Tracey Peake

Jun 3, 2010

NC State, International Researchers Receive Grant to Examine Why Fido – and His Owner – Get Cancer

Golden retrievers are highly susceptible to cancers arising in the blood, lymphatic and vascular systems. Now, canine cancer scientists at North Carolina State University, the University of Minnesota, the Broad Institute in Massachusetts and Uppsala University in Sweden are teaming up with two animal-health foundations to find out why. Their findings may benefit humans as… 

May 27, 2010

OMG! Predicting the Path of an Oil Spill

It’s not what you’re thinking: in this case OMG stands for Ocean Modeling Group. The group is led by Dr. Ruoying He and if you want to know the latest on where the oil from the BP spill may end up, then He is your go-to guy. He, a professor of marine, earth and atmospheric… 

May 24, 2010

Super-Cali-Fragilistic Cytauxzoonosis

The sound of the word Cytauxzoonosis (pronounced Sight-Oh-zO-un-Osis) is not the only atrocious thing about it, as more North Carolina cat owners are discovering. That’s because this tick-borne illness, if untreated, can be fatal to cats. Cytauxzoonosis is related to malaria and is caused by the parasite Cytauxzoon felis (C. felis), which is found in… 

May 24, 2010

Incidence of Tick-Borne Illness Fatal to Cats Increasing in N.C.

Veterinarians at North Carolina State University have seen a recent increase in cases of a tick-transmitted infectious disease that, without proper treatment, can be fatal to cats. The disease, Cytauxzoonosis (pronounced sight-O-zO-un-Osis), is related to malaria and is caused by the parasite Cytauxzoon felis, (C. felis) which is found in ticks carried by host bobcats.… 

May 21, 2010

Plant Pharmacy

Can an apple a day keep malaria at bay? Well, maybe not an apple specifically, but other plants?  Definitely.  Dr. Mary Ann Lila studies so-called “pharmaceutical plants” that are full of chemical compounds that can stave off human disease, promote endurance, improve metabolism and erase signs of aging. Lila, a professor in the Department of… 

May 14, 2010

An Itch That Needs Scratching

The Internet – it’s not just for weight-loss spam and flame wars anymore.  Thanks to an NC State veterinarian, it can help your itchy dog stop scratching. Canine atopic dermatitis is one of the most common dog skin allergies, affecting up to 10 percent of all dogs in the United States.  While it isn’t a life-threatening… 

May 7, 2010

Blown Away: 3 Questions about the science of hurricane prediction

Dr. Montserrat Fuentes is part of NC State’s hurricane research team led by Dr. Lian Xie, professor of marine, earth and atmospheric sciences. Ph.D. student in statistics Danny Modlin rounds out the team. Abstract: How accurate can a hurricane model be, really?  What are the issues that hinder accuracy in hurricane prediction, and how can we… 

May 6, 2010

Bacteria With Bite

Researchers have found a bacterial infection that may contribute to birth defects, and you’ve probably never heard of it (though you may have been exposed to it). Have you ever been bitten by a flea?  Scratched by a cat?  Then chances are you’ve come into contact with bacteria called Bartonella.  If you’ve never heard of… 

May 4, 2010

NC State Experts Can Offer Insight into Gulf Oil Spill

The recent British Petroleum oil spill will have a major environmental impact on the U.S. Gulf Coast, and beyond. North Carolina State University experts can address issues pertaining to the spill, from how ocean currents may carry it beyond the Gulf, to how long and difficult the clean-up process may be, as well as effects… 

May 3, 2010

Disease Caused By Insect Bites Can Be Transmitted To Children At Birth, NC State Researcher Finds

A North Carolina State University researcher has discovered that bacteria transmitted by fleas–and potentially ticks–can be passed to human babies by the mother, causing chronic infections and raising the possibility of bacterially induced birth defects. Dr. Ed Breitschwerdt, professor of internal medicine in the Department of Clinical Sciences, is among the world’s leading experts on… 

Apr 26, 2010

NC State Predicts Active Atlantic Hurricane Season for 2010

Researchers at North Carolina State University believe that hurricane activity will be above normal in the Atlantic basin in 2010. According to Dr. Lian Xie, professor of marine, earth and atmospheric sciences, and collaborators Dr. Montserrat Fuentes, professor of statistics, and graduate student Danny Modlin, 2010 should see 15 to 18 named storms forming in… 

Apr 23, 2010

Science Olympiad Invites Best and Brightest to Compete at NC State

North Carolina State University will host more than 2,500 egg-launching, bridge- and vehicle-building students from 150 middle and high schools across the state for the finals of the North Carolina Science Olympiad (NCSO) on Saturday, April 24. Media are invited to attend the event, which will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. in… 

Apr 21, 2010

Stressed Pets and Helpful Vets – Ongoing Clinical Trials at NC State

NC State’s College of Veterinary Medicine is constantly conducting clinical trials that are aimed at treating everything from stressed-out dogs and cats to more serious diseases such as epilepsy and cancer. To see a list of current clinical trials and to find out if your pet may qualify, go here. 

Apr 19, 2010

The Physics of Falling Fruit

Picture this – you’re at the store, in a hurry, and you just need to grab a couple of apples, so you head over to the produce section and pluck a likely looking specimen from the pile…only to watch in horror as the entire pyramid of golden delicious topples at your feet.  If you’ve ever… 

Apr 14, 2010

Pinning Down a Proton: Researchers Develop Method to Describe Binding of Protons and Neutrons

A researcher at North Carolina State University has helped to develop a new method for describing the binding of protons and neutrons within nuclei. This method may improve scientists’ ability to predict and understand astrophysical reactions within stars. When protons and neutrons bind, the process releases energy. This fusion energy is how stars burn. If…