The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has reached new heights after its newest project has launched to study the Earth’s outer atmosphere.

The Carruthers Geocorona Observatory was launched into space on Sept. 24, marking the beginning of the first NASA mission overseen by an Illinois researcher. Dr. Lara Waldrop, lead scientist and associate professor at U of I, led the construction and launch of the new space telescope. The mission, which aims to use ultraviolet imaging to explore how the Earth and its atmosphere interact with space, was the accumulation of more than six years of planning. Her team received $75 million for the building of the observatory at the University’s Grainger College of Engineering.

In a nod to its roots, the observatory is named after Dr. George R. Carruthers, a U of I alumnus and one of the first African-American men to earn a doctorate degree in astrophysics. He invented the camera that took the first images of space in 1970, which allowed scientists to gain a deeper understanding of what space looked like and the prospects for the future of astrophysics.

The observatory carries on the legacy of Dr. Carruthers, as the mission of the geocorona space telescope while in space is to orbit the sun and to take ultraviolet images of the Earth’s upper atmosphere. This information will be vital to determine the pattern and strength of space storms and evaluate how these storms will impact the shape of the atmosphere’s outer edge, helping scientists develop new ways to protect our planet from the sun’s geostorms.

The Grainger College of Engineering has been famed in delivering quality education to its students since 1868 and has produced remarkable alumni such as the co-founders of YouTube and of PayPalhas also sent six alumni into space.

With the weather getting cooler and leaves changing color that can only mean one thing… spooky season is right around the corner. Whether you and your friends looking for a terrifying tour or are you interested in Illinois horror lore, this list is for you.

Old Joliet Prison

Famous for its cameo in Blues Brothers and a staple in Joliet, the Old Joliet State Prison becomes haunted on select nights throughout the fall. Featuring storied prisoners such as John Wayne Gacy and Baby Face Nelson, the prison still holds a lot of dark energy. This haunted experience claims to be the only haunted house within a real abandoned prison in the Chicagoland area and is not one you will forget anytime soon.

13^th Floor Haunted House

This Chicago experience includes a haunted house, shattered skyline, immersive experiences and more. Founded in 2002, this is a classic Halloween experience with high quality production that remains a staple of Illinois’ spooky season. With over 30,000 feet this haunted house is run by the country’s largest professional haunted house production company. Learn more about this haunted house here.

 As we welcome the Halloween season, there are notable stories and legends that help will certainly help you get into the spirit. While Illinois is not immediately recognized for hosting a haunted house mystique, the state holds a few tales and sites of hair-raising tragedy worth a second look.

1) The Ghost of Abe Lincoln
After tragedy struck on April 14, 1865, the country found itself without the leader responsible for leading his people out of civil war and the Lincoln’s without their patriarch, President Abraham Lincoln. His final resting place was Springfield at the Oak Ridge Cemetery, along with his three youngest sons. There were attempts by grave robbers to seize President Lincoln’s remains while construction was being made but the plan was foiled by Secret Service. Since the memorial was built in 1876, there have been steady amount of claims made by visitors and staff members at the memorial regarding being able to hear weeping, whispers and footsteps around the memorial. There have also been sightings of the phantom train that carried Lincoln’s remains back to Springfield on the nearby train tracks.

 2) Old Book of Bartonville
In 1910 at the Peoria State Hospital in Bartonville, Manual Bookbinder worked as a grave digger for the hospital. His true name remains a mystery as the given name of Bookbinder was due to the job prior to grave digger that of binding books together. After burying the dead and attending the services of the deceased patients of the hospital, people that he would get to know from working there, he would lean and weep on the side of the elm tree that overlooked the cemetery. When Bookbinder passed away, he received a funeral service and burial at the same cemetery where he worked, as he was beloved by patients and staff alike. During that ceremony, people attending could actually see the ghost of Old Book, wailing beside that same elm tree meanwhile Bookbinder’s body still lay in the casket.

Soon after his death, the old elm tree began to die. As the hospital attempted to remove the elm tree, workers found that every attempt was met with the cry of Bookbinder. One man reported trying to remove the tree using an axe and when he struck the tree, it was as if he hit someone with the axe, as ear-piercing cries could be heard. Eventually, the elm tree was struck with lighting and the tree was able to be removed. Along with its removal came silence as the cries stopped.

 3) 12th floor Ghosts of the Congress Hotel
In 1939, a Czech woman by the name of Adele Langer and her two boys found refuge at the Congress Hotel in Chicago, as it was used to host refugees in both World Wars. Langer’s husband was supposed to meet up with them in Chicago from Czechoslovakia but never showed up. As their visas were set to expire and no sign from Mr. Langer, she fell into a deep depression which then triggered a nervous breakdown. On Aug. 4, 1939, the anxiety became too much and snapped. She had taken the kids to the Lincoln Park Zoo and upon arrival to their room, she threw her kids and herself off the ledge of the room and died. That same day, an unopened letter arrived, informing that the family was offered permanent refuge in Canada. The husband, Mr. Langer, received the news and was so grief stricken that he also contemplated ending his life. Since then, people on the 12th floor has reported seeing their ghosts roam around, as one of the young boys reportedly chase around guests and staff alike.

Have you ever enjoyed a sour Lemonhead or a hot Atomic Fireball as a sweet treat? Both of those candies and more are a result of Illinois innovation!

Illinois has been the source of several sweet inventions throughout the state, while also being home to production centers for some of the largest, most iconic candy producers in the world.