Illinois Public Media

Science

A full Moon is seen shining over NASA’s Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft, part of the Artemis program, on February 1, 2026. Inset: Joseph Fernando Gonzalez in the IPM studios on May 8, 2026.

From the prairie to the moon, these Illinoisans are connected to the NASA Artemis program

 When the four astronauts of Artemis II orbited the moon, it was the culmination of work by countless thousands of people — including some based here in Illinois. The 21st Show talks with an aerospace engineer who dreamed of space as a boy (and still does), and the head of a company whose work with NASA dates back to Apollo.
IPM Newsroom
Photo of Raphael & Whitney, who will be performing for the Illinois Soul Juneteenth celebration on June 18 at 5:30pm.
Illinois Classical
Illinois Classical 90.9

Your home for Classical and more in Central Illinois.
Prairie Performances
A filipino man with dark hair.

Prairie Performances: Revisiting the Music of Tim Corpus
Filipino-American composer and arts manager Tim Corpus is recognized for his compositions across concert music, film, and interactive media…
Dialogue
ochestra conductor, man looking at camera

Direct from Champaign: A Hamilton star and a Student Virtuoso talk about raising the bar
Our Dialogue for Teens hosts learn about a ‘Hamilton’ star who rose from Champaign to Broadway and an emerging talent from Centennial High School.
The 21st Show
Pat Burke, executive creative director of Special Group, led the team that created Lay's 'The Little Farmer' ad for the Super Bowl in 2025.

Meet the Illinois man behind so many memorable Super Bowl ads
An Illinois man has been part of some of the more memorable Super Bowl commercials of the past 15 years. 
The 21st Show
The video game American Truck Simulator will soon expand its playable area to Illinois, where drivers can pass Buckingham Fountain on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago.

New video game provides virtual drive to cities across Illinois
SCS Software, the makers of American Truck Simulator, is soon releasing an expansion for the game that highlights several cities across Illinois, including Chicago, Champaign,…
The 21st Show
Demonstrators outside Hovey Hall, the main administration building, at Illinois State University on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

A look into the settlement after Illinois State University workers’ strike
A settlement has been reached between AFSCME Council 31 and Illinois State University following a strike that lasted nearly four weeks.
Prairie Fire

Prairie Fire: Season 3 - Episode 6 - March 2026
We introduce you to the art of Brian Dettmer, get a special performance from hip-hop duo Mother Nature, and visit with quilter Millie Sorrells, who shows us creativity has no…
News Local/State

Behind The Mic: News & Public Affairs Reginald Hardwick loves meeting new people through journalism
After two decades as a television producer in Denver and Dallas-Fort Worth, IPM News Director Reginald Hardwick switched to public media ten years ago. 
State of Change

Small gestures to make a big difference in preserving our planet
We visit a zero-waste general store, a garden bringing a community together in a Chicago food desert, a program protecting pollinators, and advice to increase sustainability…