For more than 70 years, scientists at Argonne National Laboratory in Lemont have carried out groundbreaking research into nuclear power. On April 19, 1946, the University of Chicago accepted a contract to run the laboratory on a plot of wooded land in southwestern Cook County that was previously used for atomic experiments as part of the Manhattan Project. The laboratory was initially part of a program devised by President Harry S. Truman after World War II that moved atomic research from military control into civilian hands.

The goal of Argonne and other laboratories established under the Atomic Energy Act was to develop peaceful uses for nuclear power, specifically in generating electricity and medical research. One civilian application of atomic research is the medical use for ultrasound technology, which was pioneered at Argonne. Currently, the laboratory is focusing on nanotechnology research, specifically the electric polarization of materials as small as three atoms thick. While finding peaceful uses for nuclear energy has always been the focus at Argonne, the lab performed some military research during the Cold War. The USS Nautilus, the world’s first nuclear submarine, was developed at Argonne in 1954.

The intellectual energy and strong academic institutions of Illinois are always on display at Argonne National Laboratory. The laboratory’s scientists have earned hundreds of awards during thepast 70 years, and all signs point toward continued innovation in peaceful nuclear technology for the 21st century.

To those that call the state home, it almost goes without saying that the people of Illinois are some of the kindest, most industrious people in the world. Still, when Illinoisans go above and beyond what is expected of them to help others, they deserve to be commended and thanked.

This week, Springfield resident Johann “Joe” Thomas went viral for doing the right thing while working a shift as a server at a local IHOP, where he has been taking care of his regular customers for over 11 years.

Keshia Dotson, who was eating at the IHOP one Saturday in March, witnessed Thomas helping a woman with Huntington’s disease eat her breakfast. Huntington’s disease is a genetic disorder that makes ordinary tasks like eating impossible as it progresses.

The viral incident was not the first time that Thomas helped the woman. She and her husband are regulars at the Springfield IHOP. The server noticed that her husband would usually assist her as his own meal became cold. One day, Thomas sat down at their table and offered to help while the man enjoyed his meal. They have followed the same routine ever since.

Joe Thomas’ coworkers have nothing but positive things to say about his kind demeanor and willingness to go the extra mile for IHOP guests. “This is no big deal to him,” one coworker said. “He does this every time. He’s a great coworker.”

Thomas agrees that this sort of thing is second nature for him.

“I really treat people like I want to be treated,” Thomas told CBS news. “I have a soft heart. Everything I do is honestly just natural, besides the way my parents raised me. I don’t think about it. I just do it.” He hopes that people will follow his lead and “pay it forward” by doing good deeds for others.

It could be the cheering of the crowd, the wild mascots energizing the crowd or the mounting tension in the last few seconds of a close game, but no matter the reason, high school basketball serves as a focal point for many people. The Prairie State is home to many amazing high school basketball players. The stars of the team are remembered, and the trophies they win are fixtures in high schools around the state as a sign of their success. Not all players go on to play professionally, but they still deserve to be recognized for their contributions to basketball.With the state finals approaching, the Chicago Tribune created a 100 greatest players ever list that spans the course of Illinois’ 118-year-old high school basketball history.  

The tech community is excited about a quickly growing startup scene outside of the industry’s traditional strongholds in the Bay Area and New York City. Chicago’s startup community has been generating higher returns on investments than anywhere else in the country. Technology entrepreneurs in Chicago continue to create and develop businesses, making Silicon Prairie an up-and-coming force in the national technology and innovation scene.

According to a report by investment research company PitchBook, Chicago is currently the most profitable city for startups in the United States. Of the 31 Chicago startups analyzed by PitchBook, 81 percent yielded between 3 and 10 percent return on an investment. With 31 startups that meet PitchBook’s profitability requirements compared to Silicon Valley’s 613, of which 72 percent yielded between 3 and 10 percent return. Chicago remains a relatively small hub for technology entrepreneurship. However, the fact that startups in Chicago are achieving such impressive return rates suggests that the technology industry in Chicago is growing at a steady rate.

Investors and entrepreneurs in Chicago have resources available to them including the tech incubator 1871, which has helped businesses grow and innovate during the past five years by providing them with space and connectivity, education, early-stage venture capital and customers. Located in downtown Chicago’s famous Merchandise Mart, 1871 is now the home of more than 400 startups.

Another good resource is the website Built in Chicago. It connects job seekers with startups and reports on news in the technology sector. The daily job listings on Built in Chicago illustrate the benefit of the city’s startup scene on an individual level.

Chicago’s prospects as a technology hub have been rising in recent years. Industry experts point to the city’s historically multifaceted business community, robust and innovative revenue streams and a steady stream of local tech talent to explain why Chicago is prospering. Its big-city location adjacent to transportation hubs and institutions of higher education is another reason why Chicago has attracted and retained talented people from around the world as the technology sector has steadily grown. The companies being founded and incubated in Chicago are steadily growing, creating good jobs as they expand and innovate.

The health and continued growth of Chicago’s technology sector is crucial to the state of Illinois and its economic well-being. The technology sector is becoming an increasingly important part of the global economy by creating good-paying jobs and valuable companies. It has revolutionized and revitalized local economies and it continues to benefit the locales in which it flourishes.

Chicago is uniquely positioned to become the next big tech hub. Expect to hear more about Chicago in the future as a diverse community of companies continues to expand, solve everyday problems, and create good jobs for a 21st century economy.