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Genetically Modified Bacteria Break Down Plastics in Saltwater

Matt Shipman

four young adults of different racial backgrounds stand together wearing masks that cover their nose and mouth.

Nov 20, 2023

Why the COVID Pandemic Hit Non-White Americans the Hardest

There was a stark difference in the percentage of non-white Americans who died in the first year of the COVID pandemic compared to white Americans. A new book explains why. 
illustration shows a robot conducting chemistry experiments in front of a high-tech machine

Nov 13, 2023

Autonomous Lab Discovers Best-in-Class Quantum Dot in Hours; It Would Have Taken Humans Years

A new autonomous system can identify how to synthesize “best-in-class” materials for specific applications in hours, rather than years. 
a small brick building with five wooden doors that open directly into a tidy, dirt courtyard.

Oct 31, 2023

Poop, Pee and Microbes: The Complicated Ecology of Pit Latrines

The findings are relevant for efforts to both improve public health and reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with global climate change. 
photo shows a pair of hands. one hand is holding a smartphone. the other is resting on a laptop computer

Oct 24, 2023

Helping Companies Understand – and Respond to – Online Misinformation

When misinformation spreads on social media, there can be real consequences for both companies and the public. 
photo shows a toddler's hands. the toddler is using crayons to color in a picture.

Oct 19, 2023

N.C. Needed a Plan to Help Homeless Kids. Now It Has One.

There are more than 30,000 homeless infants, toddlers and preschool-aged children in North Carolina. A new action plan aims to bridge the gap between these children and the services that can help them. 
on left part of image, a man's lower leg is shown, with the toes of his feet pointing down. There are sensors attached to his knee and calf. On the right, a robotic prosthetic lower leg is shown flexing in a pose identical to the man's leg. In the upper right hand corner, a graph shows an erratic line that moves up and down.

Oct 18, 2023

Robotic Prosthetic Ankles Improve ‘Natural’ Movement, Stability

Robotic prosthetic ankles that are controlled by nerve impulses allow amputees to move more “naturally,” improving their stability. 
photograph is an aerial view of a city neighborhood, with busy streets running on either side of a park. The park has many trees, and there are large apartment and office buildings in the background.

Oct 18, 2023

Greener Neighborhoods Can Protect Us – at the Cellular Level

A new study finds that greenspace in urban environments has a positive impact on a key genetic marker associated with exposure to stress. 
photo shows two hands placing a loaf of sourdough bread onto a wooden board draped with a cloth

Oct 11, 2023

Using Different Flours for Sourdough Fosters Different Bacteria – and Flavors

Using different types of flour fosters distinct bacterial communities, which contribute to the variation of sourdough aromas and flavors. 
a blind man sits at a desk with a computer. he is wearing headphones and reading a book written in braille.

Sep 27, 2023

State COVID-19 Websites Fail to Meet Accessibility Standards

Some members of the public, such as individuals who are blind or visually impaired, are not able to access all of the relevant information on the sites. 
NC State metal gateway sculpture silhouetted against the sky

Sep 25, 2023

New Method Helps AI Navigate 3D Space Using 2D Images

The new method builds on existing techniques, making them significantly more accurate. 
a Black man and woman sit on either side of a playful Black toddler

Sep 21, 2023

How Racism Shapes Black Motherhood in the U.S.

A new study underscores how being a Black mother in the U.S. involves navigating aspects of parenthood that are explicitly tied to dealing with racism. 
photo shows a large window into the stairwell of a building. the glass of the window reflects some light, but allows you to see some of the stairwell.

Sep 21, 2023

Material Would Allow Users to ‘Tune’ Windows to Block Targeted Wavelengths of Light

Users could switch windows to a mode that blocks infrared light, helping keep a building cool while leaving the windows transparent to visible light. 
photo shows three generations of a family standing on the front steps of a house

Sep 20, 2023

Study: Most People Rely on Parents for Material Support Into Adulthood

A new study finds that two-thirds of U.S. adults rely on their parents for some form of material support into their early 40s. 
image shows a stack of newspapers. One of the newspapers is sticking out. It is from the World Business section.

Sep 18, 2023

Accounting Transparency Effort Tied to Decreased Funding for Innovation

Regulations aimed at improving the transparency of corporate accounting practices appear to have unintended consequences. 
plastic fibers and debris float in blue ocean water with fish swimming nearby

Sep 14, 2023

Genetically Modified Bacteria Break Down Plastics in Saltwater

The modified organism breaks down a plastic called PET, which is a significant contributor to microplastic pollution in oceans.