2013

Dec 19, 2013

The Origin of Flowers: Tree Experts Help Unravel Evolutionary Mystery

NC State scientists had a hand in a massive research project highlighted in Science that sheds light on how flowering plants suddenly came into prominence more than 200 million years ago – what Charles Darwin referred to as an “abominable mystery” of evolution. A team of scientists sequenced the genome of Amborella trichopoda, a rare plant… 

Dec 17, 2013

Rainforest Life: Food Versus Fear

For a rainforest animal like the agouti, life revolves around the tension between food and fear. While foraging for seeds from the black palm tree, the rabbit-sized rodent has to avoid hungry ocelots. Living in an area where food is scarce greatly increases an agouti’s willingness to venture out of its burrow between sunset and… 

Dec 16, 2013

NC State to Hold Commencement Ceremony Dec. 18

North Carolina State University will confer more than 3,700 degrees on graduating students during its fall commencement exercise, beginning at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18, in the PNC Arena in Raleigh. Media coverage is invited. During the ceremony, Chancellor Randy Woodson will confer 3,746 degrees – 62 associate’s, 2,215 bachelor’s, 1,150 master’s and 319 doctoral… 

Dec 12, 2013

5 Questions With Dean Watzin

As she completes her first year at NC State, Natural Resources Dean Mary Watzin looks to the future. 

Dec 12, 2013

Textiles Dean Stepping Down

Blanton Godfrey has announced that he is stepping down as dean of the College of Textiles after 14 years of service. 

Dec 12, 2013

Medicinal Microbes

Chemistry undergrads are learning to make helpful medicines from harmful bacteria. Their hands-on research could produce healing results. 

Dec 11, 2013

NC State Scores for Value

NC State polishes its reputation as a great deal thanks to low debt at graduation, abundant financial aid, a low sticker price and overall great value. 

Dec 11, 2013

Tree Change: Is Raleigh Becoming More Like Baltimore?

Could Raleigh, proudly known as the City of Oaks, end up having much less tree cover, like Baltimore? Though it’s not likely that Raleigh will have to rethink its New Year’s Eve drop of the giant acorn any time soon, planners and policy makers need to take steps to prevent the City of Oaks from… 

Dec 11, 2013

Science You Can Use: Engineer Designs Mug to Keep Coffee Temperature Just Right

Some people think that university researchers are so occupied with their laboratories that they’ve lost sight of the world outside the ivory tower of academia. I would refer those people to Logan Maxwell, a researcher at NC State who has developed a coffee mug that will keep your coffee hot – but not too hot –… 

Dec 10, 2013

Study Raises Questions About Longstanding Forensic Identification Technique

Forensic experts have long used the shape of a person’s skull to make positive identifications of human remains. But those findings may now be called into question, since a new study from North Carolina State University shows that there is not enough variation in skull shapes to make a positive ID. 

Dec 10, 2013

Can You Tell Which Skull Is Which?

A recent study from NC State forensic anthropologists found that even forensic experts have a hard time making a positive identification of human remains based on the shape of a person’s skull. Specifically, only 56 percent of forensic anthropology Ph.D.s (the bone experts) could correctly match two images of the same skull, based solely on the… 

Dec 9, 2013

Researchers Develop System for Assessing How Effective Species Are at Pollinating Crops

From tomatoes to pumpkins, most fruit and vegetable crops rely on pollination by bees and other insect species – and the future of many of those species is uncertain. Now researchers from North Carolina State University are proposing a set of guidelines for assessing the performance of pollinator species in order to determine which species… 

Dec 5, 2013

New Clubhouse at Lonnie Poole

The plush new clubhouse at the Lonnie Poole Golf Course has every possible amenity. Take a look behind the scenes at the facility prepares for its grand opening. 

Dec 5, 2013

Holiday Open House at the Point

Randy and Susan Woodson invite all NC State faculty and staff to attend their annual holiday open house from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10, at the The Point, 1570 Main Campus Drive on Centennial Campus. Festive food will be served. 

Dec 5, 2013

New Lonnie Poole Clubhouse to Open

The plush new clubhouse at the Lonnie Poole Golf Course is set to open for business before the holidays after nearly 10 months of construction.