today.uic.edu | Rob Mitchum

The COVID-19 pandemic sparked a race to create therapies to prevent the viral infection and its severe symptoms. Less than a year after the virus emerged, scientists developed a safe and effective vaccine authorized for emergency use. Lijun Rong, professor of microbiology and immunology at UIC, has dedicated his career to the kind of research that makes this rapid response possible.
Andy Nguyen: Designing molecular machines inspired by nature

4 days ago | today.uic.edu | Rob Mitchum

When it comes to engineering, nature remains undefeated. Over billions of years, evolution has produced complex molecular machines that perform with efficiency and selectivity human designers cannot match. In his research, Andy Nguyen doesn’t try to compete with nature; he uses it as a guide. His synthetic chemistry group aims to build new materials inspired by natural proteins and enzymes, borrowing methods from biology to design and optimize them.
Nitric oxide may contribute to cancer by turning off genes, study finds

2 weeks ago | today.uic.edu | Rob Mitchum

Nitric oxide is an important cell-signaling molecule in the body. It regulates blood pressure, immune response and the nervous system. But nitric oxide is not like other cellular signals. As a small free radical, it only exists for a few seconds but can move easily inside and across cells, controlling their function. A study from UIC researchers has found a substantial new way that nitric oxide can influence a cell and, more broadly, a person’s health.
Nanoscale materials ripple in the cold, study finds

2 weeks ago | today.uic.edu | Rob Mitchum

Two-dimensional materials only a few atoms thick hold great promise for a variety of technological uses, including energy storage, sensors and superconductivity. UIC researchers have discovered that one class of these ultra-thin materials shows a rippling behavior similar to what we see when we shuffle cards or leaf through a book. That rippling action could help in the design of new technologies, the researchers said.
Lasso-shaped antibiotic co-developed by UIC evades standard drug resistance

1 month ago | today.uic.edu | Rob Mitchum

A small molecule shaped like a lasso may be a powerful tool in the fight against infectious diseases, according to a new study in Nature co-authored by University of Illinois Chicago researchers. Lariocidin, a peptide made by bacteria living in soil, was effective against several different microbes responsible for deadly infections. UIC researchers working with collaborators at McMaster University in Canada determined how the new antibiotic works and why the drug evades bacterial resistance.
New software finds aging cells that contribute to disease and health risks

1 month ago | today.uic.edu | Rob Mitchum

For human health, prematurely aging cells are a big problem. When a cell ages and stops growing, its function changes, which can cause or worsen cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease and other chronic diseases. But these cells are also like needles in a haystack, difficult to identify by traditional scientific measures.
New student club launches ambitious semiconductor manufacturing project

1 month ago | today.uic.edu | Rob Mitchum

A new student group at University of Illinois Chicago will be the first in the country to run a novel initiative on the frontier of semiconductor and microsystems manufacturing. The Semiconductor and Microsystems Manufacturing Club, or SEMMI, brings together students interested in designing and fabricating computer chips and other microelectronic systems.
Anatomy lab? There’s an app for that, created by UIC faculty and students

1 month ago | today.uic.edu | Rob Mitchum

For centuries, in-person anatomy labs have been essential for teaching students of health and medicine. By observing dissection first-hand, they can see and understand the human body down to its smallest structure. But this requires a real human cadaver to work on, and students can’t take that work home with them. Now, a team of UIC faculty, instructors and students has built a modern tool for the long-standing practice of studying human anatomy.