Author Ken Liu was born in China in 1976, and his family emigrated to the U.S. when he was 11. 

He has published multiple collections of short stories and an epic series of novels. Several of his works have been made into films , including “Good Hunting,” which was part of the Netflix animated anthology series Love, Death and Robots. He's also known for translating the Chinese sci-fi series known as The Three Body Problem.

Based in the Boston suburbs, Liu visited Central Illinois back in 2024 for a talk at the Champaign Public Library on art and artificial intelligence. That's when we first aired this conversation, in which he talks about trading a traditional job for writing full time, what's unique about Chinese science fiction, and why he's excited for the possibilities of artificial intelligence.

An Urbana couple won two of the top awards in the science fiction world over the weekend. Lynne M. Thomas and Michael Damian Thomas were awarded the Hugo award for Best Editor in the short form category. And their online publication, Uncanny Magazine, won a Hugo for Best Semi-professional Publication for the third year in a row.

On the 21st: How economist Richard Thaler's unconventional style helped him win the Nobel Prize this week. Plus, we revisit our conversation with Chicago author Marcus Sakey on his novel 'Afterlife,' and rebroadcast our interview with two creators of the 'Hate Has No Home Here' campaign.

On the 21st: How farmers use the federal crop insurance program to stay in business. Plus, University of Illinois entomologist May Berenbaum explained how even "bad science" from movies could be used to teach valuable lessons, and DePaul University's Joseph Schwieterman discussed new passenger trains that could slash commuting times. Also: a look at climate change, flooding and other severe weather.

Actress Carrie Fisher, who found enduring fame as Princess Leia in the original "Star Wars,'' has died. She was 60. Fisher's daughter, Billie Lourd, released a statement through her spokesman saying
Fisher died Tuesday just before 9 a.m PST. Lourd said her mother was "loved by the word and she will be missed profoundly.''