Tracey Peake

Oct 6, 2011

Armor Up?

If you were a kid fascinated with dinosaurs, then you’re probably familiar with the iconic – if not exactly scientifically accurate – artist renderings of armored-up dinos like Stegosaurus or Ankylosaurus duking it out with angry T. rexes in epic displays of prehistoric cage fighting. Many species of dinosaur did have specialized bone that served… 

Oct 5, 2011

Vibrant Foliage On Tap for Fall, NC State Expert Says

Despite a hot, dry summer across much of the state, this fall will still feature the vibrant colors that residents have come to expect, according to North Carolina State University forestry and environmental resources professor Dr. Robert Bardon. “The good news is that the trees aren’t currently being stressed by drought or other conditions, and… 

Sep 27, 2011

New Statistical Models to Link Climate Change, Effect of Pollution on Health

A new collaboration led by a North Carolina State University statistician aims to predict how a changing climate may impact the effect of airborne pollutants on human health. Dr. Montserrat Fuentes, professor and head of  NC State’s Department of Statistics, will lead the three-year project, which includes research partners from Duke University and the University of… 

Sep 26, 2011

Faster than Light?

The possibility that scientists have clocked sub-atomic particles at faster-than-light speeds has the physics world buzzing.  If true, the discovery would at the very least open up the possibility of time travel. But are the results likely to be repeatable, or  were they just a fluke? We asked NC State physicist Dean Lee to offer his… 

Sep 21, 2011

Into Africa, Via the Penguin Conveyor Belt

Dr. Dan Ksepka is an expert on prehistoric penguins. In his latest research, he delves into the origins of several species of now-extinct African penguin to find out whether they all evolved from one common ancestor or whether they were distinct species that arrived at separate times. His conclusion, based upon fossil evidence, is that… 

Sep 16, 2011

Statistician Receives $5 Million To Train Atmospheric Researchers

A North Carolina State University statistician has been tapped to create a national network of statisticians with interdisciplinary expertise in atmospheric and oceanic science, in order to better quantify and interpret climactic and environmental data. Dr. Montserrat Fuentes, professor and head of the Department of Statistics at NC State, will lead the five-year, $5 million project.… 

Sep 12, 2011

The Real Home Field Advantage

It’s football season, that magical time of year when regalia-bedecked fans gather to cheer on the home team and elevate tailgating to an art form. But fans aren’t the only ones who have favorite colors: it turns out that the football fields themselves also have a preference. Why? Because the health of the turf on a football field… 

Sep 8, 2011

Boxing Up Sub-Atomic Particles

Let’s say you’re a nuclear physicist who – in your quest to learn more about the way the universe works – wants to learn more about the structure and angular momentum, or spin, of an atomic nucleus. However, you can’t just grab a nucleus and stick it under a microscope. What do you do? If… 

Sep 7, 2011

Home Field Advantage

It’s football season, that magical time of year when regalia-bedecked fans gather to cheer on the home team and elevate tailgating to an art form. But fans aren’t the only ones who have favorite colors: it turns out that the football fields themselves also have a preference. Why? Because the health of the turf on a football field… 

Sep 2, 2011

The Real Home Field Advantage

All school colors are not created equal - at least where football fields are concerned. 

Sep 1, 2011

NC State Dog Olympics Set For Sept. 10

What: North Carolina State University’s Dog Olympics is an annual charitable event organized by veterinary students. Dogs of all breeds, shapes, and sizes are invited to participate in athletic and non-athletic competitions including Musical Sit, Frisbee Toss, High Jump, Longest Tail, Look-a-Like, Best Beggar, Best Trick, and other contests. The Raleigh Police K-9 Unit, the… 

Aug 31, 2011

Leapin’ Lizards

If you live in the southeastern U.S., you see these little guys (and gals) everywhere – the ubiquitous green or brown Anole lizard known scientifically as Anolis carolinensis. But aside from being cute and able to regenerate part of its tail, this little lizard – and its newly sequenced genome – may help scientists solve… 

Aug 31, 2011

Leapin’ Lizards

If you live in the southeastern U.S., you see these little guys (and gals) everywhere – the ubiquitous green or brown Anole lizard known scientifically as Anolis carolinensis. But aside from being cute and able to regenerate part of its tail, this little lizard – and its newly sequenced genome – may help scientists solve… 

Aug 24, 2011

Common Bacterium Stops Mosquitoes from Transmitting Dengue Virus

Strains of a bacterium commonly found in fruit flies can prevent the Aedes aegypti mosquito from transmitting the virus that causes dengue fever, researchers have found. Their discovery could lead to a more effective way to control dengue worldwide. North Carolina State University mathematical biologist Dr. Alun Lloyd is part of the Eliminate Dengue program,… 

Aug 9, 2011

New Technique Scales Up Nanofiber Production

A new spin on an old technology will give scientists and manufacturers the ability to significantly increase their production of nanofibers, according to researchers at North Carolina State University. Collections of nanofibers, because they are porous and lightweight, are useful in applications ranging from water filtration to tissue regeneration to energy storage. But although nanofibers…