Joey Pitchford

Jul 25, 2025

Building a high rise out of wood? Cross-laminated timber could make it possible

A new study finds that adopting cross-laminated timber as a primary construction material could have significant environmental benefits, from carbon storage to global reforestation and increased forest cover. Cross-laminated timber (CLT) is created by stacking multiple layers of timber and then adhering the layers together. This results in strong, light wooden panels up to 60…

Jun 18, 2025

Human development outside protected areas may harm biodiversity within

Designating areas as protected spaces for wildlife is a common strategy for preserving biodiversity, but heavy human development around those areas may largely counteract the benefit of those protections. This phenomenon is described in a new study using camera-trap data to evaluate the effectiveness of hundreds of protected areas across China. Co-author Roland Kays, research…

Jun 3, 2025

AI can help cut down on waste, improve quality in dyed fabrics

A new study finds that machine learning can help reduce textile manufacturing waste by more accurately mapping how colors will change during the dyeing process. Fabrics are typically dyed while wet, and their colors change as they dry. This can make it difficult to know what a piece of fabric will end up looking like…

May 28, 2025

Huge sea-urchin populations are overwhelming Hawaii’s coral reefs

As coral reefs struggle to adapt to warming waters, high levels of pollution and sea-level rise, ballooning sea-urchin populations are threatening to push some reefs in Hawaii past the point of recovery. The phenomenon is described in a new study that uses on-site field work and airborne imagery to track the health of the reef…

A photograph of a river running through a forest

May 6, 2025

Development, agriculture present risks for drinking water quality

A new study from North Carolina State University researchers finds that conversion of forests to urban development or agriculture near streams can have harmful effects on water quality downstream, presenting both health concerns and raising the cost of water treatment. Using a model called the Soil and Water Assessment Tool, researchers mapped out the current…

Mar 28, 2025

Why scientists are worried about weasels

When monitoring the health of mammal populations, scientists often use camera traps to observe the animals in their habitats. But weasels are so sneaky they’re rarely caught on camera – leaving scientists with questions about this population of predators. “We’re a little worried about the weasels,” says Roland Kays, a research professor at North Carolina…

Feb 25, 2025

NC State Named Top Fulbright Producer

North Carolina State University has been recognized as one of the universities with the highest number of faculty selected for the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Programs. The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs made the announcement today. “NC State’s recognition as a top Fulbright-producing institution demonstrates its strong dedication to global exchange…

Jan 16, 2025

Study examines how climate change has shaped coastal forests over the last decade

A new study finds that climate change may have a range of contrasting effects on coastal forests, both slowing and enabling growth in areas where sea levels are rising and storms are more common. Researchers compared a decade of forest growth data from two types of environments across the mid-Atlantic, southeastern, and Gulf coasts of…

Jan 6, 2025

How We Classify Flood Risk May Give Developers, Home Buyers a False Sense of Security

Common methods of communicating flood risk may create a false sense of security, leading to increased development in areas threatened by flooding. This phenomenon, called the “safe development paradox,” is described in a new paper from North Carolina State University. Lead author Georgina Sanchez, a research scholar in NC State’s Center for Geospatial Analytics, said…

Dec 12, 2024

Machine learning and satellite imagery could help protect the world’s most important crops

A new North Carolina State University study combines satellite imagery with machine learning technology to help model rice crop productivity faster and more accurately. The tool could help decision-makers around the world better assess how and where to plant rice, which is the primary source of energy for more than half of the world’s population.…

Dec 11, 2024

How “thirsty” trees may make forests more vulnerable to climate change

A new study suggests that increased maple populations may leave forests in western North Carolina more vulnerable to extreme weather conditions like flooding and drought. The southern Appalachian Mountains feature large, intact forests with frequent precipitation. This kind of area would not typically be a place to look for the effects of climate change, but…

Nov 25, 2024

“Biodiversity is not a luxury”: study explores the connection between wealth and ecosystem health

A new study suggests that a more complex understanding of how wealth and biodiversity are linked may help communities with little wealth achieve the levels of diversity typically associated with more affluent areas. Researchers have long understood that areas with more wealth tend to have higher biodiversity, a phenomenon known as the “luxury effect.” However,…

Oct 31, 2024

Satellite imagery may help protect coastal forests from climate change

Sea-level rise caused by climate change poses a serious and often unpredictable threat to coastal forests, and new tools are needed to help mitigate damage and allocate conservation resources. A new study from North Carolina State University and the United States Geological Survey (USGS) details how satellite imagery may help identify forested areas that…

Aug 9, 2024

Russian invasion of Ukraine could have lasting impacts on global economy, environment

As the Russian invasion of Ukraine stretches into its third year, international trade has felt the effects as sanctions on Russian exports have expanded. Now researchers have found that the invasion may not only have significant short-term impacts on the global timber markets but may leave lasting effects on the global economy and the environment.…

Jul 31, 2024

New model uses satellite imagery, machine learning to map flooding in urban environments

As climate change causes storms to intensify, new tools are needed to map where flooding occurs in under-studied areas. A new mapping tool from North Carolina State University uses machine learning and open-source satellite imagery to model flooding in urban environments. The new model could create maps that predict urban area flooding, which traditionally have…