Monday’s storms were part of severe weather this summer, with hope that August may bring some relief
Monday’s storms were part of severe weather this summer, with hope that August may bring some relief
chicagotribune.com
Prairie Research Institute
@prairieresearch.bsky.social
Scientists to the State of Illinois at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
"I did not suspect then that the little yellow and black beetle would become my teacher, co-conspirator, and inspiration for the next three decades of my career." Joe Spencer, insect behaviorist, reflects on 30 years of research on the western corn rootworm. 👉 https://loom.ly/PAw-wcY
A retired scientist. Thousands of beetles. Nearly 20 years of volunteering. Bill and Cindy Ruesink made their commitment official with an endowment for one of North America's oldest insect collections. 👉 Read their story at https://loom.ly/Ccq0jG4
The Forest Preserve District of Kane County is inviting the community to take part in the eighth annual Rusty Rodeo, a free, family-friendly event focused on removing invasive rusty crayfish from local waterways.
Kane Forest Preserve District event designed to capture invasive crayfish
chicagotribune.com
ICYMI: Our drought management media briefing full video, transcript, and data resources with @trentford.bsky.social, @eakoebele.bsky.social, and Dr. Debra Perrone is free for reporters to use, clip & quote for news stories: bit.ly/4fmv60v @aaas.org
Help shape solutions to food waste! Take a 10-minute survey about meal planning, grocery shopping, cooking, and what happens in the kitchen at 👉 go.illinois.edu/FoodWasteSurvey. @extension.illinois.edu
June climate report from @ilclimatologist.bsky.social: 🌧️ 7.40" of rain statewide — 5th wettest June on record 🌪️ 65+ tornadoes in June; 173 total in 2026 — a new ALL-TIME annual record, before July 4th More at https://loom.ly/HLCoHAg
Researchers at the Illinois State Geological Survey propose a fix to cool data centers: use aquifers as "thermal batteries" to cool systems then return and store the water underground for later use. 👉 Read more: https://loom.ly/0amIcqc
A mild earthquake occurred off the shore of the northern suburbs Wednesday afternoon, officials said.
Mild earthquake reported in Lake Michigan off the shore of northern suburbs, officials say
chicagotribune.com
Plastic doesn't disappear. It breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces called microplastics. This Plastic Free July, challenge yourself to replace just one single use plastic with a reusable alternative. 🌎♻️ 🔗 Learn more about microplastics: epa.illinois.gov/topics/water...
A Prairie Research Institute team is using our state's seasonal temperature swings and unique geology to develop a underground cooling system that can utilize non-potable water sources, such as deep saline aquifers. 🌡️⬇️
AI’s Growing Appetite for Energy and Water Sparks a New Cooling Solution Beneath the Earth
Researchers propose using underground aquifers to cool AI data centers, lowering the environmental impact of growing AI infrastructure.
thedebrief.org
Illinois’ tick season may be starting earlier, lasting longer and creeping into new corners of the state, scientists and researchers say.
Ticks on the rise in Illinois due to milder winters, scientists say
chicagotribune.com
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
Illinois breaks the record for most tornadoes in a year, bringing 2026 tally to at least 147
chicagotribune.com
🌉 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?...
The Illinois Historic Bridge Series: The Illinois River Bridge near Beardstown
YouTube video by Illinois State Archaeological Survey
youtu.be
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.
The Conversation U.S.@us.theconversation.com · 2mo agoBat in the house? 🦇 A bat biologist walks through the steps for persuading a bat to leave your home, and what to do when a whole family decides to roost in your attic.
👷 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.
Bat in the house? Here’s how to remove it safely
In spring and early summer, bats are migrating to their summer habitats and are more active when they get there, so they’re turning up in unexpected place
wcia.com
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
Detecting Regimes of Critical Zone Processes, Drivers and Predictability With a Data‐Driven Framework
Clustering and dimensionality reduction detect temporal shifts in multivariate solute, soil gas, and vegetation observational subsystems Environmental drivers of critical zone subsystems vary ove...
doi.org
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
Few Chicago residents buy flood insurance, but should they?
Almost every community in the Chicago area is at risk of flooding, and powerful storms are expected to increase. Here's what to know about flood insurance.
wbez.org
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!
Block Club Chicago@blockclubchi.bsky.social · 3mo agoTwo bald eagle chicks have been spotted in nests on the South Side this spring. They are believed to be the first eaglets born in the city in more than a century. blockclubchi.co/4dtGNmb
